Environment, by Liuos

Environment is a new Dub-Techno EP by producer Liuos, out now on the wonderful Cold Tear Records!

The EP itself is a lovely little listen. The 4 lengthy songs are the perfect balance of warmth and chill – with soothing pads flowing behind pulsing cool kicks. Much in the tradition of the rest of Cold Tear’s discography, the techno is incredibly atmospheric.

Allowing yourself to become hypnotized by the rhythm can lead to another listening experience that is equally as enjoyable – peeling back the dub techno layers to soak in the pure atmospheric ambience that each track is built atop of.

Environment is a great addition to any Dub-Techno playlist or collection, it’s also a great place to start for those new to the genre thanks to it’s pure nature and digestible runtime. Support the artist and the label by getting the digital edition today from Bandcamp!

Walking, by Docetism

Classic and satisfying dub-techno sounds from Docetism, brought to us by the amazing Nichts records of Poland. Walking is a 5-track EP with each track taking aim at a different angle of dub-techno sound. Perhaps you could call it a master-class in this genre, just because the style and essence is boiled down appropriately from track to track. Deep pulsing sub-bass, echoing and pulsing plucks, all wrapped up in lush crispy atmospherics. It’s a clever little collection of tracks, and will find a nice home in any collection…

Ileus, by Daniel[i]

Lowless Records presents us with this lovely dub techno 4-track EP by Daniel[i]. Lush and vibrant while maintaining a nice relaxed atmosphere, Ileus is a hypnotically atmospheric project with satisfying depth.

Exploring different corners of deep techno and soundscape electronics, Daniel[i] builds off foundations of soft rhythmic elements, layered meticulously with luscious pads and synths sprinkled around. A wonderful balance of light and dark – that subtle melancholy vibe I adore so much.

Unfortunately the Vinyl has already sold out – but you can stream the release and purchase the digital version still via bandcamp!

Microcosmos, by Heavenchord

True, pure dub-techno vibes brought to us by the crew at Hello Strange – this fresh full-length from Heavenchord is pulsing with fresh energy and signature mellow tone. Wandering across 7 tracks and 2 remixes, we are greeted by deep and round bass, steady rhythms and lush chords (as one would expect!). It’s quite a relaxed listen, with a very nice flow both overall and within the individual tracks. Microcosmos 3 is a favorite with a definite old school dub techno vibe sounding straight out of the early 2000’s with those echo’d hits and laid back yet excited pace.

Sedative EP, by Heavenchord

Brand new from Russian label project Secret Domain is a lovely EP from ambient-dub producer Heavenchord. I have become a big fan of Heavenchord this past year, I must say the alias truly suits the music, lush and heavenly tones and beautiful chordal arrangements are integral to the producers atmospheric and relaxing style. Leaning towards the ambient side of dub-techno, the featured players here are definitely the round pulsing synths and bubbly expansive pads. When percussion does enter the scene, it is far from overwhelming, imitating the rhythm of the current under a calm stream.

These 5 long-form tracks might as well be considered a full length album instead of an EP given the playing time. Regardless, the tracks are expansive and curious, full of places to explore. Healthy use of textural flourishes to accompany the ebb and flow of the synthesizers is a common theme, utilizing field recordings in quite a satisfying way.

Much as the title of the EP suggests, you may find yourself sedated by these tracks – track 2 I found especially hypnotic, turning my casual listening sessions to an introspective self-guided breathing meditation. Ultimately this is a great relaxing record, it embodies some of my favorite aspects of this kind of music – mellow enough to throw on in the background, but very rewarding when you take a closer more considerate listen.

If you hear something you like, be sure to check out Secret Domain – they have been curating a wonderful platform of atmospheric dub-techno music, with plenty more Heavenchord tunes to satisfy your craving for more…

Cornflower and Camelia, by Thomas Carmody & Altone

New dub-techno sounds from Lithuanian label Cold Tear Records , home to some favorites like Vytis, Joergmueller, Slownoise and Heavenchord, we have a nice and mellow 4-track EP collaborative effort from Thomas Carmody & Altone – Cornflower and Camelia. It’s a tight and pleasant collection of tracks with lots of atmospheric play and subtle sound evolution. Hearty in length, the producers don’t rush the movement – building around slow and steady changes. Repeat listens will only leave you more satisfied than before.

MPH EP05, by Monophonia

From Brazilian netlabel Microforma comes this brief yet satisfying 4-track by Monophonia titled MPH EP05.

Clinical is presentation from the naming to the artwork, this one allows the sound to be the driving focus. Without the clutter of other forced interpretations, we are presented with 4 deeply satisfying minimal techno works – can we call them tracks? At almost 2 minutes a piece, these can be more perceived as the most exquisite loops you’ve ever experienced. Post-Techno indeed, short enough for fleeting attention spans, but addicting enough that you want to come back once it’s over. Rich and wholesome synthesizers construct microcosms in an instant, only needing moments to latch onto the host and inject the memory of eons…

Introduction to Docetism: Trees & Saints

There seems to be a churning energy happening all over the underground music scene currently, and in an interesting way it all seems to be tied into impressively large projects! Here we have presented by polish Ambient/Dub label Nichts 2-20 track collections of Docetism tracks from the past 7 years. DAUNTING?! A little bit, but it’s equally as delicious and delightful.

Docetism – who has released projects across some of my favorite labels in the past (Silent Season, Rohs! Records) is no stranger to the dub techno scene, boasting a sprawling catalog of full lengths, EP’s and singles. It’s no wonder long time label partner Nichts would aim to give listeners a crash course per-say. As stated on the releases bandcamp page, for a new listener it’s “A good place to start”.

The sounds themselves are pure dub-techno bliss. Docetism presents a distinct voice and flavor however, often utilizing much more movement in chords and progressions than others working in the genre. Raw musicality blends perfectly with the subtle palette of sounds and instrumentation, especially on tracks like Hedera Helix [Golden Bough] or Requiem [Armenia].

Tracks leap in and out of textural ambient and modern classical ideas, all very much welcome in context, eventually leading the listener back to a healthy groove. Out of the two collections I would say I have listened to “Trees” more, but there is plenty of quality to be found in both albums. The kicker? Nichts is offering these both at name-your-own-price, so if you want a nice place to start your dub-techno collection look no futher!

Subtraktive, by cv313

Echospace kicks back into action this year with an amazing remastered and reimagined project – subtraktive by cv313. A healthy detailed explanation regarding the history of this piece can be found on the albums bandcamp page – recounting the original incarnation from 2007. Subtraktive is a massive atmospheric exercise in dubby ambient techno, with the release highlighting 4 different angles of the same energy. Including unique segments culled from live performances, creating some very enjoyable longform tracks.

The project is available digitally as well as an impressive CD set containing the standard release along with 3×3″ minidiscs.

Different Worlds Compilation, by Drift Deeper Recordings.

Different Worlds is a new Various Artists compilation, put together and released by the UK’s Drift Deeper Recordings. Gathering an international roster of producers, Different Worlds does a magnificent job of highlighting the subtle differences in Deep-House style and interpretation from around the globe.

With a healthy 13 tracks, Different Worlds is a lovely long-player with a great energy. It has introduced me to a few deep-house producers I was unaware of, so I definitely encourage giving this one a listen! You can stream the whole thing via Bandcamp or purchase a digital copy from the label!