Guido Braun a.k.a. Waffensupermarkt (or WSM) debuts on CZ with the nasty techno grooves of Iron Curtain. Guido has been playing rock, jazz and avant-garde music for more than 30 years. Nowadays he is mostly producing electronic music such as techno, house, electro and some ambient and experimental tunes. He has seen releases on a plethora of labels over the years (too many to mention here). Great to have him on board, no doubt he will add diversity to an ever growing CZ roster.
The Ambient Mix delivers a crude, organic charged experience filled with Cold War era themed sounds and an industrial vibe. Right from the off our senses are raided with deep tones while shuffling percussions allow us to make sense of the intricate patterns. Scattered beats raise expectations before dissipating to leave us with a pure dark ambient structure. Beautifully crafted and well worth the listen.
Adam Carling and Nick de Voost join forces on remix duties for their CZ debut, churning out a solid beefy techno joint. French DJing and music production duo are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to deep, melodic techno vibes. Over the last several years they have honed their skills under different monikers and have dabbled in various styles resulting in their tracks giving off a fusion sound. With appearances on other labels their sound is championed by many and we're delighted to have them on board here at CZ. The remix intros with a sinister, dark theme etched out by deep crackly synths before a punchy kick and slicing hi hat join in. A bubbling bassline dominates, powering the groove as darker sounds rise from the depths. Melodic notes find their way into the flow creating a contrasting balance between the darker elements. The track moves effortlessly taking us on a sublime journey. A top notch cut that is not to be missed.
The Original Mix delivers a powerful tough edged techno stance right from the off as industrial level sounds batter your eardrums. A tight drum arrangement is filled with massive kicks and stuttering hats, generating a rhythmic flow. Deep basses and metallic percussions join together in an almost classic techno style. Super stuff that will definitely rock the late night parties.
Label boss Van Czar is up next with his Raw Remix and once again he knocks up a solid slice of pounding techno for our listening pleasure. When he isn't sourcing quality tunes for his label, Belgian maestro Van Czar remains a very busy, hardworking DJ and producer. His last effort Cherry Lovers - over on his spiritual home label, Bonzai Basiks - is destroying floors with its huge techno sound. So much more to come from Van as an artist and as a label manager, stay tuned. Here on the remix Van brings his darker side to the fore with a beautifully flowing track that grabs your attention right from the off. Punchy kicks and a smooth offset bass lead the charge before a sharp hi hat cuts through the low end frequencies. A steady flowing rhythm ensues as the layers build, creating a wall of techno that will pound its beat through your chest. Simple notes become so infectious as chilling soundscapes blend into the groove. A fantastic rendition that will be a feature in many crazy parties.
Next up we have the Club Mix which takes its cue from the original, adding in a tougher sound with the introduction gritty basses and hypnotic percussions. Pounding drums, shuffling hi hats and a penchant to dig deep into your soul makes this one an absolute beast of a track. We get respite from the madness of the track in the form of seemingly out of place synth stabs that work brilliantly in the groove. Powerful stuff to keep the party rocking.
