If there are any DJs I want to uplift here or else, it's the ones who I know have a deep knowledge of the histories and many sounds of 'dance music' -- not for want of being a know it all, but of gaining histories and contexts that would be otherwise lost in the algorithmic shuffle. Nashville-born, Montréal-based @esme3xtace is one of the best DJs of late I've heard make pure wormholes of techno, the kind that you can properly shut out the world and lose your body in. As someone who was also into this sound when I was their age, it gives me joy to see early-to-mid 20-somethings have the chances to share that kind of knowledge. Esme's mix feels like you're on cruise control, it's gone midnight and the air smells of petrichor, faint diesel, and distant flowers. Many shades of techno flow across each other like paint. You neither know nor care what tomorrow will bring.
“Moonshine Bluegrass” [unknown]
K Wata - Seltzer [2020, Slink]
Helical Scan - Index 1 [1996, Chain Reaction]
Elise - Seropram (Forest Drive West Remix) [2018, Man Band]
Viiaan - Dun Dun [2022, Voragine]
natural/electronic.system. - Pegaso [2020, Midgar]
Neel - Naeba [2022, Non Series]
Materjal - Endless Walk [2021, Egregore Collective]
Caldera - Pilzi [2022, Pressure Dome]
VC-118A - Aurora [2021, Chain Data]
Bas Dobbelaer - T2310 [2020, On Board Music]
Star_Dub - Digidub 7 [2022, self-released]
Konduku - Emerald Island [2018, Nous’klaer Audio]
DJ Shufflemaster - Escalation (Mayudepth Remix) [2016, Shiki Kyokai]
Robert Fleck - Soft Focus (Gasometric Run Remix) [2018, Well Street]
Kettenkarussell - Konstant Sleep [2014, Giegling]
