Various Artists
Capitulo V

Inspired by his first bought techno vinyls back in the late 90s, TWR72 crafted his new project for OOM Records. Titled "iOi", it symbolizes a drum, with the 'i's as arms/hands or sticks and the 'O' as the drum itself.Each of the ten tracks boasts its own title, yet when the initial letters are combined, they spell out 'percussion.' Drums and percussion have long been pivotal to the essence of music, evolving from primitive beginnings to intricate forms. Their significance spans cultures worldwide, each with its own rich narrative.In techno, percussion is key, capable of moving listeners without other instruments. The late 90s and early 20s witnessed a surge of percussion-driven techno, enduring as timeless and functional pieces still embraced today. Yet, this enchantment has only been fleetingly replicated in the past two decades. "iOi" serves as an homage to that distinctive era.

DJ Hockey co-runs PPRZ alongside Adam 2 in Vancouver and has been holding it down in the vibrant Pacific Northwest techno scene for some solid years now. He has released on PPRZ, Modelfuture, RF, and Amphiboly, and here we have his vinyl debut for Fixed Rhythms. Four deep, psychedelic, heavy yet groovy, techno bumpers.Mystery. Evolution. Tumbling with your eyes closed into the Void.These are the right equipment for when you’re putting an open-eared and closed-eyed crowd to work.

Writing about techno is quite difficult without falling into cliché: there are only so many ways that you can saysomething about a music whose core elements are forged on deliberate repetition; where real talent is attributedto those who can find the perfect groove where nothing needs added or subtracted to hold the listener’s attention for upwards of five minutes.Such tracks are the hallmark of Tresor’s catalogue, and this joy in repetition can be found in works from Detroit,Berlin, Birmingham, Edinburgh, and more. And it is through this lens that Parisian artist, UFO95, focuses hisoutput, resulting in Backward Improvement, an EP that sits perfectly in the spectrum of techno found in theTresor chronology.The title itself makes an abstract reference to the influence of the classics of the genre, inspiring him to take adistinct less-is-more approach to production for this collection of stripped-down yet unrelenting techno chiselledfrom the live set which has fixed UFO95 as one of the next holdfasts for the future of the scene.Perhaps it is the fact the UFO95 only performs live that had led to such crisp and focussed studio productions.;each of the tracks showcase the artist’s burgeoning talent for creating the essential foundations of techno;perfect, looping, instinctual grooves that are counterbalanced by an apprehensive tension from off-key tones.Backward Improvement marks the addition of a new name in the list of techno’s best producers and proves thatwhile the genre may now be in its 40th year there are yet sonic explorations to be made and variations that areworth unearthing.

Dub led techno bangers with fast rhythms and groovy vibes.

Skudge appears courtesy of Lazy Reflex Complex for the label's third instalment. Skudge delivers two signature style cuts along with an ominous rework of 'Departure' by 543ff. The flip side is delivered by label head 543ff; three techno tools to make crowds move. Mastered by Audiosculpture.

Distangled brings you another gem of a re-issue. Barfly, a one-off by Wringler, is a little known and obscure Dutch release from the mid 90's and changes for quite some $ among those who know. Six cleverly produced house and techno tracks, raw and sometimes even with a hint of disco too. Including 3 previously unreleased tracks found on the original session tapes. Big tip!