Press Release: [DUR-R004] Ketzaal - Placed Upon Thee EP

NJ USA — March 2026

Downside Up Recordings returns with DUR-R004, a four-track EP from emerging techno artist Ketzaal titled Placed Upon Thee. The release continues the label’s focus on showcasing distinctive voices within contemporary underground techno while maintaining its collector-focused vinyl philosophy.

Blending hypnotic structures with driving rhythmic frameworks, Placed Upon Thee captures the tension between peak-time functionality and the more introspective moments that define modern techno sets.

The EP opens with the title track “Placed Upon Thee,” a commanding peak-time weapon built around massive hypnotic stabs, rolling percussion, and a groove designed to lock dancers into motion. “Final Ritual” follows with a deeper, bouncing rhythm and layered low-end elements that give the track both physical drive and subtle atmosphere.

On the B-side, “The Throne” moves into pulsating territory with a restrained but powerful groove that DJs can deploy across multiple moments in a set. Closing the EP, “In Bloom” shifts into more cerebral territory, with shape-shifting synth lines and hypnotic textures that create the kind of mental energy often reserved for the early morning hours of a dance floor.

For Downside Up Recordings founder Brandon De Carlo, the release represents both the discovery of a new voice and the continuation of the label’s artistic direction.

“We’re committed to bringing attention to techno’s emerging artists from across the globe. Ketzaal’s tracks have already appeared in many of my DJ sets, and it’s clear his sound represents the ethos of Downside Up’s approach to techno as an art form.”

Known for its carefully curated vinyl releases, Downside Up presents Placed Upon Thee as a limited collector pressing, featuring both a classic black vinyl edition and a distinctive high-melt color variant.

*actual records may look different than pictured due to the uniqueness of the colored pressing process.

BLACK COPIES ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER ON JUNO:

https://www.juno.co.uk/products/ketzaal-placed-upon-thee-ep-vinyl/1149943-01/

Tracklist

A1 — Placed Upon Thee
Massive hypnotic stabs and driving percussion create a peak-time techno weapon designed to command the dance floor.

A2 — Final Ritual
A bouncing groove layered with deep rhythmic elements and atmospheric tension.

B1 — The Throne
Pulsating energy and restrained power make this a versatile DJ tool for navigating late-night transitions.

B2 — In Bloom
Mental and hypnotic, with evolving synth structures suited for early morning moments.

Format & Pressing Details

12" Vinyl (Limited Pressing)
Black Vinyl — 100 copies
“Fire” Yellow Swirl Hi-Melt Edition — 100 copies
Full cover artwork
Printed center labels
Poly-lined inner sleeve
High-quality digital included

Release Information

Artist: Ketzaal
Title: Placed Upon Thee
Catalog: DUR-R004
Label: Downside Up Recordings
Format: 12" Vinyl & Digital

Mastered by Chris Mc Cormack (Blacklisted Mastering UK)

Pressed at Onyx Press, Arcadia California
Manufactured: - Black 100 copies/Fire 100 copies worldwide

Available via Downside Up Recordings and select international distributors TBA.

Due to the nature of the high-melt vinyl pressing process, each color record features a unique swirl pattern—no two copies are identical. With only 200 records manufactured worldwide, Placed Upon Thee stands as a strictly limited entry in the Downside Up catalog and a snapshot of the label’s ongoing exploration of contemporary techno.