MUSIC REVIEWS – Mark Neenan – Techno/Hard/Acid – Issue 051 –

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.

Submissions – markneenanpromos@gmail.com

10/10 – TOP RELEASE –

CHRIS LIEBING – EVOLVER LP [CLR]

Certified German techno legend and CLR head honcho Chris Liebing delivers his first full solo techno Album and it is a thing of beauty! Titled Evolver, it lands on 27th March. The album is Shaped by three decades at the core of global club culture, the album distils the raw power of ’90s Omen and Tresor into a sharply focused modern vision.

Big collaborations with Luke Slater, Charlotte de Witte, Speedy J, The Advent and others add depth, but every detail reflects Liebing’s singular direction. From punishing industrial grooves to acid soaked tension and moments of cinematic atmosphere, Evolver is an epic, perfectly balanced journey.

This record captures both the dark, physical energy of the dance floor and a producer at the height of his craft, with 13 tracks in total (which comes out on a sexy double Vinyl package as well as digitally) I will try and pick my top 3 of the Collabs from the album:

Chris Liebing & Speedy J’s “Double Split” is a relentless cut that hits hard from the first beat. Driven by a dark, heavy sub-bass and searing acid tones, the track fuses industrial, machine like percussion with a raw, pulsing energy. It’s unflinching, hypnotic, and a powerful impact tune for the heads!

Chris Liebing & The Advent’s “Subjective Immortality” is a tough, rolling techno bruiser. With relentless drive, hard hitting kicks and clanking, industrial percussion, the track keeps momentum locked from start to finish and is overlayed with luscious futuristic atmospherics. An ace raw and powerful slice of underground energy from these two techno dons!

“Symphonie des Seins” featuring Charlotte de Witte’s is an ultra-modern hard techno anthem packed with searing acid lines, crisp percussion and a driving bassline. Charlotte’s own vocals cut through the mix with intensity, adding a fierce, commanding edge to an already powerful floor ready track. This will be a huge crossover track for this summer’s festivals I’m sure! 10/10 – Album of the Month, you need to give this whole album a listen from beginning to end!

9/10 – RECOMMENDED –

DULEP – DISCHARGE EP [APEX RECORDINGS]

Always been a big fan of APEX, which was the off shoot of D.A.V.E. The Drummer’s legendary Hydraulix label and has been going from strength to strength. It is now under the guidance of Dan Johnson (909 Riot) and what a mighty fine job he is doing.

For this latest release we have Dutch producer DULEP (Fresh from killer EP’s on Naked Lunch & Parallel Thoughts) who dives deep into the shadows with this latest four track EP. An absolute quality slab of hard edged, hypnotic techno that feels ripped from the underbelly of ’90s Europe.

From start to finish, the release is driven by thunderous kicks and thick, gritty low end pressure. The grooves are relentless, almost trance inducing, there’s a rawness here, metallic textures, brooding atmospheres, and stripped back arrangements that keeps everything focused and functional.

Each track stands firmly on its own, yet together they form a proper late night journey of dark and unapologetically underground sounds. If I had to pick a favourite though it would have to be title track ‘Discharge’ with it’s searing hypnotic bleepy synth work and relentless rolling groove, this is an absolute bomb! A strong statement from DULEP, I will be going through his back catalogue now that’s for sure! 9/10 – Great work DULEP & APEX!

8/10 – BEAU DIDIER – NEW YORK EP [BEAU]

Crisp, Chunky, Shuffly modern hardgroove is the order of the day with this latest solo, self-released 4 track EP from Beau Didier. I’ve been a fan of Amsterdam based Beau’s work for quite a while, with some epic releases on labels like Mutual Rytm & Frenzy. His tracks are always so playable and fun, and certainly quite diverse. For me though, the extra growl to the machine funk vibes, on ‘’Pulsing Growl’’ is my favourite, with extra added zaps, quirky noises and tight rhythmic percussion, this is a beauty! Quality work Beau! 8/10

8.5/10 – UMEK – RITMOLICIOUS EP [SPECIAL SERIES]

Always nice to receive promos from Slovenian legend Umek. Huge fan of his 90’s techno (Brotax has NEVER left my box) and an even bigger fan of the electro under his Zeta Reticular guise.

Here he serves up 4 tracks of modern and slickly produced tribal hardgroove. Title track ‘’Ritmolicious’’ is full of epic Latin sounding vocals, ‘’Kappa One’’ is a bit chunkier and has ace African tribal chanting, ‘’Ventro Ardente’’ sees Umek go down a more tribal disco affair. All three are tracks, however my pick just has to be the final track of the EP – ‘’The World Of Rave’’ Tougher driving beats, solid groove fuelled bassline, marching tribal hats and a cool edited version of a classic vocal ‘’It’s Friday night, do you know where your teenagers are…….’They could have ventured into, The World Of The Rave’’ add to this some epic pads after the break and you have a dancefloor classic in the making! One for the Summer Festivals! 8.5/10

9/10 – L.K. – TURMOIL EP [ONH.CET]

Top Lisbon artist A.Paul (Naked Lunch) delivers a class 3 tracker under his L.K. alias on his great onh.cet label. Dark futuristic hypnotic industrial vibes are what’s on offer here, packed with peak time tension! ‘’Sacrilegio’’ has a class mesmeric groove to the bass, an epic metallic synth and tight shuffling percussion ‘’Whisper’’ goes dark and mysterious, oozing in intense pressure, full of space like atmospherics. ‘’Turmoil’’ stands out for me though, with class clanking percussion and marching hats which really drives the energy of the track, add some trippy synth zaps and a great underlying bass groove and this is one track that’s not going to leave my crate for a very long time! Three class, peak time DJ friendly thumpers from the Portuguese legend! 9/10

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8.5/10 – MARIO OCHOA – CRUSHED / FORSAKEN [TERMINAL M]

Monika Kruse’ quality Terminal M label returns with another fine slab of modern big room techno. Mario Ochoa’s latest pair of tracks are built for peak time impact. Both cuts showcase sleek, modern production and deep, rolling basslines that drive straight through the mix.

Blending tougher techno energy with sweeping, trance tinged melodies, each track moves effortlessly between euphoric breakdowns and powerful, floor shaking drops. The contrast hits hard, emotional lift one moment, pure techno force the next. ‘’Crushed’’ is my pick of the two, a really beautiful diverse track. Versatile crossover tracks for big rooms, festival stages, and Ibiza nights! 8.5/10

9.5/10 – CHRIS LIBERATOR & STERLING MOSS – CULTURE OF ACID [STAY UP FOREVER]

SUF Legends and all round top guys Chris Liberator and Sterling Moss have released this epic 8 track album titled Culture Of Acid. The Album opens up with the future classic ‘’ We Are The Freaks’’ which has been played in nearly every set I’ve been fortunate to hear of Chris’ for the past 2 years and features Doghouse on the vocals calling out all the ‘Misfits’ and ‘Freaks’ in the house (You know the one!)

Personally I am loving ‘’Acid Society’’, ‘’Germany Is On Cocaine’’ and ‘’Command The revolution’’ which has a luscious breakdown moment, but for me there are two stand out tracks: ‘’Drum Machine Annihilation’’ has some lovely old school classic SUF squelchy acid action, one hell of a machine funk groove and you can never have enough Cowbell eh! ’’303 Uprising’’ is an absolute warehouse pounder, full of dark acid lines, driving energetic percussion and a rasping epic key changing bassline, add some poignant vocals and one almighty build up into the mix and we have a certified banger! Great work lads, A mighty fine Underground album! 9.5/10

9/10 – VARIOUS ARTISTS – ONE HUNDRED [CHICAGO JAXXX]

Josh Moseley’s awesome Chicago Jaxxx imprint reaches the big milestone of 200 releases. This promo literally came an hour before the deadline, but I had to squeeze it in. There are 23 tracks in total from the likes of ATFR, Alavux, Eddie Riot, Lester Fitzpatrick, PS11, Ron S & Slobodan to name but a few. Far to many to go through thoroughly on here sadly, but I will whiz through a few of my favourites…

There’s bleeping jacking vibes from Angel Alanis & Maria Goetz, quality Acid from Tim Vitek, hard as nails bangers from Steel Grooves, Mark Therblig & Ronnie Vineyard, a soulful deep jam from Microdot and we’re even treated to some dark and quirky Electronica from Backwards Compatible. Brandon DeCarlo, Gettoblaster, Jon Perx, Mind2Mind & Sirius Brown all deliver heaters too, but my picks are:

Andrei Morant ‘’Carbon Plague’’ a dark, stripped back industrial groover with gritty textures and a relentless pulse, which lock you into a hypnotic rhythm. Frankie Vega’s newest cut ‘’Savanna Pulse’’ is a tightly engineered hardgroove weapon. Crisp drums and rolling percussion drive evolving build ups that keep the tension simmering, while flashes of infectious jack give it undeniable movement. My man Hooraa’s latest ‘’Jack’s Work’’ is a hard rolling jam that wastes no time getting to work. Tight, busy percussion snaps around a driving groove, while shadowy undertones keep the mood locked in the basement. Tough, focused, and built for late nights! Congratulations on this epic milestone Josh & Team, ace release! 9/10