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12"
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BALANS 024EP
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After her well received 707 Collision EP on Balans Records earlier in 2018 (BALANS 023EP), the Parisian DJ and producer Hemka returns on the Dutch imprint with Familiar, presenting four stomping, big-room techno cuts. "Familiar #1" sets the tone of the EP with its fast-paced twisted rhythms, followed by yet another fierce track perfectly suited for dark warehouse raves. On the B-side "Familiar #3" rolls forward and things get trippier while its steady cycling groove remains warm and soulful. "Familiar #4" shuts things down in a more seductive, playful mood adding a little Detroit hypnotism into the mix.
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12"
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BALANS 023EP
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The first installment of 2018 for Balans is from the talented Parisian DJ and producer, Hemka. "707 Collision" rushes in with subtly shifting groove repetition, suspenseful melodies, and echoes of Detroit. The atmospheric "Nocturnal Rounds" keeps the fast-paced rhythm with added sci-fi flavor -- peak-time techno at its best. Balans boss, Tripeo, offers his own interpretation to the title track and following in that groove he works his magic to ecstatic, infectious effect in a playful, funky mood. "707 Collision (Tripeo Beatless Tool)", on the other hand, swaps the pressure for something much lighter -- a sublime journey to the deepside.
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12"
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BALANS 021EP
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The Dutch label Balans Records returns with its 21st installment. Having previously released on Z.I.P.P.O's Fides imprint, 3KZ, a collaboration between Z.I.P.P.O and Kalean, now bring their powerful four-tracker Not From Here to Darko Esser's imprint. "Not From Here" opens the EP with its flowing grooves and eerie pads to create a beautiful techno track followed by "Nature Of Motion" that offers an astral like immersion to the listener with its haunting melodic rhythms. "Circles" and "Times" switches up the vibe in a more intense and playful mood, resulting in a finely balanced EP of atmospheric driving techno.
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12"
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BALANS 020EP
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Italian artist Drafted presents his Balans debut, the Frames From The Lake EP. The title-track fills the air with a thick suspense reminiscent of a mystical fairytale before "Frequency Graven" dives straight into a persistent kick coordinated with fluttering chords. "Shaded Impacted" delivers a deeper bass that introduces a progression into a climax of heavenly dissonance and relentless hi-hats. "Vortex Empire," on the other hand, features contradictory rhythms that dance atop stirring atmospheres.
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12"
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BALANS 019EP
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Benny Rodrigues aka ROD has had a strong relationship with the Dutch Balans label and its owner after releasing the label's fourth release in 2011. He opens this EP with "Float," evoking is a nostalgic voyage into the unknown as a traditional flute whistles a techno lullaby before "Lego" engages the listener with the sounds of watery blips scattered throughout. "3yr" is a mellow track that steadily climbs into a euphoric blend of dub-inspired chords to form an elegant composition. The composition of "Kloduba" cleverly corresponds with "3yr," as its gentle patterns gradually develop to harmonize together.
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12"
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BALANS 018EP
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Balans welcomes the mythic Mike Parker for his debut on the label, a four-track EP exemplifying his abstract style of eccentric analog resonance. "Transgression and Punishment" is characteristic of Parker's classic fluctuating rhythms; the hypnotic, driving "Smoke from Burning Fields" conversely opens with a solid, striking bassline highly suitable for a damp and dark dancefloor. "The Freezing Process" dives deep into the unknown where frequencies, submerged underwater, travel through the unfamiliar depths of the deep dark sea. "The Midnight Zone" launches into ceaseless high-pitched oscillations, with a marching beat propelling the mind into a mesmerized state.
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12"
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BALANS 017EP
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Swedish-born Staffan Linzatti presents his second release on the Dutch imprint Balans, following 2013's View from the Collapsing Centre (BALANS 011EP). Dividing in Two is an energetic two-track EP consistent with the label's vision of delivering classic techno rhythms. "Dizziness" opens the EP with a hypnotizing yet airy signal, immediately captivating. Combined with a rolling bass and quintessential claps, it is sure to enchant any listener. On side B, "Clarity" takes a things in a new direction, opening straight into a full-blown kick with hi-hats that persist throughout the track.
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12"
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BALANS 016EP
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Lebanon-born, Stockholm-based techno DJ and producer Simon Haydo is an exceptional talent who has already made waves with releases on Studio Barnhus and his own label, DEM. Here, he delivers four trademark hypnotic little monsters; classic- and retro-sounding tracks that are nevertheless undeniably contemporary. It's Haydo's strong point to be able to create a lot of tension, suspense, and dynamics with only a few elements, very much like such old masters as Daniel Bell and Robert Hood.
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BALANS 015EP
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The Balans roster is growing evermore internationally with fresh Moscow signing Nphonix. The Russian producer made big waves in the global drum & bass and dubstep scene, but is no stranger to juke, acid and techno, as he has proven on previous releases. For the Benway EP's title-track, a collab with fellow Russian producer Apobothra, the term "monster track" is an understatement. "Black Acid" and "Nebrakada" on the flip have the same sonic signature, but are more trippy by nature. Both tunes reveal Nphonix's dubstep background of 135-140 bpm tempos, without losing any of their funk through pulsating bass grooves.
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12"
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BALANS 014EP
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Balans welcomes UK rising star Jordan Peak on board for his first fully-fledged techno release. Jordan's first steps into purist techno territory appear more like giant leaps. All four tracks sound like he has been making techno tunes for years. "Black Paint" kicks of a funk-fuelled groove accompanied by modern day dub stabs and fx programming. Follow up "Crocodile Tears" brings memories of early Slam/Soma records to mind, updated to 2014. On the flipside, you'll find two dark, hypnotic groovers -- relentless in their pace, both with catchy melody lines that'll stick in your brain for weeks to come.
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12"
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BALANS 013EP
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Balans was handed a demo from a totally unknown producer that instantly blew them away. The deep, brooding darkness, offbeat bass line and drone-y sound design got them hooked within a few seconds. More tunes were needed, so Dars got in the studio and came up with two more amazing tracks that follow the same dark atmospherics as "All Is Tainted." "Conflicting Principles of Behavior" and "Revolutionary Feedback" showcase the amazing talent of the Rotterdam-based philosophy student and will mark the start of a fruitful collab between Dars and Balans. If you love your techno deep, dark, and ultra-hypnotic, you won't be disappointed.
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BALANS 012EP
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Cadans is the super-secret techno alter-ego of a very well-known and respected drum 'n' bass/dubstep producer. The Balans label has known and followed Cadans for many years and are very excited to release the first EP of his new endeavor. All three tracks have been road-tested extensively by label boss Darko Esser and now finally will be documented on precious wax. Basically, it's a triple A-side record -- "Fix," "Samsa," and "Millian" are all peak-time, stripped-down industrial machine-funk monsters -- a trio of bass-heavy battle weapons which will leave any dancefloor shattered.
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12"
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BALANS 011EP
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Swedish futurist Staffan Linzatti has joined ranks with Balans. He delivers four transmissions of alienating techno. Bleeps, haunting strings, and 909 drum machines going mental. His work has always sounded unpredictable, brooding, and dark, and seemed to follow musical rules from another realm. It's as if these four tracks are delivered to us from a wormhole from the other side of the galaxy. Early support comes from Jeff Mills and others.
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12"
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BALANS 010EP
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Amsterdam's Stefan Vincent unleashes these four gems into the world. Both "Conflate Four" and "Five" are about as trippy as it gets, reminding us of the golden '90s era of psychedelic Detroit and Berlin techno. Stefan showcases a different side of himself on "Fool Me Again" and "Welder." Two downtempo, electronic, ambient cuts. "Welder" embraces futuristic synths and abstract, alienating sound design, while "Fool Me Again" is Detroit melancholy at its best: try and not get goosebumps.
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12"
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BALANS 009EP
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Finland's finest techno export Samuli Kemppi joins ranks with Balans. He delivers two outstanding tracks with the trademark Samuli sound: sci-fi, hypnotic space-funk. Both tunes sound futuristic and nostalgic at the same time, with warmth, textures and industrial cold grooves fighting for the foreground. On remix duties we find two Dutch heavyweights hiding behind their puristic techno alter-egos. Benny Rodrigues as ROD reworked "Seeker" into a big-room DJ tool and Darko Esser put on his Tripeo mask for a subtler approach.
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