Page 57 - Zone Magazine Issue 007

Louk & Dante [UK] - Hard Techno & Trance
MUSIC REVIEWS
Ontal - Spasm [Inner Surface] - Zone Top Tune - 10/10
A'n'D's Inner Surface label have come up with the goods for their tenth release, with a whopper selection of tracks by Sleeparchive, O/H, Perc, Honzo, Gaja, Takaaki Itoh, Sturqen, and our choice cut by Germany's Ontal. I first heard this at Electric Deluxe presents Awakenings back in October and was blown away by how punky and ravey it is, yet also somewhat brutal with some very modern production. Since then, when we have played this out the reaction has been huge, and when the rather tweaked hoover synth comes you feel like you have just received a right hook from Connor McGregor. Definitely this month's essential!
https://soundcloud.com/innersurfacemusic/sets/various-artists-replicants-2-x
Various - Herdersmat [Mord] - Zone Recommended Tune - 9/10
Mord have consistently featured in our record boxes this year and there is no surprise as to why, every track is on the sinister tip, but manages to not be too abstract with them concentrating on some very driving grooves. Here on their boxed set entitled 'Herdersmat', they have spread 28 tracks over 7 vinyls, featuring some ferociously dark artists such as Radial, Kwartz, Clouds, SHXCXCHCXSH and more. Favourites for us have to be UVB's wicked and wild 'Someone Calling Cut', Holland's Ritzi Lee with 'Sonic Sense', and Oscar Mulero's rather frenetic offering 'Liner'. If you want some material to twist up some heads then definitely look no further. 9/10
https://soundcloud.com/bas-mooy/herdersmat_part_1-previews
Yan Stricker - Dia/Syn [!Organism] - Zone Rating - 8/10
Another month, another belter of a release from !Organism, who simply seem to be doing no wrong at the moment. I featured them on last month's edition of my Sonic Sessions show on RTE 2FM as well, and it was hard picking five favourites of their ninety strong release output. This time label owner Yan Stricker steps up to the plate to offer two rather pacey numbers in the form of 'Diachronic' and 'Synchronic', which both work well with choppy synth work, frenetic percussion and a rolling bassline on each and some synth stabs really hitting home on 'Synchronic'. However, mix of the package is the excellent Ixel remix of 'Synchronic' which really takes the track on a darker tip.
https://soundcloud.com/digitalorganism
Neil Landstrumm - Extreme Pleasure - Zone Rating - 7/10
Neil should need no introduction to any avid techno fan by now. The Scottish legend has produced a sheer multitude of high quality releases that vary from hard to experimental over the years. If you get a chance you should check out his live PA from Birmingham's House Of God night back in 1995 that is doing the rounds on Soundcloud for a lesson on serious brutality. Anywho, here on Extreme Pleasure for France's Zone he turns in four tracks that show a nod to his roots with retro rave stabs and haunting synth work amidst all four. 'A Girl Is A Gun' and 'Silent Forces' especially are the ones that rock it on this EP.
https://soundcloud.com/zonerec/sets/zone-26-neil-landstrumm
Stevie Wilson - Blast From The Past [Techburst] - Zone Rating - 8/10
It seems something must be in the water in Scotland this month, as Stevie Wilson turns in a rip roaring three tracker for Mark Sherry's Techburst imprint. I have been playing quite a bit of Stevie's material over the years, with his 'My Soul' being a set opener for quite some time. Here the evident techno connections are still as strong as ever with 'Blast From The Past' being a rather menacing number that takes no prisoners. This is pure peak time action. The very notable 'Busta Gut' boasts a moodier vibe and 'Move It' really takes you on a funky journey with some lighter synth action. Good work Stevie, am sure 2016 will be huge for you.
https://soundcloud.com/techburstrecords/sets/tbr013-stevie-wilson-blast
ESSENTIALDANCEMUSIC 57