REVIEWS – Techno/Hard/Acid
Reviews – Mark Neenan – Techno/Hard Techno/Acid
Send promos to – markneenanpromos@gmail.com
Welcome to my Techno review corner of Zone magazine. I’ve been a DJ and producer for nearly 30 years, driven by a deep passion for all shades of techno, while still holding love for breaks, electro, acid and old school sounds.
Along the way, I’ve launched the digital label Filth Infatuated (which hit its 100th release last year), co run unforgettable parties with my good friend MC DJ Ribbz, and held residencies with the amazing Collide and my Filthcast radio show is now on DI.FM, one of the longest-running global techno stations, after a great run of 8 years on the wicked Fnoob station (RIP).
From underground raves to major UK festivals, Amsterdam to Warsaw, I’ve lived and breathed the scene, and this page is where I share that same energy through music reviews.
TOP RELEASE 10/10
ENDLEC – INITIATE THE FUTURE EP (EMERALD 028)
The latest outing on Remco’s consistent Emerald imprint comes to us from the excellent Endlec. I have been a massive fan of Endlec’s techno for years with some mighty fine productions coming out on labels such as Mord, Analogue and Bpitch Control to name but three.
For this release, The Greek techno don delivers five tracks of pure, hard edged techno. The EP leans heavy on punchy, stripped back percussion and a rumbling low end, giving it a gritty warehouse feel. What really stands out are the oddball synths that creep in – quirky, unsettling tones that twist around the grooves and give each track its own strange personality. The production is sharp and uncompromising, yet there’s a rawness that keeps it firmly rooted in the underground. It’s dark, driving music designed for long nights and heavy systems. The stand out tracks for me are ‘Accelerator’, which has such a deep rumbly low end and ‘Morphing’ which has some well eerie and squelchy synth noises and zaps throughout.
RECOMMENDED RELEASE 10/10
PLAYER – STRINGENT [PLAYER RECORDS]
I am loving the recent resurgence of Jon Nuccle’s Player alias and this is yet another sure fire killer! Jon / Player is an absolute legend and one of the scenes good guys, who has rocked two of our Filth parties in the last few years with his Player Live sets, and these tracks will do exactly that – ROCK! Title track ‘Stringent’ is a monster of a rolling techno track with a heavy rasping acid line that weaves in and out and intensifies throughout, quality jacking beats and lovely energetic percussion propels it along – Huge! Up next is ‘When Im Bangin’ which is a big broken beat banger full of warped hoovers and clanking beats which features an ace M.I.A. – Bad Girls vocal sample (‘When my chain hits my chest’….) this is really cool, and will get played in a variety of sets I’m sure. Finally we enter Funksville with ‘Slumlord’ Merging a killer funk fuelled bassline and old school rave stabs, this makes for a rather fun and groovy crossover track. Top work once again from The Infamous Player!
9/10 LUCA MANIACI – DILEMMA [LUCA MANIACI LTD]
Luca Maniaci’s ‘Dilemma’ comes in heavy with five tracks of no nonsense techno, all locked at a fierce 140 bpm. The energy is raw and unrelenting, built on pounding rhythms and futuristic textures that demand a big system. It’s dark, powerful music made for the peak hours (and already supported by Richie Hawtin according to the blurb)
The whole EP is right up my street, steeped in futuristic sound design – metallic rhythms, spiralling synths, and hypnotic layers that create a sense of total immersion. It’s punishing and transportive, pushing intensity without losing its hypnotic pull. Great work Luca!
9/10 CRIME PARTNERS – SENSUAL SEDUCTION EP [PLANET RHYTHM]
Another set of reviews and more Planet Rhythm included, I cant get enough of this awesome label! Crime Partners are new to me I must admit but they hit hard on ‘Sensual Seduction’, a five track EP full of groove driven, industrial tinged techno. It’s heavy, upfront, and built to move a crowd, with old school influences woven seamlessly into modern hard hitting production.
My picks are two totally different tracks but equally as good. ‘Don’t Get Caught By The Cops’ is hard, loopy and full of synth line hypnotics (and added Police sirens and eerie background noises) whilst ’Like A Tatoo’ is totally different, chunky rolling techno full of funk and accompanied by some old school Piano keys and even a luscious female vocal signing ‘Sweet Love’ in the break. Both killers if used at the right time. Top drawer!
8.5/10 THE SIXTH SENSE – I WILL WEAR YOUR TEETH AS A NECKLACE [BRUTAL SPIRIT 04]
Well this one is a bit heavy! The Sixth Sense returns to Brutal Spirit with the beautifully titled ‘I Will Wear Your Teeth As A Necklace’, an eight track EP of uncompromising hard techno. From 139 up to 160 BPM, each track hits harder than the last. Its raw, punishing rhythms, industrial textures, and relentless energy dominate every second. This isn’t music for casual listening, it’s built for those who thrive in the underground, a ritualistic journey into the darker, unflinching side of techno. Heavy, immersive, and fiercely authentic, it’s a statement from a label that refuses to bend to trends. This will appeal to the new school of ‘Hard’ techno DJ’s (The neo rave / Teletech massive) as well as us hard techno / schranz Grandads! ‘Ovum’ is the track for me from this bundle, epic hard techno! Good stuff!
8.5/10 TARRECC – LONG DAYS SHORT YEARS EP [KONFLKT]
Tarrecc makes his KONFLKT debut with a sharp, three track EP that dives deep into stripped down techno. Built for the floor, each track is crafted for peak time impact, delivering relentless grooves with subtle twists that keep the night moving. It’s minimal but powerful and straight to the point, designed for DJs and dancers who appreciate raw, focused techno grooves! It’s a toss up on my favourite track between the title track ‘Long Days, Short Years’ with its nautical siren synth mesmerising you throughout, or the driving ‘Tired Since Tuesday’ with its crisp jacking hats and punchy drums. Solid release!
9.5/10 SAYTEK – BLEND ACID (Live) (RECORDED LIVE AT REBEL UNION, FOLD LDN) [ZODIAC COMMUNE RECORDS]
Wow! This is some serious Acid! I’m a big fan of Joseph Keevill (Saytek) and was gutted that a booking I had last year to play alongside him and The Advent got cancelled sadly. Here, Saytek unleashes a high voltage acid techno storm with his new live single ‘Blend Acid25’, captured and recorded live straight from FOLD London at one of Sterling Moss’ Rebel Union nights. Pounding kicks, squelchy 303 lines, and razor sharp percussion drive the track, delivering the raw energy of his legendary live sets. It’s a relentless, floor focused trip that fuses precision and chaos, a record made for those who crave the thrill of the underground. Great work!
9/10 VARIOUS ARTISTS (Feat Dimi Angélis, The Advent & Ribe) 10 YEARS – GOLF [CLERGY]
Another celebratory 10 years of Clergy V/A and this is a monster! Tracks from Benales, Hertz Collison, Albert Zhirnov, AgainstMe and Cleric himself. You know what to expect from Clergy – Quality produced underground techno full of machine funk grooves and this is certainly that! My pics though are The Advent & Ribe who craft a precise, hypnotic groove on ‘Cancel Culture’. Stripped back percussion and energetic hi-hats create a spacious yet relentless rhythm, perfect for peak time movement on the dancefloor. Then its that man again – Dimi Angélis who delivers a precision crafted peak time track with ‘Highwire’. A heavy kick drum and rolling sub bass create an irresistible low end drive full of movement, while tight percussion and hypnotic, machine like siren synths weave tension across the mix. It’s a dark, immersive techno journey built for the floor! Awesome sounds!
