V.A. A-Sides Volume 9 Vinyl Four Of Four

If you want a snapshot of where techno stands in any given year, and a preview of where it’s headed, look no further than Drumcode’s A-Sides compilation. Since 2012 it has marked the label debuts of countless vital Drumcode artists and affiliates, from Layton Giordani, Wehbba and Boxia, to Amelie Lens and ANNA, no less.
Every year, new names are unearthed, tried and true techno contributors serve up their best, and icons of the industry land their debut on Adam Beyer’s storied label. The 2020 edition hits with 13 tracks, eight coming from label debutants.
For the fourth and final part, Tronic head honcho Christian Smith lays down a deep, layered techno journey ‘Just Close Your Eyes’, before Thomas Hoffneckt’s ‘Code 1’ hits you square in the chest with its pulsating synth blasts and menacing drums.
On the flip side, Balthazar & Jackrock go dystopian with the tension surging ‘Red Village Disco Hustle’ and a growing label favourite, Juliet Fox follows up ‘Was Beautiful’, her superb track on last year’s A-Sides, with ‘Our Fantasy’, reinforcing her skill for crafting anthemic techno compositions.