As November rolls in and the radio airwaves fill with familiar holiday tunes, an alternative musical landscape is perfect for those seeking a different kind of winter ambiance. Enter dub techno, a genre born in the early 1990s, which offers a sonic retreat from the festive fanfare. Pioneered by innovators like Moritz Von Oswald and Mark Ernestus, dub techno blends the introspective minimalism of techno with the rhythmic delays and echoes characteristic of dub. This genre creates a unique auditory experience that mirrors winter’s introspective and serene mood.
Dub techno’s essence, often described as a sonic representation of winter, provides a perfect backdrop for those cold, introspective days. With its subtle, layered soundscapes and deep, reverberating rhythms, the genre evokes the feeling of watching snowflakes gently falling or the quiet peace of a winter night. It’s music that doesn’t demand your full attention, yet enriches the atmosphere, making it an excellent choice for winter listening.
We’ve curated a list of our favorite dub techno tracks that capture this winter essence, offering a perfect alternative for those looking to escape the holiday jingles and dive into a more tranquil, wintry vibe.
Darna – Giriu Dvasios (Cold Tear Records)
Cold Tear Records artist Giriu Dvasios delivers a subtle album featuring 10 mesmerizing dub techno tracks. if ‘darna’ symbolizes harmony, the balance is achieved through this exquisite work that uses delays and echoish dub techno with foggy elements reminiscent of its native lithuania. The label has been a reference for dub on its groove, featuring artists such as heavenchord, monodisc, and echo delta since 2010.
Distances – Pablo Bolivar & Nano Sanchez (Seven Villas Music)
The work of Spanish dub artist Pablo Bolivar is loyal to its Detroit techno imprint, yet this 16-tracker album collaboration with Nacho Sanchez celebrates the love of dub and sci-fi/ broader deep techno heights. The album is a journey through the multiple sonic interpretations of Bolivar and Sanchez using reggae references with “Aquarium”, ambient with “Cycle”, Chicago house with “Parallel Night”, breakbeats with “Nebular” and also classical with some piano, and “Octant” is the dubbest of all.
Silencio – Moritz von Oswald (Tresor Records)
Tresor Records, that features some of the finest artists around the world (Basic Channel, Donato Dozzy, Grand River, Function, to quote a few), has announced the far-expected release of ‘Silencio’ from half of the duo and founder of Basic Channel, Moritz von Oswald. The album involves a 16-voice choir to explore the concept of human vs artificial sounds, and tells about the endless possibilities of ambient within the dub realm and also classical.
Nocturnal Instinct – Microlot (spclnch)
‘Nocturnal Instinct’ is a spacey dub exploration through seductive orbits, always subtle and mesmerizing yet mysterious. The 5-tracker features dubby yet ephemeral sounds, including a remix by Koosha, one of spclnch most beloved artists. The trip is deep yet we have a feeling to travel somewhere.
Senses – Angel Lebailly – Anniversary VAs – Piranha Siberia Dub (Siberia)
In celebration of its 1st year anniversary as a label but 13-year birthday as a podcaster, Piranha Siberia has just released 6 concept albums featuring 6 Various Artists / compilations. For this special occasion, the Russian imprint has let over 50 international artists known in the dub techno scene to tell us their story through a track on their own, and the result is forever enjoyable.
Liquid Dreams 2 – Nadja Lind, Helly Larson, Klartraum (Lucidflow)
Beautiful Lucidflow returns with Nadja Lind label boss and her enchanting, spiritual, and deep inside in journey with ‘Liquid Dreams 2’. The 12-tracker album features an interpretation by Helly Larson, Klartraum, and Nadja Lind, taking us to unknown dimensions.
ECHO LTD 01 remastered – Frenk Dublin (ECHO LTD)
The dub vinyl label featuring the works of beloved dub artists SND & RTN comes back with a remastered version of dubby – reggae album by Frenk Dublin. With this new skin, the remastered versions appeal to us in a contemporary way, yet keeps a deep touch no matter what.
Rotational – Extraction / Dom Dumoulin (Sound Driven Society)
Swedish artist Extraction has been exploring the hypnotic sound escapes of the dubber sphere for a while, and with lush atmospheres, subtle textures, and echoish dub chords, reveals this new album with deep sonic elements alongside Insectorama artist Dom Dumoulin whose music recalls us of Plastikman or Rhythm & Sound. Expect down-to-earth dub at its most dramatic peak.
Būties Grožis – Akmuo (Faint Music)
Akmuo is a fascinating dub ambient artist inspired by atmospheric soundscapes and nature as well as labels like Hello Strange. Faint Music always translates dub ambient to its most poetic place: beautiful, dreamy surroundings. The 10-tracker is an invitation to look deep inside, to pause and contemplate the beauty within, and reminds us of Harold Budd & Robin Guthrie.
Northwest Passage – Ohm & Octal industries (Lempuyang)
Danish and Icelandic producers Ohm and acolyte Thor Gudmundsson from Octal Industries returns on UK-based Lempuyang featuring a deep and dubby invitation to join the dancefloor. The 8-tracker album aligns with Ohm and Octal industries love for all things dub with groovy percussions, melting textures, and lushy chords to create a stunning sound journey.
Continuity – Stygmata, Nae:Tek (Superordinate Dub Waves)
Nae:tek forever talent within dub music translates at its best with this cooperation with Stygmata. “Continuity” slowly seduces us with harmonious elements and subtle dub chords, all in a groovy manner for all dancefloor lovers–it’s a charming and elusive dub track to practice your dance moves.
Vayu, The God of Wind – ADILR (Greyscale)
Sprawling, enchanting deep techno by ADILR marks Greyscale 32nd LP and brings exquisite dub chords on wide atmospheric Swedish soundscapes. “Streams” is the deepest of halls, reminding us of faraway frozen fjords or icy nature, yet the 10-tracker album featuring mellow yet intriguing chords with deep textures brings a unique interpretation on most sounds. https://scale-limited.bandcamp.com/album/vayu-the-god-of-wind-grscl32
Tropical Roots – Amaral Borges (Melotonin)
Let’s switch to tropical moments now with Amaral Borges ‘Tropical Roots’ album. “Jungle Gate” is a chill out dub reggae style track that makes us happy, dubby, and warm. Voices appear on “Seven Times” as echoed in a jungle but all 6 tracks translate a mastery at ethereal dub techno.
Noosa Sound System – Redactorama (without a drama dub) Insectoroma variations of chords part 2 (Insectorama)
On the incredible and subtle second various artists compilations, Leipzig imprint by Markus Mashur features top dub artists that interprets variations of dub. The third part is due to be released imminently. “Redactorama (without a drama dub)” is a progression of exquisite dub chords within a deep space.
https://insectorama.bandcamp.com/album/variations-of-chords-part-two
French producer & DJ Angel began her career in London as a music journalist and event promoter for a small DJ bar in the British capital. Ever since, she appeared as a DJ in Tokyo, Berlin, Bali and began producing music in 2016. Her work is inspired by ambient producers and dub techno artists as well as nature, travels, and meditation.
