Marcel Dettmann - Kontra-Mokira-Mixes [Kontra Musik]

We covered the last Kontra Musik release, 016 by Kondens, and as with that release (and the previous tracks before that) there's quality stamped right through it. The Berghain influences are in full force as Marcel Dettmann returns to the label. He appeared on remix duties on Agaric / One's KM005. But this time around he's taking full control.

Using parts, samples and inspiration from Swedish experimental dub/drone act Mokira, Dettmann delivers two tracks. Factory Report 1 is an excursion into atmospheric dub. The usual detailed manipulation of delays and reverb allow you to drift along effortlessly. Factory Report 2 is more aggressive and up tempo. A true peak time Berghain special.

KM 017 A1. Marcel Dettmann- Factory Report 1 by KONTRA-MUSIK
KM 017 B1. Marcel Dettmann-Factory Report 2 by KONTRA-MUSIK

The release is expected to land in all the usual shops around January time so keep a look out for it. It's another Record Box essential item from Kontra Musik

EarToGround pres James Ruskin @ East Village (17th Dec 10)

It's about that time of year again when everything turns into a cheesy Xmas party. EarToGround are doing things slightly differently. Well i say slightly, more like massively. Instead of Jingle Bells, White Christmas, Santa Baby and Little Drummer Boy on constant repeat, they'll be providing a straight up techno soundtrack to help celebrate the birth of the baby jesus.

James Ruskin will be well known to underground techno fans as he's one of the UKs biggest talents. Chris Finke also is another rising star making a solid name for himself around the country and further a field. The rest of the line up consists of Slash Dot Dash resident, Chris Stanford and ETG frontman Gareth Wild.

Tickets are on sale through Resident Advisor until 5pm tonight otherwise it'll be more on the door. Make sure you wrap up warm and brave the cold outdoors because it's going to get hot in the East Village Basement tonight!

Quantec - My Safe Harbour [Echocord 50]

Ecohocord have just released their 48th EP this week with Resoe's 'The Black Void Of Space' complete with a remix from Sigha (go buy it now, it's amazing) but today we're looking forward to their 50th release.

It comes from serial dub technoist, Sven Schienhammer aka Quantec. No stranger to the label, previous releases include his second album 'Cauldron Subsidence' and his 'Subliminal State', 'Unusual Signals', 'Moonstruck' EPs and also the sister label, Echocord Colour on which he released his 'Ray Of Hope' EP.

#50 is more of the same high quality dub techno as we've come to expect from Echocord, and Sven was kind enough to post the title track 'My Safe Harbour' on his soundcloud page. As with all his music this is another perfectly crafted piece. Full of groove it grows and evolves through detailed intimate production. Different sounds come at you from all angles but the arrangement makes sure that everything has a purpose, no excess or wastage.

Quantec - My Safe Harbour | Forthcoming on Echocord 050 by Quantec

We expect to see this hitting the shops early next year and no doubt you'll find it in all the best record shops. More info can be found on Quantec and Echocord here

Quantec Facebook Fan Page

Quantec Myspace

Echocord Website

Echocord Myspace

Videos: Sandwell District @ Timewarp Holland (4th Dec 10)

Photo by Luke Garwood

Winter is always warmed up by one of our favourite festivals, Timewarp, in one of our favourite countries, Holland, and this time they switched it from Rotterdam to one of our favourite cities, Amsterdam. So far everything is looking rather promising but just to make it that much sweeter the guys at Cosmopop decided to get our boys, Sandwell District, involved too.

Held in Sporthallen Zuid, a sports centre near Schipol Airport, filled with 40,000 wanting clubbers, the stage was set. Darko Esser and Steve Rachmad did stellar jobs on warm up duty before Sandwell District took the stage. And they only just made the stage too. Schipol was having difficulties caused by the snow so Dave and Karl's travel plans changed drastically. Originally intending to fly from Berlin straight to Amsterdam, they instead flew to Dusseldorf and had to get a taxi to Amsterdam and arrived only 20 mins before the start of their set. Anyway they simply shrugged all the problems aside and went to work in the only fashion they know how!

Unlike in October @ Berghain, when i was unable to get some videos (rules is rules) I took full advantage this time round. And here they are

Plenty more videos can be found on our Youtube Page