Drumcode returns with iconic A-Sides series

Drumcode fires up another essential snapshot of where techno stands in 2025, returning with its landmark A-Sides series – this time led by a heavyweight new Adam Beyer cut, ‘We Don’t Say Please’, that anchors the 20-track release.

Since its inception, A-Sides has doubled as a barometer for the genre’s evolution and a gateway for rising producers to break onto one of techno’s most influential labels. Alumni like Layton Giordani, Wehbba, Charles D and Raxon all made their first Drumcode appearances through the series before becoming staple contributors.

Beyer’s lead single captures the adventurous spirit he’s been championing: genre-fluid, experimental, and unmistakably forward-thinking. ‘We Don’t Say Please’ fuses bass music grit, rap influences and techno power – its distinctive UK vocal threading everything together into something fresh and surprising.

Across the rest of the compilation, Drumcode lays out a widescreen view of where techno is heading. HI-LO’s ‘NYC to Amsterdam’ channels New York house swagger through a hard-driving techno lens. Nicole Moudaber links with emerging force ZLATA for the fierce ‘Report to the Dancefloor’. Oscar L & Charles D debut a new partnership via the cosmic, immersive trip ‘Lift Me Up’. Rising duo LUSU continue their momentum with the mind-melting ‘LIKE THIS’, while Mark Reeve delivers peak-time hypnosis on ‘My Mind’. Closing out the highlights, Kaufmann reimagines a classic vocal motif for modern floors with ‘People Are Strange’.

True to form, A-Sides also welcomes a fresh wave of talent into the Drumcode fold. Uruguay’s Enzo Monza impresses with the razor-sharp ‘Late Night’ – a personal favourite of Beyer’s. Mattia Saviola lands with the high-impact ‘Parallel Dimension’, showcasing exceptional sound design. Romania’s Tao Andra unveils the celestial ‘Unity’, while industry veteran AdamK finally makes his well-deserved Drumcode debut alongside Vikthor and MC Stretch on the atmospheric standout ‘Silence + The Sound’.