Electro pioneer Der Zyklus is back with a fresh release. This latest iteration of the Detroit collective pairs Gerald Donald (absolute electro royalty of Dopplereffekt and Drexciya fame) with Elena Sizova, and the result is robot funk in base form.

Delivering a massive original cut alongside two alternate versions, Truth Machine proves that Donald’s unparalleled ear for mechanical rhythms and synthetic grooves remains completely unmatched.

The original mix of Truth Matrix erupts from the speakers with a caustic 303 acid bassline, snaking through precision drum programming like a neon serpent. Panning synth clucks balter randomly around the soundstage like electro-fried whirligigs, while imposing pads groan in the background like ghosts in the machine.

The Truth Matrix (DPX Data Sanitization) mix is the absolute definition of ‘banging’. Steering us down a heavier techno path, it pairs that boiling acid line with a driving 4/4 kick for some serious, peak-time bone grinding.

Finally, the Truth Matrix (Look Back Time) mix lets that phantom circuitry from earlier take the lead. The focus shifts toward the upper mids and top end; the bass takes a deliberate step back, allowing a beautifully ethereal flavour to develop across the track.

As you would rightly expect, this is an amazing record from Der Zyklus, and you should go and get it over on Bandcamp, like, now.