Since its launch in 2016, the UFO series and its stage at the Dekmantel festival has become synonymous with a hard hitting techno sound. After a brief intermittence of two years, Dekmantel is set to relaunch the series with two simultaneous EPs releasing January 31st.

The first of the two records, 'Kaleidoscopic,’ is by Japanese artist Wata Igarashi, who blends crystalline techno sounds with ear-hypnotising melodies. As soon as the EP opens with the title track, a feeling of immediacy rushes into your body as the rhythm fires it up with an irresistible energy. Subsequent track ‘The Sailage’ continues that same melodic richness without ever taking a shortcut. But on track ‘Steaming,’ however, the EP slows down a bit, incorporating a softer sentiment to the synths instead. 

Overall, the EP has an abundant of edginess so reminiscent of previous UFO works. And Igarashi gives his own twist by focusing on fluid motion; listen to your body is the absolute mantra here. 

'Ecstatic Nostalgia,' by the Milan-based Piezo is another class act in the techno soundscape. Anyone familiar with Dekmantel festival knows that the UFO stage has always been spikey and quite tense, so it must come to no surprise that here, Piezo continues that same experimental club banging sound. From elegant sci-fi-esque beats to trance-induced melodies, Piezo’s diverse palette creates a wonderful coherent and eclectic EP.

Both records are set to release early next year on January 31st. You can pre-order ‘Kaleidoscopic’ here and get a preview of ‘Ecstatic Nostalgia’ here. Looking ahead, 2025 will hold even more artists and surprises, as Broken English Club and Quelza are set to join the UFO roster.