Cesar Almena’s latest offering on CODE Records marks the 40th milestone for the Spanish label. Titled Techno Influences, this 10-track digital release unfurls its mysterious creations. Almena, the co-founder of CODE Records and the mastermind behind the renowned CODE parties at Madrid’s Fabrik, presents a collection that is as enigmatic as it is exhilarating and received love from Cristian Varela to Loco & Jam.
Almena’s opening track, “ZaPaTiLLa,” takes us on a trip through a maze of acid pulses and ravey stabs, with fast-paced rhythms which lead us farther into the techno underworld. The song “Porto” changes the tone to one of melancholic industrial landscapes, with psychedelic vocals reverberating through dim hallways. The cheerful synth of “Advent” stabs like faraway, ethereal lights, bringing back a hint of the rave.
With its vibrating melodies and sweeping pads layered over powerful percussion creating an ethereal climb, “Alive” delivers a moment of uplift as we continue to explore. But “Ekho” drags us back into the depths with a menacing acid line that echoes like a haunting whisper. “Alone” follows, its full-throttle groove is a relentless march through nocturnal landscapes.
“I’m So the Sure” continues this journey, using a jackin’ groove and feel-good vocal stabs hinting at hidden revelries. With its retro synth chords and energising vocal bursts, “Eh Oh” amps up the tension, with rolling percussion that is utterly captivating.
The penultimate “Bombeo,” a collaboration with Catalyst, releases an explosive flow of energy, a powerful crescendo before the final act. “Knights of the Groovy” closes the album with skipping, tribal beats and deep tones, a reflective end to an intricate journey.
Techno Influences is more than just a standard album; it’s a skillfully composed journey through the colourful and dark sides of classic techno, with each track serving as a chapter in an enigmatic yet incredibly engrossing narrative.
Out now, buy a copy HERE.
