Crate Digging is a monthly roundup of top-tier tunes you might have missed from across the electronic music spectrum. 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. Sascha Funke – Haus More [Kompakt]

Long-running, eclectic imprint Kompakt welcomes back the equally experienced Sascha Funke for his first release for the label in eight years, and he settles back in with ease. “Haus More” is a trippy, mid-tempo cut that blends stripped-down, chuggy drums with swirling, slightly sinister melodies.

2. Konsudd – Schwebende [Amenthia Recordings]

Previously contributing to Amenthia Recordings as solo artists, Konduku and Aa Sudd team up for heady, spaced-out trip into psychedelic half-time on “Schwebende.” Pulsating bass and synthetic drums create a thunderous groove which is peppered with reverbed percussion, gnarly metallic washes, and grainy synth stabs.

3. Lord Jalapeños – Stimulus [Science Cult]

A dark, gritty mix of bit-crushed sonics, crunchy drums, and rumbling bass, “Stimulus” proves that Lord Jalapeños is a great fit for Austin-based label Science Cult with his IDM-influenced electro sound that is equal parts conceptual and propulsive.

4. Abstract Division – Nightfall [Dynamic Reflection]

After a long line of singles and EPs, Abstract Division have landed on Dynamic Reflection with their first full-length album, and “Nightfall” is a standout cut. It’s a beautiful, warm and driving slice of dub techno that would make Basic Channel proud.

5. Yant – Red Eye Jedi [Hardgroove]

One of the most exciting techno artists to emerge in the last few years, Manchester’s Yant debuts on the legendary label Hardgroove. “Red Eye Jedi” is a dense, percussive techno roller with a growling, urgent groove.

6. Mark E – Heartaches [Delusions Of Grandeur]

U.K. underground house hero Mark E has landed on Delusions Of Grandeur for the first time with “Heartaches,” a stunning and expansive house jam. A funky, electric bass loop and subtle drums propel the groove, while fluttering, jazzy piano chords add a soulful, sparkling touch.

7. Lithe – Mainline [Flood]

“Mainline” sees up-and-coming Australian producer Lithe offer up a rollicking leftfield techno workout. Precise, mechanical drums are offset by rugged bass sequences, off-kilter bleeps and bloops, and tense synth stabs.

8. Hysteria Temple Foundation – Annunaki [Hysteria Temple Foundation]

Relatively new producer duo Hysteria Temple Foundation blend traditional instrumentation with electronic grit on “Annunaki” to excellent effect. High octane, heavily-processed drums and organic instruments, field recordings from a busy bazaar, and experimental sound design combine to create a raucous, percussive rhythm that will turn the dance floor into a primal ritual.

9. Sleep D – Post Pump [Butter Sessions]

Australian leftfield-techno-electro-dub darlings Sleep D are back with another immaculately produced groove. Taking cues from the classic tech house sound of the late ’90s with its driving kick and shuffled hi-hats, dubbed-out synth hits, and time stretched vocals, “Post Pump” is chunky, funky, and spacious.

10. William Arist – Moral Song [Perseverancia Records]

This is a lush, deep journey from one of the most exciting producers to hit the techno scene in the last few years. “Moral Song” sees William Arist focusing on emotive, evolving pads and subtle bells, which float over the top of a warm analogue bassline and dusty drums.

11. Turk Turkelton – Shake Left and Right [Habibi Bass]

Turk Turkelton delivers some pumped-up electro funk with a ghetto bass edge that is right at home on Habibi Bass. Snappy TR-808 drums, wiggly synth lines, and a classic vocal sample make this an instant party starter.

12. Paul Mac – First Mode [Stimulus Recordings]

Legendary producer Paul Mac unearths and remasters a forgotten gem from his days on percussive techno imprint Ingoma. With its densely layered percussion, evolving bass line, and Detroit-flavored chords, this is quintessential U.K. techno.

13. DJ Strawberry – Acelem Var [Outlines]

Sitting in the murky territory between footwork, dub techno, and IDM, “Acelem Var” is Turkish artist DJ Strawberry in his element. Taken from his debut album Cycles, it reflects his unique way of injecting pulsating energy and tension into hazy, ambient soundscapes.

14. Kaiser and Matrixxman – Escape Pod [K S R]

Focused around a tight syncopated kick, rumbling bass, and sci-fi sound effects, “Escape Pod” is a simple but highly effective deep techno tool that distills Kaiser and Matrixxman‘s heady, hypnotic style down to its essence.

15. Tristan Arp x Kellen303 – entangled beings [Unknown Untitled]

This is a peak-time, techno-influenced workout that pays homage to Tristan Arp and Kellen303‘s hometown of New York City with its sonic palette while pushing leftfield, percussive club music into new territories. Playful and driving, “entangled beings” sees the two producers at the top of their game.

1. DJ Emerson – Patterns of Force [Micro.Fon]

Taken from DJ Emerson‘s follow-up album to 2016’s Repetitive Music, this sample-heavy techno track strikes the right balance between funk and crunch. A driving, groovy bass line propels it forward while catchy samples, warm synth stabs, and infectious percussion add a touch of subtlety.

2. Radio Zahn – Twilo (Extended) [Rekids]

Masters of the heads-down, eyes-closed groove Radio Slave and Dustin Zahn team up on this ode to the legendary New York house club of its namesake. “Twilo” is a ten-minute ride through chunky drums, rumbling bass, grainy dub chords, and soulful vocals that reward the patient listener with a huge payoff in its final third.

3. Sub Filla – All Sound Boys Dead [//Darkmode]

Tracks like “All Sound Boys Dead” are what dubstep fans mean when they say “proper dubstep.” Sub Filla concocts a heady blend of dusty, reverb-soaked drums, cone-rattling bass growls, and downtuned vocal samples for the heads.

4. Jeff Mills – Horizons

Detroit’s ambassador to outer space Jeff Mills explores his more experimental side on “Horizons,” a chuggy, meditative, and slightly sinister soundscape. Loose, swaying drums create a hypnotic, rhythmic pulse while layers of gnarly pads and washed-out effects build tension.

5. Orca – Intellect VIP [Deep Jungle]

Deep Jungle continue their mission to unearth forgotten gems from the golden era of jungle, this time giving Orca‘s previously unreleased VIP of “Intellect” a much-needed official release and remaster. This is quintessential ’90s jungle: rapid-fire amen breaks, swirling synths, and huge sub bass stabs.

6. Uun – Terrain Vague [Ego Death]

Broken beat techno at its finest. Built around an incessant groove comprised of squelchy sine waves, snappy TR-909 beats, and swirling effects, “Terrain Vague” showcases Uun‘s firm understanding of the balance between intensity and detail.

7. Konduku – Gelgit [Nous’klaer Audio]

Netherlands-born, Berlin-based Konduku has an uncanny ability to write music in multiple genres without losing the core essence of his sound: organic, tribal rhythms and subtle melodies. “Gelgit” takes these elements and places them within the framework of a deep, ever-evolving techno cut that works equally well on a dance floor or at home.

8. Not A Headliner – The Endless Hour [Hemisferio Records]

“The Endless Hour” is pure, unfiltered melodic techno. Use this track as your benchmark for the genre. Taking inspiration from the late ’90s and early 2000s, Not A Headliner combines driving percussion with lush strings, catchy chord loops, and mechanical blips and bloops to create a track that pays homage to the past while looking forward to the future.

9. Sam Link – Hesitate [YUKU]

Wonky, off-kilter footwork meets choppy, grimy jungle in this raucous dance floor burner. Chinstrokers will have hours of entertainment figuring out all the different breaks Sam Link used for the drums on “Hesitate,” while speaker-freakers will love how the huge, distorted bass stabs pack a serious punch.

10. Aroent – Say [Infinite Machine]

Aroent delivers a slice of absolutely deadly breakbeat with a touch of dark garage and IDM added for good measure. Watch out for the classic vocal sample during the breakdown and the absurd, glitchy edits that chew up and spit out the drums after the drop.

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In fall 2013, Nous’klaer Audio inaugurated with an EP by Mattheis. Eight years and 50 releases later, the refinement of the Rotterdam Label’s sound is evident in its upcoming compilation, Nous’klaer Audio Summer Sampler ’21. It releases in digital and vinyl record format September 24th.

The eight-song effort straddles the wide range between techno and ambient without settling on the more accessible sounds between. From Djoser‘s psychedelic “Faded Red” to Raff‘s suspenseful “Yeye” to the wobble bass of “Extrakt” by Konduku, a diverse signature style is encapsulated in the compilation.

About Nous’klaer Audio

Mattheis (real name Matthijs Verschuure) offered up the debut Nous’klaer Audio release: the three-track Isms EP. Verschuure has released on the label nearly a dozen times since, most recently with his and Amandra‘s ambient and drone-leaning February album, Lettre Ouverte.

Among the other artists afforded a platform by the imprint are live musician-scientist Paul Twin, pop/electronic outfit Meetsysteem, and former De School resident Tammo. Of the contributors to the upcoming compilation, Konduku, Oceanic and Pugilist stand out as notable label regulars.

Nous’klaer Audio Summer Sampler ’21 is available for pre-order in digital and 2×12-inch vinyl record format via Nous’klaer Audio Bandcamp.