The Many Faces of Shed, Part 2
René Pawlowitz, known as Shed, continues to shape Berlin techno after 20 years, juggling a dozen side projects while still working at Hard Wax. He recently announced the new album Rave Echoes, his first full‑length in four years and debut on Dekmantel. The record blends peak‑time intensity with post‑club ambience, reflecting his playful approach to production. An updated interview reveals how his many aliases serve as creative experiments rather than marketing tools.
K Wata – Give U Space
Short Span, the Sheffield‑based electronic label founded by veteran curator Matthew Kent, has added K Wata’s debut album “Give U Space” to its rapidly expanding roster. The record, released just three weeks after Yu Su’s “Foundry,” fuses dub techno, early‑dubstep bass, Houston hip‑hop ambience...
Karim – Lila
Moroccan producer Karim releases his debut album Lila on the Tikita label, merging the ancient Gnawa spiritual tradition with modular‑synth driven techno. The record deliberately omits the genre’s signature kick drum, opting for organic‑sounding percussive textures that evoke trance‑inducing night...
Pierce – Sentimento
Sublunar, the Italian techno label praised for its focus on quality over hype, has added Pierce’s EP *Sentimento* to its roster. The Tbilisi‑based producer, known for releases on Token and WSNWG, delivers a collection of hard‑charging, low‑end‑heavy tracks that blend...
First Floor #312 – The Seductive Embrace of Cultural Status and Institutional Power
Shawn Reynaldo’s First Floor #312 blends cultural critique with industry news, opening his Eurovision‑Biennale essay to all readers and spotlighting the clash between avant‑garde rhetoric and institutional power. The newsletter announces his participation in Lyon’s Nuits Sonores Lab, where a round‑table...
Sergeant – Symbols
Belgian trio Sergeant released their sophomore album *Symbols*, a kaleidoscopic mix of post‑punk, krautrock, dub, trip‑hop and early‑80s synth‑pop. The record builds on their 2023 debut—once described as “DJ Shadow in reverse”—but adds a pop‑leaning sheen that makes even the most...
Anastasia Kristensen – Bestiarium Sombre
Anastasia Kristensen’s debut album *Bestiarium Sombre* delivers nine animal‑inspired electronic tracks that blend playful techno, house‑spirit funk, and experimental sound design. The 34‑minute record showcases crisp, short compositions, each under five minutes, that weave vivid textures from bird calls to...
Pépe – *0*0*0*0
Spanish producer Pépe self‑released the album *0*0*0*0* on Bandcamp, a five‑track collection named after numeric codes. The record blends boom‑bap hip‑hop, ambient soundscapes, IDM touches and a nod to Ryuichi Sakamoto, defying genre expectations. Critics note the release emerged from...
The Dengie Hundred with Gemma Blackshaw – Days in Pieces
The Dengie Hundred and vocalist Gemma Blackshaw have released the new LP *Days in Pieces*, a follow‑up to their 2024 collaboration *Who Will You Love*. The 11‑minute record blends haunted lo‑fi lullabies with sparse, dream‑like textures that defy conventional dream‑pop...
Goldenstar – Chamber Music
Montreal‑based goldenstar has dropped its new EP *Chamber Music*, a six‑track collection steeped in moody indie, slowcore and post‑hardcore aesthetics. The record was engineered by Patrick Holland and mixed‑mastered alongside Francis Latreille (aka Priori) at Jump Source. Drawing heavily on...
Andy Martin – Tierra De Nahuales
Mexican producer Andy Martin releases the concept‑driven EP *Tierra de Nahuales*, inspired by the shapeshifting nahual of pre‑colonial mythology. The record juxtaposes heavy, earthbound bass with airy, celestial synths, most notably on the evolving track “Pleiadian Sound Clash.” Other cuts...
Ana Roxanne – Poem 1
Ana Roxanne’s new album Poem 1 transforms her sound from the ambient, reverb‑heavy style of her 2019 Leaving Records debut into a stark, piano‑driven break‑up record. The singer‑songwriter format foregrounds her soulful vocals with minimal accompaniment—primarily piano, occasional strings, and subtle...
Seefeel – Sol.Hz
Seefeel, the seminal ’90s post‑shoegaze outfit, has released *Sol.Hz* on Warp, marking their first full‑length album in 15 years. The record follows a string of 2020s reissues and two 2024 mini‑LPs, *Everything Squared* and *Squared Roots*. Spanning nine abstract compositions,...
Appleblim – Neolithic Neon
Appleblim, co‑founder of the seminal Bristol label Skull Disco, has released his new LP *Neolithic Neon* on Sneaker Social Club. The album defies easy categorisation, weaving acid‑tinged cuts, meditative dubstep, IDM‑flavoured chill, and old‑school jungle into a cohesive whole. Tracks like...
Juli Deák – Brisk
Polish‑Hungarian flautist Juli Deák releases *Brisk*, recorded in a single take at Budapest’s Church of the Immaculate Conception. The album pushes the flute’s limits with circular breathing, amplified finger taps and hidden breath sounds, creating brassy blasts and delicate, ballerina‑like...