Planetary People: Luke Slater Returns on Ostgut Ton as Planetary Assault Systems
· re:union Radio editorial · 2 min read
Ten years after "Arc Angel," Luke Slater is back on Ostgut Ton as Planetary Assault Systems with "Planetary People" — fusing live energy and studio craft into raw, polyrhythmic techno.
Ten years after his last long-player for Ostgut Ton, Luke Slater returns under his most famous alias: As Planetary Assault Systems, his new album "Planetary People" arrives — a record that merges studio work and live ideas, picking up right where the label's history with Slater left off back in 2009.
At a glance
- Artist: Planetary Assault Systems (alias of Luke Slater)
- Album: "Planetary People", Catalog OSTGUTLP39
- Label: Ostgut Ton, released May 15, 2026
- Formats: Vinyl, Limited Vinyl, Download & Streaming
- 12 tracks on vinyl, 13 tracks on digital
Ten Years After "Arc Angel"
Slater has been producing that bleepy, polyrhythmic industrial techno under the Planetary Assault Systems name since the mid-nineties — the sound that made him one of Berghain's longest-serving residents. His first Ostgut Ton release was 2009's "Temporary Suspension," and the connection has stayed tight ever since. On "Planetary People," he describes how the album came together:
"10 years since I released Arc Angel on Ostgut Ton, and it's a fitting pleasure to combine live show ideas and studio work for the new album, served up with raw energy."
He also breaks down his creative process, explaining how the individual ideas click into place:
"External signals and signs combine until the recipe feels right, both musically and from being 'out there'."
Release Details
| Artist | Planetary Assault Systems (Luke Slater) |
|---|---|
| Title | Planetary People |
| Label | Ostgut Ton |
| Catalog | OSTGUTLP39 |
| Release | May 15, 2026 |
| Formats | Vinyl, Limited Vinyl, Download & Streaming |
Twelve Tracks of Contrast
The vinyl version of "Planetary People" collects twelve tracks, running from "Into The Night" through "Labyrinth" and "Quadrant 10" to "Generation Slip." The digital edition adds a thirteenth cut, "Presently My Soul Grew Stronger." Titles like "Retina Burn," "Thunder Major," or "Beton Brut" give you a pretty clear picture of the raw, uncompromising energy Slater has always brought to this alias.
If you're into what's happening at the darker end of techno right now, check our roundup of Hard Techno Releases 2026 and our take on Kobosil's album on Ostgut Ton.
FAQ
Who's behind Planetary Assault Systems?
Planetary Assault Systems is an alias of Luke Slater, who's been releasing under the name since the mid-1990s and ranks as one of Berghain's longest-standing resident DJs.
Where and when did "Planetary People" drop?
The album landed May 15, 2026 on Ostgut Ton, catalog OSTGUTLP39 — available on vinyl, limited vinyl, and digital for download and streaming.
Source: NovaFuture Blog, release info, tracklist, and artist quotes for "Planetary People".
