Astral Records rounds out the month of April by presenting a collaborative single from Voices of Valley and Raynz (IT). Formed in 2017 by Greek artists Valantis Likostratis and George Triantafyllakis, Voices of Valley have achieved measurable success in relatively short order. Their dark, ethereal take on techno has won over the genre's tastemakers and landed them releases via BeatFreak, Steyoyoke, Three Hands and Us & Them Records. Astral Records has also been a landing spot for the Greek duo, with three projects recorded for the Greek imprint since making their label debut in 2021. Meanwhile, hailing from Italy, Raynz (IT) began his musical journey as a guitarist, before eventually discovering techno where he took to the melodic side of the genre. Noted for his cohesive blend of traditional and trendy sounds, the Naples resident would go on to notch releases via Exx Muzik and Lelantus Records, in turn earning support from Kevin de Vries, The Element and Toto Chiavetta, amongst others. Having already worked on a joint project for Us & Them Records, Voices of Valley and Raynz (IT) combine their extensive forces once again for Astral Records with ‘Dune’, alongside remixes from Mariz and Pisetzky.
Beginning with the darker monochromes of the original mix, the duo's creative synergy reveals itself, as metallic melodies and cross-cultural vocal elements flicker and shift atop tight kick drums and crunchy grooves, eventually leading to a series of striking synth flares. Mystical throughout, the main break flows through reprocessed vocals, building tension with each successive pass, before a series of memorable gates and thunderous chord stabs sparks a deadly drop and high-octane finale.
Returning to the label for the first interpretation of ‘Dune’ is Mariz. Hailing from Brazil, Mariz first emerged with releases via Awen Tales and Three Hands Records. Immediately recognized for his amalgamation of progressive house and melodic techno, the São Paulo resident quickly became a new producer to watch. The next four calendar years saw further successes for Mariz, with releases via ERRORR, Hiato Music, Running Clouds, Warung Recordings and ZAMNA Records highlighting his discography. Astral has also been a landing spot for the talented Brazilian, with his label debut ‘Black Sky’, landing in 2023 amidst much praise, a project which would propel him to subsequent label offerings in 2024 and 2025. Now, making his fourth appearance on Astral, Mariz delivers an exhilarating rendition of ‘Dune’. Opting for a direct dancefloor approach, the Brazilian artist conveys the mood from the original beautifully, reassembling the vocal gates a top punishing kick drums for an equally charged yet stripped back approach. Taking centre stage across the break, the vocal percolates, pushing anticipation forward, as a vortex of drums and noise reveals anthemic chord stabs for the ultimate adrenaline fuelled final act.
The release concludes with Pisetzky making his label debut with the second and final interpretation of ‘Dune’. With a career that spans a decade, Italian artist Pisetzky has excelled in the realms of explorative techno. A unique and powerful blend of deep textures, pounding beats and piercing synths, in conjunction with multi layered soundscapes have led him to releases via Afterlife, fabric, Just This, Last Night on Earth and Oddity, in turn earning the praise of James Zabiela, Fur Coat, Hunter Game and Tale Of Us, amongst others. With 2025 being highlighted by ‘Nebula Fever Dream’, a three-track showcase for Black Rose Records, Pisetzky now adds Astral Records to his resume with a prophetic take on ‘Dune’. With a creative approach, Pisetzky remodels the track into a smooth meditative slice of melodic techno. Bound together by a hypno-architecture, it's a blend of shapeshifting effects, finely manicured percussion and emerging melodies which ultimately carries this uplifting journey, one where Pisetzky unlocks another new dimension in his arsenal.
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Release Date: 18-04-2025
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