BnB Review: 15 Years Of Drumcode
Written by Youri Jozee
Techno - Adam Beyer’s label celebrates its 15 year anniversary by releasing a 3xCD collection that focuses on the label's future instead of its past...
Since its conception back in 1996, Drumcode has grown out to become one of techno’s most influential imprints. After a short hiatus a few years back, Drumcode soon picked up the pace again by releasing a fresh slew of both hard hitting tunes and more subtle cuts from Joel Mull, Slam, Joseph Capriati and label boss Beyer himself as well as throwing exciting parties throughout Europe. Now, one would expect for an anniversary compilation to present some of the biggest successes in a label’s history, but this release focuses on the road ahead by presenting only new and previously unreleased tracks from the Drumcode artist roster. All discs are unmixed and provide a pretty solid overview of the many different facets of Drumcode’s beloved techno sound.
CD 1
The first disc opens with the relatively housy Drum Suspension by Kaiserdisco, after which it switches from heavier material (such as Alan Fitzpatrick sweeping Running Backwards and Patrick Siech’s Structure) to deeper stuff, of which Mauro Picotto & Ricardo Ferri’s Asteroids is a good example. Some of the biggest tunes here are Jesper Dahlback’s No Control, a deep and trippy techno cut decorated with reverb fx and a sinister vibe, and the stomping At The Fall Of Night by Gregor Tresher.
CD 2
Things kick off nicely once again on disc 2 with Grindvik & Billie’s minimal shaped Hold, Doubt, Back, after which Slam’s acid-infused Temperance and the super heavy techno jack track Black Panther by Nagano Kitchen take us further into big room techno territories. Standout tracks on this disc include the Detroitish Make That Shit Funk by Ben Sims and the downright evil dancefloor Detonator that is Robero Capuano’s Oblique, one of the sickest tunes on this compilation as a whole.
CD 3
The third and last disc opens strong with the slow-moving machine drill funk that is Harvey McKay’s Supercell and the house/techno-hybrid Break The Cycle by Dustin Zahn, after which tunes such as Gary Beck’s shimmering Distant and Tony Rohr’s partystartin’ floor rocker Work treat us to more techno insanity. The Advent & Jason Fernandes oddly shaped, party off-beat Rocket Science is one of the most remarkable tracks here, but also one of the least exciting we’re sorry to say. Other than that, this disc again is a fest for the ears of any techno junkie.
Our verdict:
15 Years Of Drumcode has become a very exciting preview of things to come, but first and foremost a dazzling compilation of some of Drumcode’s best cuts of recent times. Apart from a few dull moments here and there, this compilation caters right to the needs of every self respecting techno aficionado. Here’s to fifteen years more.
Rating: 7.9/10
Label: Drumcode
Release date: November 28th, 2011
Tracklist
CD 1
1. Kaiserdisco - Drum Suspension
2. Alan Fitzpatrick - Running Backwards
3. Paul Ritch - Adrenaline
4. Mauro Picotto and Riccardo Ferri - Asteroids
5. Patrick Siech - Structure
6. Jesper Dahlback- No Control
7. Joel Mull - Shake Trip
8. Cari Lekebusch and Joseph Capriati - Napoli 4pm
9. Gregor Tresher - At The Fall Of Night
10. Adam Beyer - A Walking Contradiction (Joseph Capriati remix)
CD 2
1. Grindvik and Billie - Hold, Doubt, Back
2. Slam - Temperance
3. Nagano Kitchen - Black Panther
4. Gary Beck - Round Your Place
5. Chris Liebing and Brian Sanhaji - The Undertaking
6. Ben Sims - Make That Shit Funk
7. Nicole Moudaber - Contents Of My Head
8. Slam - Sonic Scuffle
9. Roberto Capuano - Oblique
10. Rocco Caine – Orphan
CD 3
1. Harvey McKay - Supercell
2. Dustin Zahn - Break The Cycle
3. Nihad Tule - Collider
4. Gary Beck - Distant
5. Tony Rohr - Work
6. Pascal Mollin vs. Egbert - Several Voices
7. The Advent & Jason Fernandes - Rocket Science
8. Nima Khak - Red One
