New In – Feb 2025 – frohfroh – electronic music from leipzig

February is now a few weeks ago. But we put it on again: with selected February releases from Leipzig.

Various Artists – „Maniac Vol. 1“ (Maniac)

Exactly on February 1, the Maniac crew started a new chapter and founded its own label. This can only be good if you use the top curated parties as a template. At the start there is a small vinyl compilation, which is also well curated. In addition to Maniac resident Elmar, there is a listening with the long-established Carlotta Jacobi and our Leipzig new discovery Iglo. With Egotot there is also some Wiener Techno sound on the “Vol. 1”. And how does that sound? Very mature and well -tempered. All four acts deliver very gripping tracks – Jed: R with their own twist. While Carlotta Jacobi explores the tension between Detroit and Dub, Egotot works more with a rolling groove, Iglo continues to research on the daring embedding of classic vocal voices and Elmar moves in a rather cold, industrial-shaped, diffuse pulsating sound aesthetics. No track that weakens here – an extremely successful premiere.

Jens' Hit: “Ndirin” – Why: Because this noisy, not quite transparent, yet hard sound awakens a lot of fascination.

En Direct – „The Illusion Of Control“ (Clear Memory)

A new album on Clear Memory was also released in February. Enect were already represented from the first “Various Artists” EP on Clear Memory and have in the meantime published two EPS on Lunatic Records (also a Leipzig label). Your inspiration draws from the Electronic Body Music and Early Electro. They add another fine shade to the sound of the label. “Crush the Light” is a flawless EBM Banger. With “On Time” the duo then strikes rather classic electro sounds. The spoken word vocals and the hypnotic, wandering synth line develop their very own suction.

“Little White Lies” could be the soundtrack of a computer game from the 1980s with his midi sound aesthetics and the Lofi beat (something with car racing). With “This World”, the sustainable synth bass line then even sound briefly. Enect immersed in the effortlessly electro, EBM and industrial elements. Everything is demanded from the synths, the beats are always hard and cutting. The vocals give the sound of the duo the last kick in many places. Oh so, you can also sing French (“positive paranoia”). “The Illusion of Control” is something for dark minds, but I was a lot of fun while listening.

Nils' Hit: “On Time”-Why: crystal-clear Electro Track with Model-500 reach.

Richard Brook – „Cold Winds“ (04177 Records)

“Cold Winds”, a new track by Richard Brook, was published on 04177 Records. It can be seen cool how the Lindenau label has developed into a reliable size of easily accessible house in recent years. “Cold Winds” makes no exception-on the contrary: the track gives the label catalog a certain urgency that has not yet been missing per se, but was also not overpredant in the form. Worn by an urgent synth motif, the track finds very confidently to itself, standing out atmospherically by Richard Brook's first track “I Lost a Friend” published on 04177. The release is rounded off by a remix by label boss Bajazo, which, not too surprising, is a little closer to the known repertoire of the label – which should never be read here as a criticism. On the contrary: the track works wonderfully as a somewhat more relaxed house.

David's hit: “Cold Winds” – Why: Simply because of this urgency.

DJ Balduin – „Everything EP“ (Small Steps)

It was a bit quiet about DJ Balduin since his fulminant 2023 album “Concrete Mimosa” can be records. Now in February a new EP was finally released on Small Steps, the young label of the Brussels DJ Lola Haro. By the way, there is also a Connection to Balduin's album at the “Everything EP”: The opener “Andver” is an elegant house version of the rather break-experimental “EndaPour”. If you know it, direct sound references of the original appear everywhere, but they look more tidy in the hypnotic-märing Drive and much more warmer. Above all, the warm-bass chord is an incredibly cozy blanket. This filigree, at the moment, which is still stirring and yet gently pushed atmosphere, also shapes the other two tracks. Delicate feathers bass drums, drum-like hihats, deep-spherical, nostalgically deeply diving chords that are upgraded and then fly away. Meditative and detaching in the best sense. Just as Balduin also acts in his DJ sets. A very hugging EP that we give back as much love.

Jens' Hit: “Summer” – Why: Because the mix of incredible deepness and constant tension reveals almost spiritual features.

Mindelect – „Zima EP“ (Self-released)

It starts with a bell -like loop that is beautiful. A chirp and a water feature underline the relaxed and meditative and complete the tonal scenery. But there are cracks in the harmonious overall structure. The tones become wrong and then an electro beat sets in. No idea where the came from, but the surprise effect was successful. And that's not the only moment on the EP of the producer Minelect, which ignores the predictable and breaks with the hearing habits.

Words that come to mind when listening to the music “tiny” or cute. It is not opened thickly, but relaxed in a relaxed manner. You can certainly attribute the EP to the Electro genre, but this applies above all to the broken beats. Everything that happens beyond is playful and very pop in many moments, as the last title with its jazzy and Housy Vibes proves most of. With Emilia there is even a feature on the vocals. Otherwise, solid organs, analogous synth-arpeggio lines and a slightly melancholic mood, run through the release.

Nils' Hit: “Prélude” – Why: Successful and surprising musical break.

Harry Wills – „Zima EP“ (Long Vehicle)

The eighth edition of the can-do to the “Slanch EP” by Harry Wills, published in mid-February. She continues the previous story of Long Vehicle as a place of the smaller form, but also seamlessly ties in with the claim of the previous releases. Harry Wills presents intelligent, handy electronic music for around 20 minutes. It is striking how effortlessly everything sounds here. The complete production fits together very seamlessly, without irritation, into a beautifully individual sound image that also escapes an overly precise description and name somewhere – even because in this case there is simply no need for this. The EP is a lot of fun, precisely because it manages to integrate variety into a satisfactory sound overall.

Davids Hit: „Lamreal” – Why: Honestly, it is difficult to highlight a track – simply because all three tracks are strong. However, it is currently because of the development of the track, but it could be different tomorrow.

Leibniz – „the Pump“ (Lif Records)

Oha, News from Leibniz on Rat Life, the label of Credit 00. On Leibniz we had an incredible hype over ten years ago at Frohmurfroh. Correctly, I still find it. At that time he lived in Leipzig and surprised out of nowhere with very good, rough and UK-inspired house and break hybrids. In the meantime, Leibniz has lived in Berlin for a long time and has established his own label with a hundred. In February he and his “La Bomba” EP went back to Leipzig and advice. Where he brought out an EP in 2016. In 2025, Leibniz sounds different on many levels (although the change has always been one of him): The A-side throws two super raw and quickly torn old school techno tracks on the floor, who are worried with pop, sometimes with comic appeal. Very simple and wink, but that's exactly why serious. On the B side, the exact opposite is then waiting: “GT” and “Zero Bass” surprise with a deep dubstep, great UK graciality and so some raveavations. “Teka” then makes a good sheet of a good bow to the A-side with his childishly euphoric, extra dry techno bounce. What an EP – Leibniz remains special!

Jens' Hit: “Teka” – Why? Because the dry kick and the hinged up soul snacks should put every open-hearted floor in euphoria.

Gzardin – „rrm12032“ (Rand Muzik Recordings)

A new bark on the edge should not be missing in February – to sort musically under House/Techno. Or stop under “edge”. Interesting how a label can stand so much for a sound. The “Hentroduction” enchants with a very nice synth chord and goes played in a bass and percussive as well as Groovy as Hell very well. “Rainy Pain” gallops a little darker and brisk forward-Category Techno tool. “Part Time Shed” and the last title rock through without highlights in tribal technology mode. Unfortunately one of the less exciting releases on the edge (for me!), But the label stands for quality and that's why I definitely always pull the latest plate out of the compartment and listen. Often enough, the things end up on the sales counter.

Nils’ Hit: “Hentroduction“ – Why: Der Chord!

Carlotta Jacobi / Ponygirl – „Surreal Fluctuation EP“ (Synergie)

In February there were three more new tracks to discover from Carlotta Jacobi-on a split-EP of the Hanoverian label synergy. With the Berlin producer Ponygirl, Jacobi has also received a very suitable sidekick for her increasingly Detroit-inspired sound. Carlotta Jacobi on this EP lays a few, extremely well -fitting sounds about the fast -scale, powerful bass drums. Simple sounds that develop a strong pull in their minimalism. In addition, classic claps, sharp hihats – there is no need for more words. My feeling is that Carlotta Jacobi finds the middle of her sound more and more and, especially in her finishing touches, is tearing off more and more energy. And at the same time integrated clear references into the 1990s between Berlin and Detroit. Very driving, very good.

Jens' Hit: “Alla Vet” – Why: Because there is still extra heat in the energy sog.

Hayter – „Inspector Todd“ (Self-released)

It will be exciting here! Hayter is part of the Clear Memory Crew and brought us some powerful Lofi-Electro tracks. The title track is super catchy and playful. “Changing Patterns” has a few fantastically broken vocoder sounds on board. Otherwise, a bunch of long -distance breaks and minimal changes in the patterns in the repertoire. The snappy synth saws your ear canal. Short breather. “In the MeanTime” is a bit more stubborn, but no less demanding. A Darke synth line and pair of acid-like sounds shape the track. “Give Me The File” then has a micro hymn-synth break at the start. Absolute banger! The case is then closed after five tracks. One would like to ask what Hayter served as inspiration in the production of the EP. There must be something to do with this inspector Todd. This EP is Lofi, a bit retro, very varied and produced at the same time. High quality shit!

Nils’ Hit: „Give Me The File“ – Why: Absolute Electro Hymne.