Page 55 - Zone Magazine Issue 014

Louk [UK] - Techno - Hard
MUSIC REVIEWS
Steve Stoll - She Rises Up [New York Trax] - Zone Rating - 7/10
A new issue, another wicked New York Trax, this time from Steve Stoll. Steve's nothing short of a legend in my book and has been ever since his late nineties cut 'Observer' on Proper NYC. It was only right that he delivers a track on New York Trax, and as expected all four tracks are of a high quality. 'No Questions Please' and 'Routine Activity Theory' are the more experimental cuts, while 'Train Of Thought' and my choice cut 'She Rises Up' are pure dancefloor fodder that really work well when taking a set on a darker tip, with the latter featuring a distorted melody that is played and wonderfully tweaked throughout.
http://www.juno.co.uk/products/steve-stoll-new-york-trax-04/641648-01/
Beyond Flesh - Blush Response [Sonic Groove] - Zone Rating - 9/10
Adam X's Sonic Groove label continues their trend of relentlessly releasing dark and twisted techno to cater for the 4 AM crowd with this absolute gem of an EP from Beyond Flesh. What I really like about the main track 'Blush Response' is how immediate it is in building up a very sinister groove that takes no prisoners at all. Come two minutes in to the track and a fierce synth hook gets filtered to a strong degree to really twist up some heads! With lots of well placed effects and a myriad of really driving percussion, this is one infectious cut. The other tracks on the EP are more than worthy of a play too.
http://classic.beatport.com/release/human-augmentation/1936197
Gareth Wild - Welcome To The Shadows (G66) [CD-R] - Zone Rating - 9/10
You can be certain that 2017 will be a great year for Gareth Wild. The man has been beavering away on his own EarToGround imprint and also releasing on notable labels such as Planet Rhythm and gave me this a few months ago literally fresh out of the studio. I've been hammering it ever since. 'Welcome To The Shadows' sounds like it should belong on Oscar Mulero's Polegroup imprint, fusing dark, hypnotic synths with drum programming that throws you sideways, and you can tell this is a track that is aimed purely at the dancefloor. Just when you think the track is as menacing as it gets, a new layer comes in that absolutely destroys you, leaving your head twisted with a big grin on your face!
https://www.facebook.com/Gareth-Wild-243779799011258/?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE
Binny - Devil's Orchestra [Tortured] - Zone Rating - 8/10
Binny kicks off 2017 well with a blinding four track EP for Billy Nasty's awesome Tortured label. One thing I love about Binny is his use of analogue production gear and a very warm sound this produces, but also a very raw sound that is reminiscent of techno of yesteryear. Title track 'Devil's Orchestra' sees plucked string samples get tweaked on top of a fierce kick drum and intricate percussion, while 'Roll With It' completely contorts a synth melody beyond belief on top of a building groove that works equally well for destroying a braincell or two. The whole EP manages to cater to all techno fans, with those who like the more modern stuff, and something to please even your hardened purist from yesteryear.
http://www.juno.co.uk/products/binny-devils-orchestra-ep/643076-01/
Vertastyle - Stay / Man [Vertastyle] - Zone Rating -7/10
I like it when a new label comes along with a very mysterious aura from who the producer behind it is, and this was exactly what I was given to send this promo out with a producer of many different styles trying techno for the first time. Although this is risky, sometimes (like in this instance), the results are great, as this has recently received Radio 1 plays from Will Atkinson, with Luke Slater and Cristian Varela also supporting. 'Stay' is a not too pacey techno number that features a wicked bass synth and shuffly percussion that has the big rooms in mind, while 'Man' is a bit more stripped back in essence but still holds its own as a strong production. I look forward to more!
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