Yan Cook Delivers 4-Track Minimal Techno EP, Cold Spots, via ARTS

John Cameron — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 22:34:49 +0000

Selector’s Sounds series follows a procedure that puts music quality before status or industry relationships. Learn how it works.

Prolific Ukrainian producer Yan Cook has followed up last year’s Inferno EP and Counterclockwise EP with an effort via ARTS imprint Artscore. Cold Spots, as it’s titled, comprises four minimal techno cuts. It released in digital and vinyl formats on February 5th.

The title track is driven as much by a signature Yan Cook metallic tone as it is by purposeful percussion and a smooth bass line. “Infrared” and “Shapeshifter” each offer a darker permutation of the same style, whereas “Olympus Mons” takes a tastefully melodic approach. Each single succeeds in packing a sophisticated concept into a single motif, at once functional as a DJ tool and primed for introspective listening.

Cold Spots by Yan Cook

Yan Cook Revisited

Yan Cook was born in Kiev, Ukraine and discovered techno at the age of 16. He adopted his current alias in 2011 after releasing music under separate monikers; his current one was inspired in part by his culinary education.

Since then, he’s maintained a formidable output through labels such as Planet Rhythm Recordings, ARTS, Delsin and Soma. At the time of writing, he’s also released six records through his own imprint, Cooked.

Cold Spots is sold out in 12-inch vinyl format. It is still available for purchase in digital format via ARTS Bandcamp.

Vinicius Honorio Returns to ARTS with Minimal Techno EP, Stardust

John Cameron — Fri, 08 Jan 2021 19:10:53 +0000

Selector’s Sounds series follows a procedure that puts music quality before status or industry relationships. Learn how it works.

Rio De Janeiro-born, London-based producer Vinicius Honorio has returned to ARTS with a four-song minimal techno EP. The Rotterdam record label founded by Emmanuel released Stardust for digital download across platforms in December.

The title track kicks off the EP with ambient textures atop unrelenting kick drums, burning slow to build tension gradually. “Le Boi” pairs tribal rhythms with suspenseful melodic elements, and “Ebb and Flow” plays with reverse bass to great effect. The effort closes out with “They Are The Same,” a song that pairs sterile beeps and buzzes with a cerebral spoken word sample.

ARTSX021 by Vinicius Honorio

Drum and Bass to Techno

Prior to becoming a favorite among techno diehards, Vinicius Honorio produced drum and bass under the alias BTK. From 2009-2013, he released on such labels as Sudden Def Recordings, Dutty Audio and Renegade Hardware.

Around 2015 Honorio shifted his focus to techno, releasing on labels like Dolma Recordings and Harthouse Mannheim. Since then, he’s added releases via Drumcode, Suara and Planet Rhythm to his ever-growing résumé.

Stardust is available for purchase via ARTS Bandcamp.

ARTS | Selector

Yan Cook Delivers 4-Track Minimal Techno EP, Cold Spots, via ARTS

Yan Cook Revisited

Vinicius Honorio Returns to ARTS with Minimal Techno EP, Stardust

Drum and Bass to Techno