From obscurities uncovered during trips down Bandcamp rabbit holes to the latest releases from legendary artists, Crate Digging is here to keep your collection up to date.

1. Theressia – R153 [Cosmism Records]

Taken from Theressia‘s debut album, Zoma, “R153” combines gnarly, experimental sound design with catchy, head-nodding beats. Crunchy, heavily compressed drums and overdriven bass growls take center stage, backed up by wonky samples and creepy vocals.

2. Sun Genam and Altjira – Spaceracer [Diffuse Reality Records]

This is chaotic, psychedelic IDM-meets-breakbeat courtesy of Sun Genam and Altjira. “Spaceracer” is an unusual (but highly effective) combination of high-intensity beats, rapid-fire bass stabs, evolving trance pads, and off-kilter arp sequences.

3. Linear System – Space Exploration 33 [Edit Select]

The opening track from the latest release in Linear System‘s ongoing series, “Space Exploration 33” is a heady, hypnotic techno cut that does its title justice. Eerie pads build to an unnerving crescendo as subtle, precise drums and wobbly sine waves keep the groove going.

4. Paradox – Detronic [Sneaker Social Club]

“Detronic” sees drumfunk and jungle pioneer Paradox demonstrate his talents at a slower tempo, incorporating elements of dub techno and electronica into a lush broken beat journey. The same attention to detail, mastery of low end, and ability to mine the most out of a singular idea that are present in uptempo works are also on display here.

5. Denham Audio – How Could I [Myor]

Right at home on Coco Bryce‘s Myor imprint, “How Could I” is a lush deep jungle cut infused with Denham Audio‘s trademark chunk and grit. Shimmering pads and forlorn vocals float above deadly breaks and rumbling sub bass to create a soundsystem banger best enjoyed with your eyes closed.

6. Halos – III [Annulled Music]

Halos delivers a beautiful, introspective track that exists in the hazy space where electronica and dub techno meet. “III” weaves grainy dub chords and swirling delays around sparse, synthetic beats, leaving plenty of negative space to give each element a chance to shine.

7. Work The Peripherals – Horizon [Companion]

Blissful, expansive deep house with clear Detroit techno influences, “Horizon” morphs the ambient aesthetic for which Work The Peripherals is known into a more propulsive, dancefloor-ready groove without losing its meditative quality.

8. Dave N.A. – Signal [Typeless]

“Signal” pushes breakbeat into exciting new territories. Dave N.A. draws from IDM and experimental music with challenging sound design; from techno with precise drum programming; and from sound system culture with well-timed vocal samples.

9. Marco Ramos – Angara 1.2 [Subsist Records]

Marco Ramos channels the rugged, quirky sci-fi style of early Detroit pioneers such as Robert Hood and Jeff Mills while injecting the precise, methodical production of contemporary European techno to create a timeless yet modern sound. “Angara 1.2” is pure machine funk from the far distant future.

10. Aa Sudd – Menodice [Midgar Records]

“Menodice” takes the listener on a moody midtempo trip though syncopated beats, subterranean bass sequences, and mangled technoid sounds. The track sees Aa Sudd at his absolute otherworldly best.

Linear System has expanded upon last year’s album, Space Exploration, in the form of a shorter effort titled Further Explorations. The Girona, Spain producer released both via Glasgow techno label Edit Select, with the latter having arrived on January 15th.

The tracklist suggests that Further Explorations is a continuation of Linear System’s previous Edit Select release as each song title follows the same format. “Space Exploration 11” kicks the effort off with slow-burning dark techno before “Space Exploration 12” offers a more atmospheric permutation of the artist’s sound. Mark Broom‘s introspective remix of “Space Exploration 4” from the 2020 album arrives next, and then the EP closes out with “Space Exploration 13,” the arguable standout for its tasteful incorporation of organic timbres.

Despite only having launched the artist project in 2020, Linear System has maintained a considerable music output – much of which has been championed by notable techno figureheads. In addition to Edit Select, his releases have landed on labels like Ben Sims‘ Symbolism and Lewis Fautzi‘s Faut Section.

Further Explorations is available for purchase in digital format via Edit Select Bandcamp.

Out via Edit Select is the latest EP EP by Italian DJ and producer Booz. Arcadia, as its titled, comprises six DJ tools with sound design intricate enough to earn them high marks for conceptual merit. It came out on the Glasgow record label December 2nd.

Arcadia sees Booz explore high-end frequencies on tracks like “Phantom,” “Orione” and “Axam,” whose siren-like tones stimulate the cortexes. “Nexus” and “Axam,” meanwhile, utilize bass-heavy soundscapes to evoke more primal mental imagery. Closing out the EP is “Andromeda,” the arguable standout for its suspenseful strings samples and thoughtful progression.

Booz debuted on Italo Business in 2011 with the more club-friendly “Cut The Rope.” Since then, he’s honed in on a more purist techno sound, landing on such labels as Prophet, Illegal Alien, Anaoh and Subsist.

Arcadia is available for purchase in digital format via Edit Select Bandcamp.

The Italian duo themselves kicked the effort off with “Nova,” which they teased out two days ago as the lead single. While not poorly produced, its slow-building melodies don’t shy away from sonic clichés that also dilute plenty of other entries in the album. “Paradigm” and “Nuits Fauves” by Agents Of Time and Ovend, respectively, lean on similarly overused Moog Mother-32 synths (assuming they weren’t hastily pulled from Beatport‘s Deep House Visionary sample pack).

A handful of tracks carry the compilation. The clearest standout is “Motion” by Recondite and Henrik Schwarz, whose tasteful disharmony creates a simultaneously soothing and suspenseful mood. Sterac‘s “Universum” and Edit Select‘s “Phase In” encapsulate an ambient-infused style of deep techno that, although popular as of late, hasn’t totally run its course.

Although the selective listener may not not enjoy the entire Realm Of Consciousness Pt. III tracklist, it bears mention that nearly every entry maintains some measure of dance floor utility. More passive enjoyers may still find much of merit in the compilation.

June 29th marks the official release of Realm Of Consciousness Pt. III on Afterlife. Find the album’s tracklist below, and pre-order it via Beatport.

1. “Nova” by Tale Of Us
2. “Paradigm” by Agents Of Time
3. “Motion” by Henrik Schwarz and Recondite
4. “Nuits Fauves” by Ovend
5. “Portal” by Mind Against
6. “Lotus” by Fideles
7. “Tide Slide” by SCB
8. “Quantic” by Øostil
9. “Universum” by Sterac
10. “Phase In” by Edit Select
11. “Subterrel + Ex Funzione” by Antonio Ruscito and Luigi Tozzi
12. “Cyclone” by Kosme and Konstantin Sibold
13. “Changing Weather” by Hunter/Game
14. “Magoa” by Kevin de Vries
15. “Ibn Sina” by Tone Depth