July opens with a bang: Robert Hood returns to BASEMENT. One of the architects of modern techno, Hood’s visionary approach to minimalism and stark, pared back grit helped to usher techno into its true form. Tracks like “Minus” and “Rhythm of Vision” are iconic, timeless entries into the canon, bringing a spiritual depth and captivating rigor to any dancefloor. Hood’s music feels both confrontational and monastic in its meditative power, blindingly intense and yet poised, even still. It’s a paradox you need to experience for yourself. Holden Federico’s output hews close to the principles forged by Hood and his peers. Federico’s embrace of techno’s golden age serves as a potent reminder of how truly futuristic the genre was in the ‘90s, and still can be. Max Watts, like Hood, represents Michigan. The Limited Network founder moves from taut techno to elusive, evocative electro painted with a shadowy darkness that is frankly stunning. Mike Servito’s stark, jacking sensibility is a definitive part of the New York landscape. His history mirrors that of modern dance music: born in Detroit and deeply entwined with the Bunker NY crew, Servito’s bonafides are indisputable. But those affiliations wouldn’t mean much without the music to back it up. If you know, you know. Servito has perfected the nasty, pumping sound of Chicago like few ever had. Lyric Hood returns to STUDIO. Following her tenure alongside her father in Floorplan, Lyric Hood’s solo work extends that projects explosive soulfulness. Club Moment founder SPRKLBB is an artist whose defiance of norms has become their calling card. A vinyl purist and well-honed technician, SPRKLBB can go from mutant house to low slung chug to ice cold, psychedelic tech-step with a fluidity that will leave your jaw on the floor.