Drumcode releases "A-Sides Vol. 13" compilation – Various Artists (VA) Out Now

18-Track LP of Top Techno Talent – Get it HERE

It’s lucky number 13 for techno aficionados, as Vol. 13 of Drumcode’s eagerly anticipated annual compilation A-Sides LP brings the best and most diverse in techno talent. Label boss Adam Beyer has selected 18 tracks celebrating DC veterans and introducing some DC debutants, including a track from the Swedish producer/DJ himself.

Adam Beyer continues his recent forays into vocal samples/processing and organic elements with “Life Is,” a glorious attack of chattering beat, seemingly random spacey, industrial hoover sounds and stabs, with processed vocals for the title riff and melody, the whole melange constantly up-shifting to faster, more disturbing, more gripping pace and tension.

With “Dance All Night,” DC initiates (solo EP in 2023, Bart Skils collab in 2024) and Tokyo techno maestros, WOMB Tokyo residents and Beatport chart regulars Drunken Kong deploy hard knock beats, growly bass, slamming stabs and an equally demanding vocal riff, “I just wanna dance all night,” as sirens lift us to the drop. Full of hooks.

Nigerian-born powerhouse Nicole Moudaber, producer, MOOD label and events boss, star of her InTheMOOD Radio show (15ml+ listeners) previously released her muscular techno LP on Drumcode. Now for A-Sides, she crafts a fast, relentless dystopian soundscape with a breaksy backbeat, metallic stabs, industrial FX leavened by a choral medley and spoken riff.

BLR, Matt Sassari, and DJ Truetone’s “Submerge” is a stotting, juddering slice of hypnotic techno with a Moroderesque bass synth with Doppler FX… Marseilles-based Sassari has released on Drumcode’s kid bro imprint Truesoul plus CR2, Terminal M… Here joined by Dutchman BLR (dark/melodic techno, 25ml+ streams for track “Taj”) and Truetone. In with her DC debut is VE/RA with “Can’t Get Enough.” The Dutch tougher techno star of Tomorrowland etc hits us with a galloping beat, a swift, urgent synth riff and a demanding pitch-shifted vocal mantra – “I want this.”

UK duo Dense & Pika return to Drumcode, delivering a pulsing melody for “Deep Down Low,” a taut, compulsive, tense deep dive into their sound, also previously on Hotflush. Also a Drumcode favourite (2nd year running on A-Sides, plus on Drumcode’s all-female VA “Elevate”) is USA’s Marie Vaunt, teaming up with DC debutant Popof, Parisian tech/house DJ, remixer of Chemical Bros, Moby, Depeche Mode… For uncompromising cut “Acid Cult,” with its rippling arps, rattling snares and melodic synth riff and spoken vocal “we are the acid cult.”

Complete list of tracks/artists below. Start celebrating, Christmas is early this year.

Tracklist: