I’ve got the scoop on this one! Before the launch tomorrow (it’s out now), this is the only place where you’ll be able to hear this release. I’ll add a download link tomorrow after the release. (Done, check the player.)

Dessben, ruler and overlord of the dark techno force that is Offaudio. I found the label through research for my own label Prowess Records, trying to find out how other net-labels operate. I listened to over 20 gigs of music while looking for deeper meaning behind the Creative Common licenses. Offaudio delivered, and I’ve been following their releases ever since.

These tracks are released under:

Download here: Offaudio – Dessben – Doss Por Cuatro

Tech-step is the name of the style Dessben chose for his latest EP. I would have called it off-beat techno, something I haven’t heard in a long time. But, the influences from dub-step are obviously present and sets the EP apart from most ‘off-beat techno’ I played before. The dark brooding sound of filtered saws and looming deep basslines to drag you further into the experience combined with sound-effects and breaks remind me of Leftfield, experimental producers from the UK who combined techno, dub, and breaks into their own sound.

Though I’m not a dub-step enthusiast, I, for one, welcome this new tech-step sound into the evolutional gene-pool that is electronic music and it’s plethora of sub-genres. Where D’n'B listeners looked back for new inspiration and found it in dub-reggae, this, to me, feels like taking the concept and looking back to the break-beat oriented sound of Electro-funk from Detroid. It’s more like the former rather than the latter, but it gives an industrial feel which I haven’t heard in techno for quite a while. I’m loving the rhythmic beats and basslines and with 8 tracks on the EP, I feel spoiled. Gimme moar!

And if an exclusive review wasn’t enough, Dessben was so kind to give me a first look at the new design of the Offaudio website. Version 5.0 of the site is going to be unveiled to the public tomorrow (along with the new release) and it’s looking slick. Very clean, useful and still good to look at.

The new website and EP will be launched tomorrow, Wednesday the 30th of June, 2010.

Now that Offaudio 67 is finally released, it’s time to check it out and share the music. When I started playing the EP, I thought Tweetdeck was going crazy! There’s a sound in the first track that sounds very similar to the sound the application makes when a new tweet appears.

My favorite track is “K De”, deep dark sounds with a lot of atmosphere, what’s yours?

Offaudio :
Website
Twitter
Myspace

This release’s name makes me very envious: “I’m going to Tokyo”. And as we all know, I wanna go back to Japan ASAP and apparently this guy is going to visit Japan’s fine capitol any time soon. Grrrr! I wanna go too! But, let’s be honest here; I wish him the best possible time, which I’m pretty sure he’ll have. (If the name of the EP is more than just a name, that is.)

I’m gonna be short about this release and let the rest of the deciding and imagination up to you: My favorite track is “Yes”, track number two on this EP. It’s squeaking melody gives it a groove to make the dancefloor bounce. The tracks overall are Beatport quality.

With that out of the way, I’m gonna go back to Smart.FM to work on my knowledge of the Japanese language so my return to Japan next summer will be a little bit more fluent speaking one: “東京に行きます。”

Listen here, or download it at: http://www.offaudio.com/releases.php?rel=66

Drumroll….

His name is Sjoerd and goes by the moniker “BonSjoerd“. He lives in Groningen, like me he mixes techno, tech-house, minimal and deep-house, but he uses completely different tracks and mixes ever so subtle. I listened one of his demo mixes many times while taking walks in Japan. A few weeks ago, when I told him I was missing Japan and wanted to go back, he made a mix for me! Luckily he uploaded the whole thing to soundcloud so everyone can enjoy.

So, here’s to my favorite DJ of 2009!

Bonsjoerd – 8 Bits Of Loneliness by Bonsjoerd

Vitalic – La Rock 01

This track never diminishes in popularity, and for me, the EP never bores me.

Miss Kittin – Requiem For A Hit Featuring LA Williams

A hard, pounding Elektro beat, funny lyrics and an even funnier break with R&B added to the mix. This track was a huge hit among DJ’s and dance-floor-dwellers alike.

Next time in “Reminiscing“: Under the acid influence

After wondering if Twitter had any practical use at all, I stumbled upon a tweet saying Le Le’s new EP Slotmachine would be up for sale soon. I wanted to buy the songs for my girl who also happens to be a Magnetron Music fan. But she beat me to the punch..

‘We are Le Le’ is a funky uptempo disco-track laced with multi-language lyrics in English, German and French. I’ve been missing Disco-house quite a lot lately. After it’s peak days in the late ’90’s up to 2004 it completely disappeared from the scene. Except for some Myspace producers who don’t care about the latest trends. (I think you shouldn’t follow fashion in the first place. But then again, non-conformist is also not my cup of tea.) So, I’m glad to hear funky disco jams appearing again, also on this EP. But, to be honest, I don’t care much for the ‘Slotmachine’ track. Obscene lyrics and a repetitive melody that doesn’t do much for me. After the epic EP that is Marble, slotmachine is a bit of a disappointment.

If you liked reading this you might also like to read:
Son of 8-Bits – Le Le – Marble EP

And if you just so happen to understand Japanese:
Nowhere – Le Le – Wij zijn Le Le

This blog-post features a silly picture of yours truly, so it’s well worth checking out!

Adam Bayer – Remainings III

A Tech-House tribal hand drum combined with deep progressive synthesizer lines. This track always illustrates to me how much of a trance one can reach from listening to almost the same thing for minutes on end, while slowly progressing to an raw finish. In this case reached by a ever so slowly opening low-pass filter. This track wouldn’t look out of place in today’s minimal settings as well.

Midfield General – Coatnoise (Dave Clarke Remix)

In a way, a similar track to the previous one. Dave Clarke’s remix of Coatnoise (probably called that way for the sound of the modulated saw-wave) always gets people dancing and cheering. Is it the tribal rhythm or the synth-line? I guess it’s both. I already found this track on one of Dave Clarke’s compilations (World Service), but imagine the rush I felt when finding this one for cheap on a small record market in the center of Utrecht.

In the next installment of “Reminiscing“: Elektro

Featuring various artists like Raphy Beltre, Numbtone, Falk and Banding!, this album is not your average minimal deal, focused on getting your attention using very interesting, non-straightforward sounds and synths. Some of these sounds could, for instance, very well be used in today’s Dubstep scene. Some tracks are best enjoyed at home while others could be mixed on the dance-floor very well. Depending on your mood of-course, and the setting where it’s played. Very interesting album indeed. (Yeah I know, I’m a little biased towards Offaudio. But free albums don’t come at this quality often!)

I wonder how you, dear reader, feel about these tracks. Take a listen below, and drop a comment. Oh, and don’t forget to tell @offaudio how much you enjoyed.

Andrew Mclauchlan – Love Story

I fell in love with this track the first time I heard it. In all it’s remixes and forms this track just makes your soul resonate to the latin grooves used in the song. I can’t believe how time has went by so fast, this track is already from 1998! In 2003, I was talking with DJ Alwin from Metro Recordstore and I asked him, “Do you have some classic, phat tracks I should listen to? I already checked-out all the new releases.” He said, take a listen to this one, I guess you’ll like it. When I put the needle to the groove I immediately heard it was a track I was searching for. In this case, it was the 2nd wave of remixes featuring a hard-techno version by Bryan Zentz. I tried to search for the original re-edit ever since but could not find it… Until I was in Osaka, September of this year (2009) with Lunemusique and びびんば..

I could not believe my eyes and ears! The original re-edit on Bush Records from 2000! And it was even for sale for a very good price.

Ben Sims – Manipulated

You can’t mention Latin-Techno without mentioning this track! Released on Primate Records, way back in 2000. The Adam Beyer remix just blows you away with a very recognizable sample. (Yet, who does this sample belong too?) Hearing this track at the Shockers parties from ID&T (2001, 2002?) through a PA large enough to fill a huge hall with sound, one fully understands the meaning of Techno. Such a shame ID&T killed the shockers concept by adding to much hardstyle and trance to the mix…

Monika Kruse – Latin Lovers

And last up in this post; Monika Kruse’s über-danceable Latin lovers from Terminal M. My favorite is still the Voodooamt remix, but I guess taste differs somewhat here and there.

In the next episode of my “reminiscing“ series: Halfway between Latin & Elektro.

Read an exclusive interview with Kill Minimal on Phlow.es (Spanish) and download the exclusive promo. Or listen to the new track right here on Sonof8bits.com!