#12 Feat. Staff Picks in Techno (Peak Time / Driving)

Hailing from Venice but currently in Berlin, Italian DJ/Producer Nico Cabeza boasts an impressive catalogue of releases on Riot Recordings, Unrilis, Respekt Recordings and many more. Nico is set to expand his archive of musical works in January as he joins Victor Ruiz's VOLTA imprint for his debut release on the label. Spread across three individually unique tracks, Cabeza's 'Laguna' EP sees in the new year with an immersive influx of high-quality techno production and artistic expression.'Laguna' plunges the listener into a deepened array of groove-bringing tonal percussion, intricate hat sequences and punchy kicks. Progressively expanding from the track's core, you'll find an encapsulating combination of synth and bass arps fuse into the backdrop of resonant pads, sweeping FX and atmospheric breaks to carve out an energetic melodic techno roller with subtle, ethereal nuances throughout.'Repressed Memories' shows a firmer edge to Cabeza's work. Booming kickdrums and hissing hat grooves lead alongside reverberated acid stabs. Another prominent synth arp makes the centrepiece, surrounded by a vignette of pounding beats, coarse, bleeding bass notes and corrosive chords, all brought together by a head-turning soulful vocal hook. The release ends with the 'Terrazza Danieli' mix of the title track, exhibiting Nico's love of Trip-Hop. Inspired by its namesake, which offers unparalleled views of his native Venice.

Nico Cabeza

#45 Feat. Staff Picks in Techno (Peak Time / Driving)

Culminating this phenomenal year while adding weight to the label's sterling reputation as one of the genre's most respected homes for pioneering Techno music, VOLTA continues to go from strength to strength, attracting an endless wave of talent from around the globe. Following the release of their 'Human Robot' EP in August, our label head Victor Ruiz and his long-time friend and collaborator Alex Stein are back with another gripping induction to the VOLTA catalogue, this time with a very special single format via the enslaving 'New Generation'. 'New Generation' is a modern take on their historical and famous track 'Generation', which was originally released in 2012 and marked the start of their international careers. Stein and Ruiz serve a pacy, off-beat Techno cut flooded with robotic nuances and acidic tones, along with the iconic vocals that remain as compelling as they were on day one. A flawless fusion of commanding, propulsive percussion and captivating musical depth, its coarse sonics and rugged soundscapes create an eerily futuristic Techno piece, demonstrating how their timeless track can experience a rebirth while still staying true to it's original message and energy.

Victor Ruiz, Alex Stein

#74 Top Overall Releases

Next up on VOLTA are Balthazar & JackRock - a duo who perfectly capture the label's core those as they deliver music that's as powerful as it is poignant. Heavy-duty club tracks imbued with passion and flair. 'Ethereal Drive' kicks off with a truly standout club track that melds disparate shades of sound and through adroit production, forms something that's equal parts dynamic and haunting. A pure, crystalline vocal decorates a barbed bass line that consistently rubs shoulders with a fierce, heavy kick. A bit-crushed organ drops in some murky blobs of sound adding to an otherworldly atmosphere before 'Space Crush' closes up with a big-room behemoth. A wall of industrial-grade sonics power forwards, one kick at a time before a synth line bleeds in, catching the listener off guard. Another unique contrast develops as rich, heartstring chords pull away from the stormy low-end and bloom into a warm embrace of a breakdown. Energy quickly builds, hammering back to earth with force, capping off another stellar addition to the VOLTA catalogue.

Balthazar & JackRock