TuneLab
Karenn & Neil Landstrumm – Boiler Room & Ballantine's Stay True Scotland – In Stereo
Karenn (the blistering duo of Blawan and Pariah) joining forces with Scottish techno stalwart Neil Landstrumm for a Boiler Room in Glasgow? We knew we were in for something punishingly good—a lesson in how to make machines sweat. The vibe at In Stereo is pure, unadulterated Scottish rave: dark, intense, with a crowd that looks like it could headbutt a concrete wall and ask for more. Locked at a relentless 125 BPM, this is hard, jacking techno with an industrial edge. The key of 12A dominates, appearing 14 times, creating a monochrome, hypnotic soundscape.
The energy profile, with lows at 0.74 and mids at 0.20, is all about distorted, pounding basslines and gritty mid-range percussion, while occasional high-end hits (0.06) slice through the mix like sheet metal. The mixing is raw and functional, prioritizing momentum over finesse, with tracks often slamming in on the one to maintain a brutal, unwavering pace. They open with 'Paul Mondot - Jacking Boogie', a track whose title says it all—relentless, looping funk for the warehouse. 'Simone Vitullo & Cammora - It Feels So Good (Extended Mix)' brings a touch of sleazy, Italian hardgroove swagger.
'Cratebug - Melondrop (Luke Solomon's Savage Body Edit)' is a peak-time weapon with its warped vocals and driving rhythm. 'Aldo Brionne - Deep'n' offers a moment of deeper, atmospheric pressure, while 'Munfell Muzik - Eny' adds a chaotic, almost breakbeat-inflected energy. The closing 'Takahashi Nana - 星空物語' is a surprising, beautiful drift into ambient, proving there's soul beneath the steel. From the opening jack of 'Jacking Boogie', through the sweaty peak of the Cratebug edit, to the serene, starry-eyed comedown, it's a journey that reminds us hard techno can be both brutal and beautifully nuanced.