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Both a fan of the number and the machine, Michigander Music boss Brian Kage has always related eight to the paths we take in life — and being on the right one. For the label's eighth release, Kage pays homage to electronic music's futuristic past by bringing it up to speed with the present, including reimagining one of his own releases from when net labels were a thing.

Opening with "808 and the Great Lakes State," there's a clear influence — in title and sound — from a certain seminal pioneering Manchester techno group, 808 State — who formed and debuted in '88, by the way. With the recent passing of one of its members, Andy Barker, the track exists as a tribute to the formative moments and blissful memories of those '90s experience. The most iconic touches of this new age techno and acid sound are all there, but the end result is something more subtle, more spacious, and more patient for the modern ear.

Kage follows up with a new mix, re-envisioning "Eight Ways" — a deep, pulsating techno journey originally released on Thinner almost 20 years ago. With the "808 Mix," Kage takes the mentally stimulating hypnotism of the original and emboldens it into something more body driven by way of 808 bass kicks and sharpened hi-hats — a matured version begging for immediate dance floor play. The underlying liquid pads remain, with symphonic layers of increasingly dramatic piano chords, fluttery synth lines, and a heavens-opening ebb and flow of angelic melodies.

Finishing off the release, "Learn to Surrender" is pure electronic Detroit techno through and through. Electrically charged dub chords build on top of a revolving synth and rhythmic bass line, interwoven to constantly propel the track forward. Midway through, meditative vocals provide a mantra for surrendering to life, having already led listeners to becoming lost in the fully immersive sea of sounds.

“808 and the Great Lakes State” is a purposeful, mental, and physical trip connecting the many points of electronic music — and of life itself — as only a truly timeless approach can.

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Coming off a successful transatlantic exchange, Brian Kage and his Michigander label keep the momentum, and the collaborative spirit, moving with an EP that hits closer to home. For any Detroit artist, working with Delano Smith would be on the bucket list, as one of the city's original, more influential DJs — before the D developed any of its "waves" — who would come into his own as a producer later to, once again, help mold the Techno City's sound. Make no mistakes about it, this tastemaker had a ripple effect back before techno even had a name, when it was just "progressive" music and mixing. The thing is, the feeling of admiration and respect here is mutual, from the moment Smith first stumbled across one of Kage's records and had to know who was making these sounds. This meeting of the minds happened organically and timely, with Keep 'em Movin’ as the result.

Opening the release is the title track, a driving number with pulsating synth tones and deep, call and response piano stabs. The ever so slightly pitched down vocals are modern and effortlessly cool, a style that resonates with today's dancefloors, but done tastefully, and with lyrical content that sets the record straight about what it really means to represent Detroit.

"D Spirit" takes an ancestral turn. This is spaced-out Detroit techno meets afro deep at its finest. Forward moving keys are bathed in deep, celestial pads as shuffling hats accented by light hand percussion beckon the body to move. Lively marimbas cut through the hypnotic undertones and awaken the senses with soulful appeal. A fluid bassline rumbles beneath while baroque pianos add tension and heighten the atmosphere.

The final track rounds the release out with an exclamation mark. For lovers of Delano Smith's infamous remix of "A Message for the DJ," "For the Music" will feel instantly familiar, if not almost its closely related deeper, distant cousin. Many will recognize its meditative musings, but here it's been re-contextualized into some true school, bumping, real-deal, dynamic Detroit shit.

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Detroit producers Omar S & Brian Kage team up to bring you “Thru the Madness EP.” “Thru the Madness” has all the elements of a classic dance music collaboration. The tune showcases Omar S raw and funky analog bass playing and drum programming combined with Brian Kage signature warm melodic synth lines and chord structures. The clever use of a catchy 90’s vocal sample helps solidify and unify the composition. “Thru the Madness (Honk & Nik Mix)” takes a deeper approach by adding a deep Detroit-style DX pad, Nile Rodger-esque funk guitars parts, and vintage drum breaks that will keep the party moving into the late night hours. Like Dutch & Dillon from Predator, some times you gotta “Get Thru the Madness!”

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Brian Kage returns on Michigander with the, “Best Kept Secret EP.” Kage once again provides three deeply emotional dance tracks filled with his signature warmth that immediately draw connections between personal memories and Michigan’s natural splendor. Best Kept Secret starts the record off with tones of hypnotic bells that cascade down from within minor chords that hypnotize the listener until they are met with swelling strings to tie the infectious grooves to intelligent vintage percussion. Lush vocals continue building into an atmosphere of nostalgia and eventually gives way to that moment of intimacy that can only be felt outdoors while exploring with a person they love. Lost on Old Free-soil Road features a detuned analog synth-line that winds up and down over a bed of spooky night-time forest field-recordings which are encompassed by a jackin’ 909 beat . Suddenly, juno stabs straight from the 80’s pierce through sending the syncopated grooves back the direction they came from taking dancers along for the joyful ride. Cruise Control on US-31 rounds out the record with an infectious blend of pitched wooden toms, warm mid-range bass, deep 303 lines, and a smoky pad straight from a vintage rhodes. All these elements help keep the composition positive & relaxing, while expertly conjuring the feeling of sun on your face. This tune is the perfect tool for any DJ interested in luring day-partiers to a space where they can’t resist bobbing their heads and enjoying their summer outside.

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After releases on FXHE, Deeplabs, and Planet-E, Brian Kage returns with “The Arc EP,” a new record on his new label, Michigander. “The Arc EP” is dedicated to celebrating hopeful and inspiring times in the city of Detroit. The Arc - Dark minor chord stabs emerge and echo around a solid concrete foundation of classic 909 style drum patterns and deep pulsating bassline hits. The structure builds until giving way to a break of lush symphonic strings that pay tribute to Detroit in a nostalgic manner. The Arc (Stringless Mix) has been crafted for creating and releasing cascades of tension in the darkest of warehouses. D Drive – A saturated synth lead effortlessly bounces through two octaves in a classic groove that is unmistakably from an alternative universe where the 80s never ended. This feel-good jam will get even the toughest of crowds smiling and rocking out. Transcending – This contemplative soundscape flings percussive hisses rippling through a deep melodic realm. An atmosphere of timeless synthesis provides reassurance that it was a great decision to come out wearing comfortable shoes and dressed to sweat.

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Nathan Alexander returns on NIX with a hand-stamped white label, unveiling the Skin EP on the 2nd of May. Nathan set out to craft techno that drives the body while maintaining a magnetic sense of mystique: “I didn’t want to make techno that felt inherently evil,” he explains. “I wanted these tracks to carry that moment of stepping into a hidden corner of the night, with glowing lights and a strange, hypnotic tune you’ve never heard before. You look around and everyone is moving to this unearthly groove, with no motive but to dance.” This ethos resonates across all three cuts. “Language” opens with sharp synth stabs and an undercurrent of tension - ideal for setting a moody, yet inviting tone in the early hours. “Pulsewidth” follows, a peak-time stomper brimming with powerful low-end and surreal sound design to send floors into a collective frenzy. Closing out the record, “Skin” extends into a seven-minute dive through tribal-laced percussions, warped vocal snippets, and hypnotic filter sweeps. A true hip mover, perfect for those moments when reality starts to blur and dancers lose themselves to the groove. Skin EP is a three-track journey into the thrill of nocturnal discovery, channeling a spooky, sexy energy that lingers long after the final beat. This is a limited release, don’t sleep on it.

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Tracklist
A1. Laurent Garnier – Back Where I Belong (Solaris Mix)
A2. Tal Fussman – Waiting

B1. Loloman - The Wall (Laurent Garnier ReWork)
B2. The Lost Souldancer - No More Voices


(each copy is numbered out of 500) COD3 QR cries "Give Me Four!" for their first vinyl-only release of 2025. Tracks by Laurent Garnier, Tal Fussman, Loloman plus Benny Rodrigues a.k.a. ROD unveils his new moniker, The Lost Souldancer.

COD3 QR cries "Give Me Four!" for their first vinyl-only release of 2025.

Label helmsman, Laurent Garnier delivers the first cut, setting the standard for "[QR]V.052.GMF.25". "Back Where I Belong (Solaris Mix)" is a monumental builder. Laurent once again brings his musical storytelling with layers upon layers of sound and melody alongside infectious beats.
Berlin resident and Survival Tactics label head, Tal Fussman is known for creating music that works in many settings and transcends genres. Fast becoming a COD3 QR regular having previously provided the deep "10247" for COD3 QR 016 and epic "If I Can" for "[QR]D.158.DWM.24". This time he returns with the upbeat "Waiting" and a heavy nod to retro soulful House.
Leading French producer Loloman creates music inspired by his extensive experience on the dancefloor alongside the roots of Detroit techno and Chicago house. On November's "[QR]D.320.MFS.24" he gave us "The Wall" which has now been masterfully reworked by Garnier.
Benny Rodrigues a.k.a. ROD unveils his new moniker, The Lost Souldancer. In his own words, Benny says: "The Lost Souldancer is about coping with the loss of what once was. Finding comfort in the invisible rather than what can be seen. Disconnect to connect in order to be loved rather than liked." "No More Voices" brings that feeling alive as a perfect closer to this soul-stirring EP.



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Wills has been carving out a place in the scene with precision and raw funk energy for a while. He was there at the starting line of Long Vehicle Records – helmed by Sevensol – with the now-classic LV1 release back in 2020 and is back behind the wheel once again.

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Nothing is the third album from DARKSIDE: nine transmissions of negative space, telepathic seance, and spectral improvisation. On their first two reinventions, Nicolás Jaar and Dave Harrington entered the studio with a clutch of scattered ideas to mold into what became the revered Psychic(2013) and Spiral (2021). But Nothing reflects a search for form borne out of spontaneous elliptical jams, acoustic riffing, and digital levitations. And in a fundamental shift from their first dozen years as a band, the duo recruited their longtime friend and collaborator, the drummer and instrument designer Tlacael Esparza, to become a full-time member. The outcome is magnetic and hieroglyphic. This album slips through the cracks of convention with serpentine guitars, extraterrestrial static, and cavernous drums. No band but DARKSIDE could have made Nothing, and in no moment but now.

Official Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKiS9DPARDg

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Detroit dub techno don Luke Hess says that this is his "most eclectic and techno-driven album to date" and that it blends together his signature subterranean sounds with his indelible Motor City touch. It again works well on cultured dance floors but is also a deeply spiritual album that will have your mind wandering to some lovely places. From the opening moments of 'Dokimion' you're sunk into widescreen soundscapes that pair painterly synths with immersive low ends. Cuts like 'Stoicheo' bring serene melodies and closer 'Hiketeria' is a misty, foggy cut that oozes late-night intimacy.

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Tornado Wallace arrives at Test Pressing with the main mix being a beautiful long track that develops over ten minutes, starting with keyboard melodies before the tracks goes into the club zone. The ‘Symphony Mix’ takes the train on an ambient mix with the Bitter Beats bringing fin for the DJ squad.

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