HAUTBOXx Records is all about the big bangers as well as big artists on their latest compilation: techno fans are in for a head pounding treat this summer!
Album Review: INTHEHAUTBOXx.Vol.2 by HAUTBOXx Records
For people who like…techno, hard techno, electronic.
Rapidly evolving HAUTBOXx Records is the techno imprint that keeps on giving, with no sign of slowing down in the near future! With INTHEHAUTBOXx.Vol.2 perhaps their biggest drop yet, label head and founder C-Hautem’s aim of the label being a juggernaut in the scene is well on its way.
Hard techno might not be my primary genre of choice much of the time, but after hearing a thumping promo video on Facebook shared by HAUTBOXx head honcho C-Hautem…my ears pricked up. I was hearing Louis’ single Prepare for Lift Off, part of the mega upcoming INTHEHAUTBOXx compilation this summer, and if this was preparing me for lift off, any proper techno fan would be lightyears into an interstellar journey by now.
Prepare for Lift Off starts against the usual backdrop of hard, pounding bass and kick drums. As the intricacies and other elements come in, there is a strong tunnel vibe going on. I feel like I’m traveling down an underground tunnel deeper and deeper towards a core of hard techno.
By the end of the track there’s a lot more going on, with the progressive build up of thumping 4/4s, 808s, and echoey distorted pads culminating in a climax that dissipates away to a simplified conclusion. I wouldn’t so much describe this as a “song”, but more a wave of energy and frequencies that would be very difficult to disrupt or interfere with…the only thing to do is move with it (DJs take note)!
Another notable track on this compilation is the mighty DRUMSUAW’s Scanners, which straight away sends heavy bass vibrations pulsating out of my headphones. Its level 10 on the Richter scale low-ends coupled with somewhat retro synth pads show why this one has caused a lot of hype with a barrage of hard-tech remixes.
Then you have Freak Unique’s Who’s Laughing Now with much the same vibe and energy, although the relentless bouncing bass and clangy red-alert alarm sounding sample give it quite a chaotic atmosphere. With this going off at Berghain one could only expect higher amounts of sweat, raised hands, and extreme shapes being thrown – it’s no wonder Who’s Laughing Now was a no.1 hard techno pick on Beatport.
Our review of Ben Böhmer’s latest single last week made clear that Best Life was best for large anthem crowds and not dark and dingy hard techno clubs, the same certainly cannot be said for this HAUTBOXx compilation – all the music on it is absolutely made for an underground club. The vivacity of this album only raises our expectations for HAUTBOXx’s future releases, and with the caliber of artists now releasing with this label and the quality of these productions, this is definitely somewhat of a milestone of success for this rapidly advancing label.
Techno fans now have no other choice than to take note of this noisy trendsetter in the scene, and if you’re a DJ you’re probably already receiving notifications of new drops from the HAUTBOXx crowd – if not then you can do that here!
Absolute bullseye there!! I’ve been playing these tracks weekly on my radio show on Codesouth.FM Codesouthofficial and getting some great reactions which is unsurprising really.