JOHANNES VOLK — Shining Force

Johannes Volk – Shining Force opens the latest Running Back offering, catalogue RB148, as a 12-inch vinyl entry that delves into tech-house terrain while probing perception and dance-floor physics. The release follows the artist’s Running Back outings “Lightweave” (RB138, 2025) and the earlier “Extra Dimensions”, positioning the new EP as the third installment in a series of five “exercises” that blend machine precision with a strangely human feel. Within the Running Back catalogue, RB148 arrives after Tornado Wallace’s “Left At Sunset” (RB145, 2026) and Roman Flügel’s “Dusty Jukebox” (RB147, 2026), and precedes the label’s upcoming “Lonely Planet LP” by Tornado Wallace (RBLP09, later 2026). This placement underscores the label’s current focus on forward-thinking techno and tech-house releases that balance experimental narrative with club-ready momentum. Side A opens with “Shining Force” (5:58), a track that lifts the listener above an imagined planetary surface, letting optical illusion and physical oddities colour the groove. Its evolving structure sets a spacious mood that prepares the floor for the second cut, “Switching From Bicycle To Spaceship” (6:14). As the title suggests, the piece trades a modest pedal-driven rhythm for a propulsion-driven drive, building a deceptively simple groove that accelerates, sheds gravity and lifts the set into a higher orbital energy. Side B begins with “Hidden In Dark” (5:45), a more immediate, archaeology-inspired cut that summons fog, strobes and the intense emotions of a late-night dance floor. Its atmosphere feels like a sonic excavation of memory, offering DJs a dark, moody backdrop for peak-time moments. The following track, “Back Alley Dancers” (5:05), turns the perspective inward, using fragmented vocal snippets that feel pitched, delayed and reversed, evoking half-remembered youth and the feeling of encountering music before fully understanding it. This track bridges the introspective tone of its predecessor with a more nostalgic texture. The EP closes with “Drumaturgy” (4:04), a stripped-back, rhythm-focused finale that abandons the earlier conceptual layers in favour of pure percussive force. Morphing bass drums and a Chicago-style snare roll create a decisive, dance-floor-ready climax that resolves the record’s journey through varied states of consciousness. Johannes Volk’s recent output on Running Back, notably the “Lightweave” EP (RB138, 2025), has established a pattern of exploring the interface between mechanistic precision and human feeling. “Shining Force” continues this trajectory, adding a narrative of extraterrestrial travel and memory archaeology that aligns with the label’s current aesthetic. Within the broader tech-house scene, the EP offers a fresh take on the genre’s capacity for storytelling through groove, positioning it as a noteworthy addition to both Volk’s discography and Running Back’s 2026 roster. For DJs, the record provides a versatile toolkit: the opening track works as an atmospheric intro, “Switching From Bicycle To Spaceship” supplies a mid-set lift, while “Hidden In Dark” and “Back Alley Dancers” deliver darker, emotive moments suitable for peak or after-hours sets. “Drumaturgy” serves as a tight, percussive closer that can either end a set or transition into more kinetic selections. Collectors will appreciate the continuity of Volk’s Running Back narrative and the EP’s cohesive sequencing, which rewards deep listening as well as club play. The release is pressed on 12-inch vinyl, matching the format of Volk’s earlier “Lightweave” EP and his “AIIIance EP” on Matterwave Records (MW010A, 2025). The record’s five tracks span just over half an hour, offering a concise yet varied listening experience that reflects the label’s commitment to forward-thinking tech-house. Johannes Volk – Shining Force, Running Back, catalogue RB148, 12-inch vinyl, five tracks. Tracklist: A1. Johannes Volk – Shining Force – 5:58 A2. Johannes Volk – Switching From Bicycle To Spaceship – 6:14 B1. Johannes Volk – Hidden In Dark – 5:45 B2. Johannes Volk – Back Alley Dancers – 5:05 B3. Johannes Volk – Drumaturgy – 4:04