Aaron Funk scrambles our brains again with his 2010 release, My So-Called Life. It’s a 10-track nightmarish collage of breakcore, glitch, drum n bass, 90’s techno and jungle—similar in style to Detrimentalist (2008). Like Filth (2009), this album leaves you mentally drained, awe-struck, and feeling a little bit dirty. It’s amazing that after all these years of listening to Venetian Snares, I’m still blown away by the complexity and energy of these tunes. To hear more, check out Venetian Snare on iTunes.

MP3 1: Venetian Snares – Posers and Camera Phones
MP3 2: Venetian Snares – Sound Burglar
MP3 3: Venetian Snares – Hajnal2

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It’s been a while since I’ve posted techno on Sawtooth, so I went through all the Extrawelt 2010 releases and pulled out a few favorites. This German duo, Arne Schaffhausen and Wayan Raabe, has been producing some of the best minimal techno since 2005. The following 3 tracks are from 3 separate releases, Mosaik EP, NeverEverDiscoTricks, and Neuland EP.

If you like these tunes, you might also like Joey Beltram, Dominik Eulberg, Boris Brejcha and Gabriel Anan. To hear more, check out Extrawelt on iTunes.

MP3 1: Extrawelt – Trenchcoat
MP3 2: Extrawelt – Confuzzled
MP3 3: Extrawelt – Arples

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We Hear You is one of my favorite albums from 2009. If you think you’re unfamiliar with Luke Vibert, maybe you’ve heard of Plug, Wagon Christ, The Ace of Clubs, Kerrier District or Spac Hand Luke—all aliases he’s released material under. We Hear You is a fun, diverse album blending elements from hip hop, house, acid techno, disco and more contemporary styles like dubstep. Since I already missed the boat on a timely review, I’ll skip right to the tunes. Better late than never.  ~ tom

Buy We Hear You from iTunes

MP3 1: Luke Vibert – House Stabs
MP3 2: Luke Vibert – Belief File
MP3 3: Luke Vibert – Hot Sick

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German DJ/Producer, Dominik Eulberg, is one of the most innovative minimal/techno artists of the decade. Drawing his inspirations and sounds from nature, he creates complex organic arrangements that build and evolve effortlessly. Each sound is treated like a musician in a symphony—weaving in and out of an electronic landscape. At an average of eight minutes, Eulberg’s tracks take on a life of their own—progressing through multiple moods and styles. Most critics that concentrate on his ambient and more organic tracks fail to recognize the darker and dissonant tunes that Eulberg is so great at creating. Conjuring up hard driving beats and warped distorted synths seem like second nature.

Ever since Eulberg stepped foot on the scene, he’s been picking up awards and nominations. Best Newcomer of the Year, Top Producer, Best Remixer, Best Remix, Top DJ—and the list goes on and on. He’s remixed tracks for artists including Hot Chip, Gabriel Ananda, Extrawelt, DJ Hell, Steve Barnes, Roman Flugel and Nathan Fake—many of which received awards. When Eulberg’s not in the studio or above the dance floor, he can be found in the woods observing birds and soaking up new inspirations.  ~ tom

Below are a few original tracks and collaborations. Check out Eulberg on iTunes for more full length albums and remixes.

MP3 1: Dominik Eulberg & Gabriel Ananda – Eucalypse Now!
MP3 2: Dominik Eulberg – Sansula (Oder Der Letzte Grund)
MP3 3: Extrawelt – Was Ubrig Bleibt (Dominik Eulberg’s Das Es Remix)
MP3 4: Dominik Eulberg – Der Traum Vom Fliegen
MP3 5: Kollektiv Turmstrasse – Luechtoorn (Dominik Eulberg Remix)

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I don’t normally listen to tech house, but Pig & Dan’s “Terminate” is one of the best tracks I’ve heard all year. It’s a relentless nine and a half minute techno anthem, with the first minute consisting only of a 4/4 kick on a bed of effects. Anticipation builds as new elements are strategically layered in. The 4-note bassline seems like a solid, immovable object, until an unexpected alien synth solo breaks it away. Over a minute later, the beat drops back in like an anvil to your face, now with bit-crushed arpeggiations. The apex happens at 5:18 when the heavens open up and new synth stabs consume all senses. You can get lost in it with your eyes closed. The track slowly returns to it’s original form and fades out with a smooth high pass filter. Every second is worth it, so don’t miss this one.

“Terminate” was released on the Terminate 12″ January 7, 2009 by Cocoon Recordings. The b-side, “Organix,” is a warbled hypnotic groove that never really takes off. It has cool effects and sounds, but lacks the impact of the a-side.

MP3: Pig & Dan – Terminate

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