- Medellín's techno scene steps out onto the global stage.
- Medellín may soon be known as a world-class techno city, and the Move crew are partially responsible for that. The 13-person collective, which includes recent RA podcaster Julianna, plus Merino, Retrograde Youth and Lust Attraction, have been putting on parties for five years now, hosting international acts like Function, Aurora Halal and DJ Stingray. Building a healthy scene can be an uphill battle in any city, and Move have poured blood, sweat and tears into their parties, often prevailing against tough odds. They're bringing their sound to the global stage with the first Move Medellín release, Origen, a compilation EP of local artists. Spanning chugging industrial to more streamlined, hypnotic sounds, it suggests that something special is happening in the "city of eternal spring."
It's also a fair representation of what you're likely to hear in the Colombian techno scene, which has existed in one form or another since the mid-'90s. Black Propaganda's "Falso Lider" is slow and evil, with a sludgy kick drum and a hint of EBM in the synths. Retrograde Youth's "Paraiso" is the record's most abstract track. Its shimmering, cinematic chords feel supernatural, with a slight dissonance that draws the ear in, making the track a good early-night option for setting the tone. Merino's "Vortice" is a slow-burner—its hypnotizing synth line is layered with subtly shifting textures that become more mind-bending as it loops. Blotketch's "Epicentro" is the EP's highlight, where a psychedelic effect is backed by razor-sharp sound design and tasteful reverb to evoke space and dimension.
Origen isn't the only Medellín all-star compilation to come out this year. Black Propaganda and Merino also appear on Medellín Rave Society, an excellent mini-comp that leans towards electro, IDM and broken-beat techno. Though Origen is more focused on functional four-to-the-floor techno, both releases share raw textures and a shadowy palette. Taken together, they suggest that techno might have a new center of gravity in South America.
TracklistA1 Black Propaganda - Falso Lider
A2 Retrograde Youth - Paraiso
B1 Merino - Vortice
B2 Blotketch - Epicentro