Ismus via KNTXT drops all-new 10 track VA ‘THE HIVE’ - Out Now

Recently revived under the aegis of Charlotte de Witte’s KNTXT, Ismus label releases its second VA LP with ten-tracker ‘THE HIVE’, out now.

The relaunched Ismus, Berlin’s revered label/party brand celebrating the underground rave vibe of techno, dance and trance, is now well underway, alternating new track compilations like ‘THE HIVE’ with ‘Time Capsule’ re-release collections, carrying on the feel of the original imprint which closed down in 2023 after 8 years of raves and releases.

It’s vital to me that breakthrough platforms and labels like Ismus stay around and are given the opportunity to grow. With KNTXT, we’re very happy to play a part in the continuation of the label and Ismus’ next chapter of new work.

- Charlotte de Witte

‘THE HIVE’ ten track round-up:

First off, Chaos & Order’s ‘The Return’ is hyperfast, frenetic techno with staccato melodic synth chords, swooping FX, & a choral riff. Next, GRIM’s ‘Breathe’ mixes a racing beat with trancey builds, breaks & melodic piano, spiced with an acid 90s twang. More acid from psytrance/hardcore ace Hartwig, adding a an urgent, questioning vocal to ‘Can You Make Me Scream’, while skilled pianist Evy Joy’s ‘Hold On’ goes cosmic with rippling bass/beats, weaving low thrumming chords & high pizzicato melody. Industrial, ‘cold’ techno next as Industry 43’s dark, raw, relentless ‘Slamy’ hits hard & fast with robotic/vocal FX, before futuristic hard house, pulsing funk-laced bass, 00s trance arps go HEAD2HEAD with ‘Viaje Interstellar’ adding spooky ‘radio waves’ & rhyming vocal. 

Tunga’s ‘There Is No Self’ has rattling percussion, scattered fluttering trancey synth chords, and an infusion of acid behind melodic stabs, while Yves von Wartburg sets teeth tingling with early 00s acid-soaked synth as the ‘Feel My Bass’ title riff rides the driving main theme. Now some EBM, minimalist basslines & industrial synth-punk with Denizens ‘Concorde’- throbbing, pulsing, growling dark & fast - ending with Zockraze ‘Waterfall Dojo’, a futuristic rampage of superspeed arps & beats, singing trance piano synth & sudden vocal stabs, through hissy spacey echoes.

A veritable feast of new rave-fuel from a diverse array of techno talent.