- Loopy techno, in more ways than one.
- If you've ever heard Berlin's D.Dan DJ, you'll catch a groovy, kaleidoscopic touch to his selections, as he rides waves of loopy, often trance-inflected techno with assassin-like precision in the mix. This style has become a trademark of the Berlin party Mala Junta, which centres old-school rave sounds (and values), and where D.Dan is a resident. "X-Dreams," the opening track from summerpup, his new EP and label of the same name, is a perfect example of how those psychedelic grooves take shape, propelled by rubbery kicks and echoey whispers that zoom in and out of focus in a spiral motion.
"D.Core" is built around jittering drums and sharp, shuffling hi-hats. Its jabbering synths give lend track a nail-biting edge, one that reminds me of his earlier work on Lobster Theremin. On the other hand, "Falling Forward Into The Future" juxtaposes the robust techno that precedes it with a sublime take on progressive house and trance, buoyant and stretchy thanks to layers of elastic synths.
D.Dan is part of a movement in Berlin bringing new energy to the city's famous techno landscape. After standout releases with Lobster Theremin, Standard Deviation and Amniote Editions, the launch of his own label is a new milestone for the American artist. As a DJ, he already has us hinging on every transition, as his kaleidoscope twists and morphs. There's a similar, precise but playful quality that threads this EP together too—loopy, yet riveting, techno at its best.
Tracklist01. X-Dreams
02. D.Core
03. Falling Forward Into The Future