Chris Liebing, Nicole Moudaber, Boris Brejcha, LUCATI, Tinlicker, and Jimpster released house and techno tracks during the week of November 20, 2023.
The holiday season often brings with it a relative slow period in the dance music industry. Hardly any festivals take place, and most people find themselves too preoccupied with planning family visits to attend as many club nights. For plenty of producers, however, inspiration never stops — and purveyors of house and techno are no exception.
Last week’s electronic music news cycle saw John Summit announce a new Las Vegas residency and, promise showed for Privilege Ibiza‘s long-awaited reopening, among other stories. Soundtracking these developments were Tinlicker, LUCATI, Jimpster, Boris Brejcha, Chris Liebing, and Nicole Moudaber. Dance music’s unrelenting beat continues to march forward thanks to these dedicated tastemakers of the scene.
Whether you find joy in the holidays or wish they were already over, we can all use a break to lose ourselves in music from time to time. Below are five house and techno tracks that offer just such an escape from the week of November 20, 2023.
Read along for more information on the five tracks that dropped this week, and then check out last week’s list. Listen to more house and techno curations on EDM Identity’s Subterranean Sounds, Melodic Marvels, and Dancefloor Decadence Spotify playlists!
Nicole Moudaber and Chris Liebing – When You Are Near
Nicole Moudaber looked up to Chris Liebing long before she commanded global star power in her own right. The novelty of working with him seemingly hasn’t worn off, and their creative chemistry has manifested in a two tracker, the I Will Be A Devil Until I Am An Angel EP.
That mouthful of a record consists of two tracks, “Watch Me Choose You” and “When You Are Near.” Both are no-frills, by-the-book techno for the heads, but the latter especially shines for its subtlety. Leading with a handful of understated sonic elements, it ratchets up the intensity gradually enough to sneak up on the listener. A skillful DJ will get some serious mileage out of this cut.
Tinlicker – This Life ft. Tom Smith
On practically the opposite end of the house and techno spectrum is “This Life” by Tinlicker. Its uplifting, effervescent synth work buoys Tom Smith‘s radio-ready vocal, with cascading atmospheres filling the negative space like rays of light shining through a canopy of clouds.
“This Life” will appear on Cold Enough for Snow, the duo’s upcoming album slated for release in February 2024. Previously, they released the ascendent “Slipstream” alongside the announcement of a 2024 European tour.
Boris Brejcha – Dimension
Boris Brejcha’s sound signature — dubbed hi-tech minimal — is on full display in last week’s offering, “Dimensions.” This track isn’t likely to impress your techno snob friend who only listens to washing machine noises, but it’s guaranteed to ignite the dancefloor of a massive stadium when cued up on a state-of-the-art sound system.
Curious melodies intertwine themselves with shapeshifting basslines over the course of the track’s eight-minute runtime. A robotic vocal refrain of the single’s namesake plays out every so often, but the timbre of its vowel sounds add more to the soundscape than the meaning of the words themselves.
Detroit Rising – Rocket Love (Jimpster Remix)
Detroit Rising has put out some quality music courtesy of musicians who have collaborated with high-profile acts. Detroit Rising Remixes saw Jimpster, Kaidi Tatham, Evm128, and Sean McCabe reimagine a handful of these singles.
House heads in particular will delight in Jimpster’s rendition of “Rocket Love.” With jazzy character and breathy, soulful vocals, it’s the sort of track that will add an air of sophistication to any DJ set catering more to fixed beat enthusiasts.
LUCATI – CONSEQUENCES
Falling into the tech house category — but benefiting from unmistakeable techno influence — is LUCATI’s peak-time groover, “CONSEQUENSES.” Smooth basses, shrill atmospheres, and wonky sound effects mix in perfect proportions to yield a whole greater than the sum of their parts.
“CONSEQUENCES” appeared on an EP of the same name last week. Accompanying it was “YUMA,” a track whose almost Italo disco-reminiscent lead synths made it a strong counterbalance to the title track.
