Some moments ask to be played back.
As we head toward XRDS25, we’re sharing a selection of recordings from last year. Seven sets that each captured a distinct facet of the weekend.
The series opens with Ben Sims b2b Truncate at Viaduct. Their set was driving techno, stripped-back, percussive, and locked-in from the first kick. Their no-frills style set the tone for what followed. Border One b2b Marie-Julie brought a different kind of tension: a steady build grounded in minimal techno, relying on vinyl control, extended mixes, and long-form transitions.
At Outskirts, ASEC broke down the structure, replacing rhythm with disjointed patterns and raw textures. Their sound, rooted in experimental techno and industrial elements, left room for distortion and abstraction. That loose form found contrast in Merve, whose set moved between deep house grooves and hypnotic, disorienting breakdowns. Playful yet intentional, her style kept the crowd engaged without losing focus.
From there, things narrowed again. Helena Lauwaert brought airy, uptempo techno, working with space and restraint, playing a set with long, patient builds and subtle, driving basslines. Askkin pushed further into the hypnotic, with a deep techno sound built around repetition and tension. Their set evolved, pulling listeners into a trance-like state with deep bass and smooth rhythms. Clara D closed Viaduct with a controlled yet heavy techno set, blending driving beats and sharp, industrial textures.
Together, these sets offer a sharp imprint of what XRDS24 sounded like: a mix of driving techno, minimal structures, and deep, hypnotic rhythms.
The full sets are available on SoundCloud for those who want to listen back, or hear them for the first time.
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