techno for boxing

If you’re a techno fan these days and someone mention the city of Cologne, most anybody would immediately think of the Kompakt empire. And rightfully so. But there are other labels based out of Rhineland’s cultural capital, not least among them Boxer Recordings.

Since 2002, the label has been putting out slabs of dancefloor-ready vinyl that have—more often than not—been very well received by DJs and fans alike. And while the label is a tad less distinctive in sound than Kompakt (a lot of it, honestly, is pretty boring minimal techno to these ears), there are a few artists that have carved out some memorable moments that conveniently just arrived on eMusic the other day.

Stefan Schrom – I Feel for You / Delon & Dalcan – La Migale

These two are the anthems that’ll have you pumping your fist at peak-time on the dancefloor – or will at least have you grooving in your seat a lil’ bit at work. Similar in nature to something like Roman Flugel’s “Gehts Noch,” their melody will have firmly implanted itself into your brain by song’s end.

Johan Fotmeijer – How We Gonna Fail Now?

Akufen meets Prefuse73 meets Marc Bolan. Er, by which I mean: this is a techno/cut-up/schaffel tune. Er, by which I mean: it’s a swinging good time! Yeah!

Scarlett Etienne & Audiofly – Loose Lips Sync Ships

Boxer has a sub-label (as most techno imprints of any size do these days) helpfully called Kickboxer. The first great release is this one, a co-production by San Francisco producer Scarlett Etienne and Audiofly, a duo from England. Relentlessly melodic, it sounds like a co-production because of the numerous niggling riffs running around the periphery, each interlocking with one another in interesting ways. Following just one the entire way through is an impossibility, but it’s fun to try once the track is going at full-bore. It’s dangerously overloaded with sonic information – and that’s what makes it awesome.

Maximilian Skiba – Randez-Vous Over Mars EP

In a list of exceptions to the rule, Maximilian Skiba’s EP may be the biggest of them all. While most of Boxer’s output seems aimed for the big room, Randez-Vous Over Mars is a more intimate and idiosyncratic proposition. These are electro tracks, surely, but they sound as if they were crafted in 1973. It’s probably just the filter that Skiba ran his synth lines through, but it adds a further retro feel to a brand of music that sounds out-of-time already. Try “Randez-Vous” for starters.

One last note about Boxer/Kickboxer. The art for these releases is absolutely amazing. Obviously the 150×150 eMusic-provided covers don’t quite do them justice, so I’ve provided some below. Check the firm’s other work out here.