Our in-house crate digger Andrew Wowk hunts down twelve essential tracks you might of missed in December
- Señora – Atropoceno [Lurid Music]
https://luridmusic.bandcamp.com/album/f-sil
Sounding like something that could easily have made the cut for the soundtrack of one of the Borderlands games, this is a lush, contemplative, and expansive trip through analogue electronics, reverbed guitar plucks, and tripped-out vocal samples.
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Pioneer DJ launches into Virtual Reality- Richard Devine – Sinscur [BL_K Noise Records]
https://richarddevine.bandcamp.com/album/systik
Thirteen minutes of twisted sound design and sonic exploration embedded in a driving breakbeat techno framework that has surprises lurking around every corner.
- Ani Klang – The Problem = (A.Fruit Remix) [Hyperboloid Records]
https://hyperboloidrecords.com/album/burn-the-empire
One fast-rising star remixes another fast-rising star’s hardcore/noise belter into a dark, brooding jungle roller that channels late 90s tech-step flavours while injecting some contemporary experimental influences.
- WhoMadeWho & Mano Le Tough – Oblivion [KOMPAKT]
https://whomadewho.bandcamp.com/track/oblivion-2
What seems like a surprising collaboration on paper was clearly meant to be. Swaying, echoed vocals, grainy melodic washes, and driving bass growls come together beautifully to create a warm, enveloping house/electronica journey.
- Tsimtsum – Balete [Feel Raw Audio]
https://feelrawaudio.bandcamp.com/album/tokamak-ep
Noisy, droning, and dusty experimental techno full of grit, controlled chaos, and a pervasive sense of unease.
- LDS – Kgtrs [Monnom Black]
https://monnomblack.bandcamp.com/album/organic-computer-awareness
Basic Channel would be proud. Proving that dub techno doesn’t always have to be an exercise in navel-gazing, the up-tempo, slamming groove carries the lush chords and echoed atmospheric sounds and creates a engaging, tense energy.
- Alex Banks – Tephra [Mesh]
https://alexbanksmusic.bandcamp.com/album/tephra-ep
Brash, rugged, and skull-reverberating breakbeats and bass stabs underlie uplifting melodic sparkles and a bold synth lead.
- Sandilé – Just Like U and Me [Black Catalogue]
https://sandile.bandcamp.com/album/best-of-both-worlds
An absolutely lush, spacious liquid drum & bass cut that flips a well-known vocal sample on its head and surrounds it with subtle pads, tight drum breaks, and heavy sub bass hits.
- Muqata’a – Dirasat ‘Ulya دِراسات عُليا [Hundebiss Records]
https://muqataa.bandcamp.com/album/kamil-manqus
The first single from the Ramallah-based artist who uses Simya’ (an ancient Arabic practice of combining numbers and letters to communicate with the unseen) as a guiding principle for his productions, this is a wild combination of traditional Arabic influences, breakcore, and experimental noise.
- Deniro – Tainted [трип]
https://triprecords.bandcamp.com/album/coachella
Funky, sci-fi techno flavours from the Netherlands-based producer released on Nina Kraviz’s boundary-pushing label. This is a match made in heaven for anyone who subscribes to the idea that techno is futuristic music.
- Taymore Zadeh – Life Goes On [Superlux Records]
https://superluxrecords.bandcamp.com/album/superlux-003-taymor-zadeh-life-goes-on-ep
Aciiiiieeeeeed! Quality 303-led tech house grooves available as a “Name Your Price” download courtesy of Superlux Records getting into the Christmas spirit.
- Sebra Cruz – Siebel [Life And Death]
https://lifeanddeathforever.bandcamp.com/album/siebel
Organic, orchestral melodies are criminally underused in more dancefloor-oriented electronic music, but Sebra Cruz is here to remind us that subtle piano loops and melancholy strings sound great over choppy breakbeats and shuffled percussion.
