Drumcode Feature and WMC Label Showcase Review

For over fifteen years, the name Drumcode has become synonymous with impactful, modern, percussive techno. From more cerebral minimalist tracks like Gary Beck and Jay Lumen’s groundbreaking “Lotus,” to the carnal and evocative sounds of Joseph Capriati, Marco Carola, and Nicole Moudaber (whose 'Believe' LP is slated for a May 6th release on the label), Drumcode continues to bring forth artists and tracks, which, despite their individuality, somehow all manage to deliver a feel that is unmistakably Drumcode. In Beyers’ words, “it just fits the Drumcode formula.”

That ‘formula,’ according to Beyer, centers entirely on the integrity of the track. It is a big room label with a large sound that refuses to compromise to popular demand. Its size and popularity of the name may, by statistical standards, constitute it as a commercial name to some, but the Drumcode sound is anything but mainstream. For nearly two decades, Beyer has striven to “push techno forward,” and its clearly catching on—especially here in the States. “I have to say, the last tours I’ve done here [in America] have all been received quite well. America is getting ready,” says Beyer. “We still have an amazing scene in Europe, but because it’s been there for so long, it’s almost become a bit cynical. In America, it’s new and exciting. It’s really fun to come over here and play because people are really excited about the whole thing and it’s like something new. Something’s going on. I’m just very positive about it.”

These days, Beyer says he’s fortunate enough to have arrived at a position where he has a constant influx of up-and-coming talent to choose from. Aside from track integrity, Drumcode has labored to create and establish a working family dynamic among all of its artists. When we visited Treehouse in Miami for the Drumcode showcase party this past WMC, we found it impossible not to notice the subtle yet seamless cohesion the artists maintained from one set to another. Watching Nicole Moudaber and Ida Engberg take the decks in rapid succession, or experiencing Joseph Capriati, Cari Lekebusch, and Alan Fitzpatrick deliver rapid-fire drums and bass, is like watching a single performer. From Moudaber’s emphasis on groove, to Capriati’s aggressively sensual ‘take-no-prisoners’ techno, this sense of unity and the musical chemistry that accompanies it, is perhaps one of the key ingredients in that special formula. In the end, its really quite simple, says Beyer. “To be taken on a journey is what electronic music is about. If the DJs play together and they follow each other, people are in a state of mind where they want to be taken to different places. That’s what we try to do. It’s about positive thinking; it’s about the music and the people coming for that music. This is the core of Drumcode.”