Tracklisting
A1 MAEDON - Working Out The Kinks
A2 MAEDON - Temporal
B1 MAEDON - Growing Pains
B2 MAEDON - Breakthrough

Sales Note
Following 5 years in Berlin, two albums and a continuing residency at Tresor all bringing acclaim, Maedon is now an established voice and one also in transition. The 8th release for her own Rant & Rave label announces this in its title, 2.0, and its sound, a bold move away from her industrial roots towards the groove-laden techno that earned her bones im Keller. The product of careful study of techno's roots and evolution, this gradual process reaps rewards here, showcasing a bracing new direction for an already-accomplished artist.


'Working Out the Kinks' leads off, more a kinky workout than the work-in-progress its title suggests. A vocal sample and rugged groove initially brings an old school feel, something quickly offset by strikingly modern production details. The EPs middle stride, 'Temporal' and 'Growing Pains', attacks heads-down techno head on with style to spare. On the former, growling lows and rotating pads are gradually joined by a symphony of sonic detritus, with razor sharp drums slicing through the murk. A bouncing bassline and blink-and-miss fills on the latter hammer the rhythm onwards, surrounded by reduced industrial elements and grimy ambiance. 'Breakthrough' does exactly that, it's uneasily modulating lead and bruising EBM bass buffeted by waves of percussion then jackhammering to a climax confirming Maedon's 2nd coming.

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Tracklisting
A1 ANDRØMEDA - Dark Matter
A2 ANDRØMEDA - Lost Planet
B1 ANDRØMEDA - Black Hole
B2 ANDRØMEDA - El Abismo

Sales Note
A long standing resident of the infamous FOLD in London whose risen to prominence with electrifying performances across Europe and a growing discography on esteemed labels such as Ear To Ground, Natural Selection, Raw Quarter, Laburnum, and Mhost Likely , Andromeda unveils her debut on Rant & Rave with Dark Matter EP. Drawing inspiration from the raw essence of 90s techno, with it she hones in her skills with modular synthesis and hardware production.


The EP opens with the title track, where a brooding tapestry of foreboding synths gradually rise in pitch and complexity, simulating the mysterious expansion of the cosmos. Lost Planet follows with hypnotic leads and an unyielding rhythm section. Appropriately titled Black Hole follows which cuts through with razor-sharp stabs and a resonating bassline. Closing with El Abismo, Andromeda ventures into darker sonic territories. This track is a no holds barred assault, where interwoven synth lines clash against commanding percussion and a punishing kick, asserting dominance over the dance floor with commanding force.


As a digital bonus, Andromeda invites Severn Electronics label owner, 7XINS, who delivers an outstanding remix of Black Hole. With his signature sound, 7XINS layers complex synth textures and reverberated drum patterns that twist the mind and tease the senses, crafting a remix that is as intricate as it is impactful.

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Tracklisting
A1 MAEDON - Working Out The Kinks
A2 MAEDON - Temporal
B1 MAEDON - Growing Pains
B2 MAEDON - Breakthrough

Sales Note
Following 5 years in Berlin, two albums and a continuing residency at Tresor all bringing acclaim, Maedon is now an established voice and one also in transition. The 8th release for her own Rant & Rave label announces this in its title, 2.0, and its sound, a bold move away from her industrial roots towards the groove-laden techno that earned her bones im Keller. The product of careful study of techno's roots and evolution, this gradual process reaps rewards here, showcasing a bracing new direction for an already-accomplished artist.


'Working Out the Kinks' leads off, more a kinky workout than the work-in-progress its title suggests. A vocal sample and rugged groove initially brings an old school feel, something quickly offset by strikingly modern production details. The EPs middle stride, 'Temporal' and 'Growing Pains', attacks heads-down techno head on with style to spare. On the former, growling lows and rotating pads are gradually joined by a symphony of sonic detritus, with razor sharp drums slicing through the murk. A bouncing bassline and blink-and-miss fills on the latter hammer the rhythm onwards, surrounded by reduced industrial elements and grimy ambiance. 'Breakthrough' does exactly that, it's uneasily modulating lead and bruising EBM bass buffeted by waves of percussion then jackhammering to a climax confirming Maedon's 2nd coming.

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Tracklisting
A1 Valerie Ace - Givers & Takers
A2 Valerie Ace - Eat Dirt
B1 Valerie Ace - A Moment Lost
B2 Valerie Ace - 3PM

Sales Note
Two years after her debut on SPFDJ's Intrepid Skin, Valerie Ace is already counted as a quickly rising voice in techno, her work featuring on Anetha's Mama Told Ya, Mala Adh, Haven, and more. In 2023 she founded her own Hardwon imprint, now on its 8th release and featuring established and upcoming names like Ryan James Ford, WTCHCRFT, and others. Now Rant & Rave offers her third vinyl full EP, Givers & Takers, confirming her premier place in contemporary techno. The title track starts ominous, pensively drawing tension over a slow breakbeat as busy percussion patterns interlock, leading into its intense second half, where heavy bass doubles down and pushes to a bruising climax. 'Eat Dirt' takes after its title, grinding faces into grit as it switches between breaks and straight sections while pounding the floor into submission. 'A Moment Lost' loses no time charging out of the gates, ratcheting tension with quickly evolving snares, the filtered bass punches driving the track over steadier, atmospheric background sounds. The afternoon or afterhours vibe of '3PM' is accentuated by seasick synth layers contrasted against malignant drums, unsure if the drugs are wearing off or kicking back in for another trip.

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Tracklisting
A1 Samantha Togni - Lunaversal
A2 Samantha Togni - Minor Goddess
B1 Samantha Togni - Pit Of Truth
B2 Samantha Togni - Jesters Have Heart Too

Sales Note
A resident of Berlin's long-running Gegen, a multifaceted queer techno and performance art event, Samantha Togni has seen her profile rising with appearances on Mixmag's Lab series in London and a heavy release schedule on established and upcoming labels: Stay Up Forever, Noise Manifesto, her own Boudica, and others, quickly accumulating a significant discography since her 2019 debut. Her latest is the Lunaversal EP on Rant & Rave, representing another edgy release from upcoming female techno talent. It leads off with the title track, not exactly as cosmic as implied with buried, indecipherable vocals and buzzsaw synth riffs seesawing between intermittent breakdowns which only serve to increase tension 'Minor Goddess' takes an old school rave approach with abrasive, rising stabs and dissected vocals against a hammering framework of kicks and crushing bass pressure. With its lilting ambient chopped vocal samples slightly counterbalancing the surging forward motion of the rhythm, 'Pit of Truth' hits deeper, but the pit in the title obviously leans more towards dungeon or grave. 'Jesters Have a Heart Too' rubs unstable synth sweeps against blasts of industrial noise and jackhammer percussion, reaching peak intensity in its brutally chopped final run.

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Tracklisting
A1 Ekors - Woodchip
A2 Ekors - Forest Killers
B1 Ekors - Evil Sapp
B2 Ekors - Chainsaw Requiem

Sales Note
Hailing from Brittany, historical center of France's industrial scene and in close proximity to Belgium's infamous rave and EBM innovations, Ekors set out to deliberately blacken and burn the sophisticated sounds emanating from Paris. With releases on Amsterdam's harsh Leyla imprint, fellow French hardcore iconoclast Umwelt's Flesh or Die, and JoeFarr's User Experience, the trio undoubtedly made their name in their lonely redoubt in the timberland, and Rant & Rave is honored to host their theme EP, Forest Killers, as our fifth release.

'Woodchip' conjures nightmares of dead bodies run through a woodchipper rather than more pastoral scenes, its distorted kicks, bone-crushing bass and blasted-apart leads chopping air and anyone unlucky enough to stand in its way. Title track 'Forest Killers' is murderous, the lurching breakbeat and shrapnel percussion approaching like axe falls ever closer until the horror score melody enters, then accelerating frantically as the killers close in. 'Evil Sapp' only seems subdued in comparison, its hammering techno pulse providing scant breathing room as industrial machinery fells nearby trees. Self-explanatory 'Chainsaw Requiem' ups the discomfort as the titular tool buzzes overhead, more Texas Chainsaw Massacre than weekend warrior woodpile work. Amidst squalling leads, ricocheting percussion, fearful blasts of noise, and pounding bass and kicks, Ekors escort us out of the haunted wood, sighs of relief and evil laughs joining in chorus.

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Tracklisting
A1 Lady Starlight - Choose
A2 Lady Starlight - Permian-Triassic
B1 Lady Starlight - In A Tizzy
B2 Lady Starlight - No Expectations

Sales Note
After early work with Lady Gaga, Lady Starlight immediately entered techno's upper echelons playing live alongside Surgeon, earning the respect of one of the genre's most legendary hard asses, no small feat for an artist only then emerging. Forming a strong alliance with Len Faki's Figure reinforced her upward trajectory, so it's with considerable stature we introduce 'Choose', her first full solo EP since 2020.

'Choose' makes its choice from the beginning when the mutated, squealing vocal sample and insistent percussion command dancers to the floor. She adds sophistication with melodic ideas, quick breakdowns, and constantly shifting drums, the instability maintaining momentum. 'Permian-Triassic' could refer to earlier eras of techno Lady Starlight seeks to bury, although droning pads poke out of her deep soundscapes like fossils from the 90s framed elegantly. Excited like its title, 'In a Tizzy' centers its nervous energy around a seesawing motif until it breaks apart halfway through, then rides it into oblivion on top of rapid-fire drum fills and a return of the theme. The title track closes in the darkest mode, its tricked-out breakbeat evading dancer's expectations and the heavily-processed noises squalling in the background providing no respite.

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Tracklisting
A1 Codex Empire - Overneed
A2 Codex Empire - Antem Cackler
B1 Codex Empire - Stone Faction
B2 Codex Empire - Frozen Fugitive


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Tracklisting:
A1 JoeFarr vs. Louisahhh - In This Anger
A2 JoeFarr - You Can See Me
B1 JoeFarr - Laced Up
B2 JoeFarr - You Can See Me (Hardcore Edit)

Sales Note
Moving to England for its second release, Rant & Rave Records presents a proper EP from South Wales-based producer JoeFarr, known for his dancefloor jams on labels such as: 'SLAM', 'Arts', and his most recent success with 2019's epic 12" 'Death Becomes Us'. On the a-side 'In This Anger', which JoeFarr has written with Louisahhh, an anxiously dark, slowly developing atmosphere menaces behind a slow rolling, broken beat for maximum effect. This is punctuated by dark, slightly distorted female vocals with sporadic lyrics subtly encouraging its dance floors to move.. and think. Signature hard and bouncy grooves with infectious in-yer-face techno riffs dominate the rest of the EP with tracks 'Laced Up', 'You Can See Me' and 'You will See Me (Hardcore)', effortlessly weaving in and out of the pulsating groove with an interesting palette of machine sounding synths and heavily processed vocals.


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Lehman’s club resident David Löhlein’s warm-blooded techno is slinking, slithering and seducing its way through BNR, with the upcoming Hotel Pool EP release.


TRACK LISTING

A1. Hotel Pool
A2. La Piscina
B1. Cuando Vengas
B2. I Just Want


INFO

When picturing the German techno scene, one likely imagines the concrete monoliths of its capital city Berlin rather than the vineyards and valleys of the enchanting city of Stuttgart in the southwest. But small cities lack the oversaturation and noise of the metropolis, allowing them to develop their own inspired and distinctive subcultural visions. Stuttgart’s David Löhlein exemplifies this potential, manifesting a singular style of sight and sound through his Vision Ektase project and residency at Lehmann Club. Now, Löhlein’s warm-blooded techno is slinking, slithering and seducing its way through BNR, with the upcoming Hotel Pool EP release.

There’s no hesitation before plunging into the EP’s titular track, with its rushing fingered basslines and rolling polyrhythms. Löhlein cites solo travels in Columbia as the source of his Latin influences, and one hears them throughout “Hotel Pool” in vocal and percussive samples. Elements more commonly found in Latin and tribal house feel uncommonly fresh once Löhlein recontextualizes them within a 144 bpm techno foundation. The words “groovy” and “sexy” are usually reserved for the stuff of Buddha Bar compilations, but “Hotel Pool” is exhilarating because it serves both of the former and none of the latter.

A stream of hedonism flows beneath all of the four-tracker, but if the opener is erotic, A2 “La Piscina” is psychedelic. The bass flutters like a mescaline come-up, as infinite loops of chattering voices and deep bamboo pipe notes mesmerize. Again, Löhlein takes certain genre tropes - in this case from psytrance - and transposes them through his own stylistic signature with thrilling results. Ask Löhlein if he likes psytrance and the answer might be “Yes, when it’s techno.”

Leading the flip, “Cuando Vengas” heats up around a dark and sticky loop of ambiguous, organic origin. Here Löhlein’s masterful sample and drum programming is clearly on display, with vocal chops and subtle rhythmic variations leading the dancefloor to shivering bliss. The EP closes with “I Just Want,” a sparse, cold, and bitcrushed stalker of a track that seems to answer Baudrillard’s famed question “What are you doing after the orgy?” That the Hotel Pool EP’s wild romp ends in the Berlin oeuvre perhaps proves the city’s primacy in the German techno scene, but after a few listens one begins to wonder what rare pleasures they’ve been missing in David Löhlein’s Stuttgart.

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Tracklisting:
A1 Ecilo - Tribe Substance
A2 Ecilo - Cabinet Of Furiosity
B1 Ecilo - Interdimensional
B2 Ecilo - Slippery

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Tracklisting:
A1 Saag - Membrana
A2 Saag - Baixo Rolante
A3 Saag - S7
B1 Saag - Rasgada
B2 Saag - Deleite Matinal

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Discos Perdidos - which translates as Lost Records - is a new series started by Lisbon label Paraiso, dedicated entirely to releasing archival music that, for a reason or another, never saw the light of day. The first outing on this adventure into the unknown is by none other than the legendary portugal-born, london-based techno instigator The Advent aka Cisco Ferreira. The three tracks on this EP were written in 1998 and were meant to be released on a label that another Portuguese techno legend - Jiggy - meant to start running, but other projects got in the way. Fast forward to early 2023, Jiggy showed the Paraiso crew the DATs containing these gems - immediately entrancing - and both him and The Advent agreed to give Discos Perdidos the honours of putting them out. Titled Shiolas, this three-tracker opens with 'Don't Do It', a relentless techno banger that, albeit its four to the floor drum pattern, feels swingy thanks to cleverly programmed percussion and claps. A concise but extremely effective bassline and synth lead guides the energetic smasher, with cut-up vocals, timely placed filters and hi hats giving it a final shimmer. It's followed by the Piano Mix, with an equally strong and raw arrangement and a new element - an alien, sound-sculpted piano that gives it an extra sense of urgency. The closing track 'Jacker' has more abstract leanings, although similarly dancefloor-ready, featuring an off-kilter yet driving conversation between stabs and bells in a display of expertly crafted dubby yet visceral sound design. A piece of dance music history is recovered - techno is now a story told more accurately.

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Space Metaphysics is what Artesano Titer and B22 are giving us, a transcendental sci-fi experience. The sound of the new wave of Uruguayan producers is here to stay.

Welcome to the acid of the future, hop on the vessel and enjoy the ride.

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Tracklisting:
A1 Arjun Vagale - Ditch
B1 Arjun Vagale - Introverted
B2 Arjun Vagale - Primate

Sales Note
Where knowledge of technology transforms into innovative musical output, Arjun Vagale takes the lead.

KEY034 showcases the expertise of this prolific artist through a three tracker EP, all crafted for the highest peaks and climaxes... Functional rhythmic architectures merge with syncopated bleeps and liquid textures, giving life to a densely populated sonic environment.

Taking off from here, "Ditch" cuts our brains open with a sleek, driving groove and a plethora of atmospheric patterns which give the idea of a rugged surface, filled with diverse elements and nitty-gritty details. A complete sensory experience engineered in tune with the label's stylistic pace and motion.

B1 "Introverted" is the shyest member of the family, where subtle, filigree melodic drones are interwoven with a chubby bassline
and a playful interchange of rides and hats. Closing off the EP is "Primate"; a sinister, murky bleep loop with the capacity to stimulate incredible dance floor tension.

In short, Vagale serves an incredibly strong package of peak time material and tough floor burners.

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Omformer is the collaborative project from Ute cornerstones Mikkel Rev and Oprofessionell. Mostly focusing on the live act they still have managed to build an impressive catalogue covering everything from one-hour long ambient tracks to loopy psychedelic peak time weapons.

And for their long overdue debut EP you can expect no less, presenting four summer ready trance excursions extracted straight from previous live sets and jam sessions.

Dive into their most maximalist, drama inducing and dancefloor-shattering project to date. Get lost in layered psychedelic trance endlessly looping arpeggios, mind bending squelching resonances and big melodies best consumed under the forest canopy.

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Tracklisting:
A1 Yant - Vortex Of Lincos
A2 Yant - The Raum
B1 Yant - Linguism
B2 Yant - Transient Pulse

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Metroplex continues its run of reissues with more seminal releases from the label's essential back catalog. The long-awaited reissue of M024: Model 500's eternal techno meditation "Starlight", a mid-90s collaboration with dub techno maestro Moritz von Oswald of Basic Channel, Maurizio, and Rhythm & Sound fame. Remastered from original tapes and sounding super fresh. Essential techno masterpiece!

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Tracklisting:
A1 Stephen Disario - Filling The Void
A2 Stephen Disario - When They Fall
B1 Stephen Disario - Sixth Sense (Ketch remix)
B2 Stephen Disario - Sixth Sense

Sales Note
Conundrum Records is back for its third installment, presenting the sophmore release from label head Stephen Disario. The "When They Fall EP" showcases three original tracks alongside an exceptional remix by SYXT/Glukkon Records boss, Ketch. A long-standing and respected figure within the lively Los Angeles music scene, Stephen's signature stripped-back and pulsating sound takes center stage right from the outset. This EP further solidifies the burgeoning label's reputation as a distinguished hub for top-tier techno.

Starting things off is "Filling The Void", a moody and otherworldly track with a rolling groove and sharp percussion. The echoing, almost chant-like pads wrap you in a mysterious atmosphere, creating a sense of curiosity and anticipation.

The title track, "When They Fall", takes a more lively direction, driven by rhythmic percussion and spacey blips, along with a swelling bassline that adds extra depth and movement.

The B side of the EP features Ketch's remix of "Sixth Sense", where urgent percussive elements blend over a steady low-end foundation, guided by a strong kick drum that pushes the track forward with unwavering determination.

Bringing the release to a powerful conclusion is the original track "Sixth Sense", in which Stephen increases the energy, skillfully using ride cymbals and on-beat claps to highlight moments of high intensity. All of this is done while working within a more limited range of sounds, showcasing his ability to create captivating sonic stories within a controlled framework.

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It’s time to wake up to 1morning if you haven’t yet. “Modus Operandi” is the perfect spot to hop on board. The been-up-and-rising techno producer and DJ based in Los Angeles has been jetset all over the US playing parties coast to coast, dropping releases like his cannonball of a self-released EP “TRANSITIONS”, an upcoming split EP with Céilí on Mála Ádh, and steady staying on the remix grind. His DJ sets are all-vinyl, in conversation with the adventurousness, hypnotic tunes, pro-blends-but-keeping-it-raw mixing style of US techno DJ greats Robert Armani, DJ Rush, Joey Beltram, etc. This is no-bullshit, no-business, all-thriller techno for the real ravers. Not a throwback, this is the continuation of Legacy. Turn up, hydrate up, stay up.

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Tracklisting
A1 Sciahri - Dying Nature
A2 Sciahri - No Regrets
B1 Sciahri - Purity
B2 Sciahri - Aurora



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