Along with being one of my favourite DJ’s, West Norwood Cassette Library also runs one of my all time favourite labels WNCL Recordings. For the past few years the label has been putting out some of, in my opinion, the most interesting techno happening in the UK at the moment, with the likes of Bobby Champs, Spatial, Kamikaze Space Programme and J.Tijn all dropping some quality releases on the imprint. So, it was with great pleasure when I discovered that Mr Bob Bharma was starting a sister label.

While in the making for a while, it is finally dropping the first release, with C.E.O. taking the reigns. Described by Bob as “the most patient producer on the planet“, it’s a release 3 years in the making to ensure that the right home was found for the release, and thus the toolkit series was born.

While most definitely not long club floor fillers, The Microfiche Edits is some of the most insane and bonkers techno you’ll probably ever here in your life. With 12 tunes clocking in at the 2 minute mark, they’ve been given the tongue in cheek title of “tools” given the structure and length of each track. According to Bob, “the aesthetic, much like the parent label WNCL Recordings, is steeped in original library recordings, BBC Radiophonic Workshop, sound FX albums etc…despite not really sounding anything like any of those things.”

While not aimed at the dancefloor, I could definitely see these going off (especially in somewhere like DON’T) and I would lose my shit if I heard any of these out.  As with his debut release The Major Edits EP, which came out on WNCL in 2014, the production is serious, and those kick drums would blow the roof off a gaff.

If you like your techno straight then this probably isn’t for you, but, if you like hard, heavy, discordant, experimental bangers (and want your head to spin for a while) then grab this and shatter your speakers. Hands down the most interesting techno I’ve heard in a long time.

With more releases on the way from Jane in Palma, Ekoplekz and J.Tjin, the label’s already shaping up to be another Skirmish favourite. Which is great, as I can’t think of anything better than losing it over new music.

The Microfiche Edits is out now on 10″ vinyl and can be ordered through the WNCL Bandcamp.

SIDE A
01: MFE001
02: MFE002
03: MFE003
04: MFE004
05: MFE005
06: MFE006

SIDE B
07: MFE007
08: MFE008
09: MFE009
10: MFE010
11: MFE011
12: MFE012