Review: The fledgling WEorUS label rolls out more stylish, minimal and tech here from a trio of artists. Andrade goes first with 'Kubernetes,' a driving minimal house cut packed with hefty groove. It is followed by 'Content Security Policy' which is a slick, rhythm-forward roller that locks you into its flow. Flip to side-B and get swept into Dragosh's 'One Way,' a deep, hypnotic workout that's all tension and release and rounding off the trip is Fabrizio Siano's 'Control Your Emotions,' a poignant, late-night burner that delivers introspection through rhythm.
Manuel De Lorenzi & Freddie Wall - "Sun-Rise" (6:15)
Fichs - "Find Yourself" (6:35)
Manuel De Lorenzi - "You Already Know It" (7:08)
Manuel De Lorenzi & Giacomo Silvestri - "The Big Apple Community" (7:09)
Review: Monday Morning is back to roll out some more lush house depths with a second EP, this one featuring founder Manuel De Lorenzi in the company of his pals Giacomo Silvestri, Freddie Wall and Fichs. 'Sun-Rise' is a nice gritty but vibey opener with percussive skip and dry hits. Fichs's solo cut is a loopy workout with nice bulbous synths and a pared-back rhythm that gets ever more inescapable while De Lorenzi then offers up the radiant synth warmth and dubby undercurrents of minimal house shuffler 'You Already Know It.' With Giacomo Silvestri he then closes on the more percussive loops of soft house soother 'The Big Apple Community.'
Review: On a mission to "make d&b great again", Finland's Straight Up Breakbeat pass through once more with the second of three EPs formed to showcase modern junglism. Kicking off, 'Mystery Machines' sees Glastonbury's Dead Mans Chest slam down some deadly amen choppage reinforced by haunting vocal FX and paranoid drones. Aeon Four & FFF's 'Look Inside' is a jungle-tekno roller, served with chunky hardcore style amens and a side of warm old-skool pads. Keeping the mid-90s vibe alive, the tripped out 'Green Fields Forever ' from Fanu - which drops hot on the heels of his greatly received remaster of Source Direct's 'Stars' - delivers airtight amen trickery, weaving synth washes and blissful dubby basslines. Esc & Mineral round things off with 'Photosynthesis', a pensive stepper highlighting cut-up breaks waltzing with cheeky synth nudges and a wide, rugged bassline. If the pioneers had buried some beefed-up tracks in a time-capsule to inspire future generations, they would probably sound a lot like 'States of Art II'.
Review: After debuting with an on-point reissue EP, this new label out of South Africa is back with a set of superb remixes. On the A-side, Border One and Quelza bring their individual styles to some sleek techno sounds, while the B-side features contributions from CONCEPTUAL and D-Leria, each adding their own distinct touch. The remixes take listeners on a journey from driving, energetic beats to warm, hypnotic soundscapes while each new rework manages to be fresh but also sympathetic to the vibe of the original.
Review: Fabio Caria launches his new label, Hoops, as a means to explore the intersection of house and techno through a minimalist lens. The debut release is a collaboration with Hubble under the moniker Fabble and it's a fine one with three meticulously crafted tracks that manage to perfectly balance compelling rhythms with plenty of synth-based introspection. 'Catharsis' introduces a three-note Rhodes piano sequence with flowing pads and psychedelic synths and 'Donald' offers a steady 4/4 beat with sombre pads and powerful sub-bass. 'Persignis' with Italian legend Claudio PRC is the most dancefloor-driven with processed pianos creating an emotional mood and in all, this EP sets a nice high watermark for the Hoops label.
Review: Kommuna marks its tenth year of activity with this new dancefloor-focused record from various artists whose music "reflects the glimmer of hope that music provides during these dystopian times." Fabricio's 'Collateral Effect' opens with a strident nu-disco sound and retro-future chords that get you moving. Charleze's 'Rage Power' is another chunky disco stomper with some nice cosmic melody and Wooka's 'Tirty Dalk' hits harder with mechanical beats and churning bass. Mooglee's 'Things I Love' brings a more dreamy synth sound but still club-ready beats.
Review: Blkmarket Underground Music Party Edits is a sub-label to the influential Blkmarket, an esteemed label and event series in New York. Contrary to what that catalogue number might indicate, this is actaully their second release and has Facets at the controls. First up is 'Computers' with its raw and snappy analogue drum sounds and late-night synth details. 'Time Of War' is another full-fat blend of analogue drum thump and driving synth motifs, 'Talk To Me' has crashing cold-wave synths and deadpan vocals and 'Paranoia' has loopy vocals and moody atmospheres for freaky dancing. 'Lies' and 'Dub To Destruct' shut down this varied and retro-tinged EP with jerking rhythms that will do plenty of damage.
Review: Sardinian duo Enrica Falqui and Claudio PRC bring their respective signature sounds to this new collaborative EP on the Swiss label Adam's Bite. The two experienced studio hands kick off with 'Synapse', which has an enthuse, throbbing low end that forms the foundation for expressive synth craft. 'Amygdala' is named after the mass of grey matter in our brains which is involved in the experiencing of emotions and pairs deft, curious melodic waifs with chunky tech drums. 'Receptor' sinks back down into a moody, heads down and dub tech roller and 'Lucid Dreams' brings the sort of synth colours and low-end tension that will keep you awake all night.
Review: Francesco Farfa's iconic 1991 club EP is reimagined three decades later here with fresh remixes by four of Berlin's top DJs and producers. Their various different takes make for a versatile selection of dancefloor tools crafted by DJs, for DJs, ensuring it fits a variety of occasions. The A-side features Trent's deep, big-room darkness, complemented by Juan Ramos' trancey rework which mixes in key elements from the original. On the B-side, E-talking delivers an uplifting progressive remix while Hamsa strips it down for a more minimalist, enhanced version of Farfa's classic theme. A must-have selection of reworks here.
Review: Faris Pashion returns with its first release since Autumn/Winter 2021, and despite the hiatus, it has lost none of its elusive house and disco magic. The new one is a two-track celebration of Italo disco and house that is sure to bring out the most high-energy struts on the dancefloor, or get spins for style cats at Milan Fashion Week. 'Ital Come Out' kicks off with some funky and percolating Italo melodies next to lush chords that speak of a balmy summer's evening dance in the open air. 'Say To Ya' then gets deep and silky with a gooey bassline and cosmic melodies next to a soul-stirring but subtle vocal that oozes cool and late-night charm.
Review: Having built his career via a mix of inspired self-released EPs and outings on the likes of Shall Not Fade and Happiness Therapy, Parisian producer Matthieu Faubourg lands on Housewax for the first time. The five-track missive he's delivered is undeniably impressive, fusing good quality deep house grooves with intricate arrangements and mood-enhancing musical flourishes. For proof, check opener 'Pressure Drop', where fluid piano motifs, bubbly electronics and gorgeous chords ride a nagging analogue bassline and drum machine percussion, and the fizzing, Norwegian space disco-inspired house futurism of 'Oslo Track'. Elsewhere, title track 'Normal Boy' is warm, woozy and cheery, 'Waves' doffs a cap to early 90s Italian deep house and 'Haze' is a stab-happy slab of warehouse-ready peak-time sleaze.
Review: This is a new EP that was inspired by a volcano and named after Mount Etna which is where Mirko Felicioli lives, and which is why it has been pressed up to red vinyl. It features five fresh techno cuts starting with 'Lava Waves' which is lively and elastic, with soft synth patterns moving about the mix over acid lines and crisp drums. 'Grave & Weep' has a deeper, dirtier vibe, while 'Aeolus' has a cosmic outlook with thinking stars and lots of open space around the drums. Two further cuts blend tech and house into future-facing and club-ready weapons.
Review: Flabbergast's latest offering is a meditative exploration of house and techno, perfectly capturing the sensation of drifting between states of consciousness. '11:15 in your dream' begins with a haunting, ambient intro that gradually pulls you deeper into its rhythm. The track's driving bassline is complemented by delicate, atmospheric synths that flutter like thoughts half-remembered. The interplay between the deep groove and swirling textures gives the track a sense of floating, evoking both serenity and unease. It's the kind of hypnotic journey that blurs the lines between reality and reverie, a late-night moment to lose yourself in.
Review: The classy Tech Startup label keeps it pretty high brow again here with a new minimal EP that is for heady floors and dancers who are happy to immerse themselves in ambient sound worlds. 'Terra Preta' is a floating escape to the stars, then 'Tone Dial' has the same sweeping synths but with supple deep techno rhythms. 'Reprise' is a complete flip with acid laced broken beats demanding a physical response and 'Stone Please' then trips you out with some deft loops and sine wave made.
Review: The endlessly fertile scenes that are minimal and tech house yield more essential DJ goodness here as Bread & Butter assembles a selection of talents for this ninth various artists' release. Alex Font & Aron open up with 'Walking On Clouds' which is not as airy and dreamy as it might sound, but does lay down a nice deft minimal groove. Beiger has a more sunny outlook with the mellifluous synth clouds of his 'Audible Illusions' and Mihai Pol then brings ouse late night jazz house cool to his 'Bip Bip.' Iuly B completes a varied package with the heady loops and wispy cosmic synth motifs of 'Bouncing Lights.'
Review: Footsie is widely thought of as one of grime's most legendary voices and a legend of the game. From his early collaborations with D Double E as part of Newham Generals to his solo work, his roots in sound system culture run deep having grown up as the son of a system operator. Footsie was heavily influenced by reggae and dub and now runs his father's renowned King Original Sound. Returning to the label is Nottingham's Adam Prescott, who provides a heavy, dubwise riddim for Footsie to showcase his distinctive flow.
Review: Forest On Stasys takes the plunge here and launches a new label, Aura Sonora, which debuts with a hugely limited and high-quality new 12" from the boss. The imprint will be "a platform designed for sound experimentation" and the first missive backs that up with a great blend of drum & bass, half-time and techno. 'Magnetismo' is a prickly opener with slippery rhythms underpinned by bold bass. 'Domo' is a darker sound with menacing low ends and prickly percussive patterns while 'Sideral' is another late-night prowler with low sling sounds, eerie atmospheres and a real sense of futurism. A great start to life for Aura Sonora.
Review: The Treasure team keeps up the momentum of its early release with another fruitful dive into the annals of house history. This time, they have dug up more nuggets from FR and have refined them for contemporary floors. 'ET Is Coming Home' (vocal) is a slow and dubby cut with percolating live bass and muted horns next to some Ubiquity style vocal soul. The instrumental allows the superbly loose-limbed and live drums room to really shine, and then comes an epic, 10-minute-plus jazz-drenched house odyssey that's alive with swirling cosmic radiance and busy chords and synths. A real trip for proper music heads.
Review: French Affair was a German-French dance-pop band that emerged at the dawn of the new millennium and had some heart success between 2000 and 2023. 'My Heart Goes Boom (La Di Da Da)' is one of them and 'Sexy' is another. It gets reissued here with several different mixes making it more suitable to club play and is an irresistibly bold, upbeat tune that collides infectious house drums with catchy, sultry vocals. The production is polished, with deep basslines and crisp percussion and a smooth vocal delivery adding a layer of steamy allure. This one is both seductive and fun and perfect for playful sets in the sun.
Review: The Fruit Band hails from Jacksonville and is one of the finest funk practitioners the city has ever produced. The sharp earned amongst you will already know that Athens of the North released a previously unrelated album from the group some years back. That is now resisted and some of the key tunes from it get their own real on a standalone 45 in a handmade folder cover. It is a one-time pressing with the upbeat energy of 'If You Feel It Say Yeah' and the contrasting mellow magic of 'Lost The Love ' on the flip.
Review: Romanian artists Funky Trip dropped the fourth EP on the Bohrium Records label back in January and despite promises it would not be repressed, it has in fact been repressed just a few months later, but given the timeframe we don't blame the label for wanting more people to have this one. This artist stands out in the Romanian new wave for navigating a vast universe on releases with Rawax, Nazca and Stamp Records. 'Alpha' features a passionate vocal cry thing brings emotional urgency to the dub, percolating beats and synth phrases that loop tightly. 'Dreams' has a more melodic, light and airy feel for the quiet moments. Barac of Moment Records adds his signature touch to the title track, with a smooth rhythm layered with subtle psychedelic influences.
Review: Venerated veteran Len Faki is the man behind the Hardspace alias and label and it is one he uses to serve up personal edits of his own cuts and favourite classics, all for use in his own DJ sets. This time out he exhibits his meticulous approach by re-tooling two Dubspeeka cuts into pulsing, linear yet atmospheric weapons. On the flip come two different versions of Fanon Flowers's 'Chicago-Detroit' and both are acidic, jacked-up tools for locking floors into a late-night march.
Review: The still newly established Rhythm Traxx kicks on with more fresh, club-ready house music here. It's Finky and Ben Murphy who step up for this one and deliver the goods, starting with 'What Is Disco Tech' which does a fine job of answering its own question. 'Danger' then switches up it with some garage flexing in the drums and spacecraft transmissions for vocals. A brilliantly infectious energy defines 'Dance Potion' with its naughty baseline and cheeky bounce and for the big finish, 'Rhymes & Rhythms' brings acid stabs, drum fills and vocal chops to some peak time tech.
Neg & Franz Di Maio - "A Bright Spot" (Paradise edit) (6:40)
Neg - "Echoes Of Thoughts" (5:02)
Neg & Marco Spinetti - "1112" (5:27)
Neg & Franz Di Maio - "A Bright Spot" (DJ Soch remix) (6:41)
Neg & Franz Di Maio - "A Bright Spot" (DJ Rou On The Surface remix) (6:54)
Review: Hello to Metrica Recordings, a new label from Italy that wants to win hearts and minds with its take on minimal and tech house. It begins with an EP featuring Negs on all cuts but with various collaborators. Franz Di Maio is first on the classically inclined deep house of 'A Bright Spot', while 'Echoes Of Thoughts' is a solo cut with more early Chicago synths and dusty drums. Marco Spinetti steps up to help on the more marching and moody '1112' and two remixes of 'A Bright Spot' shut down with a blend of Balearic and Italo style.
Review: It's time to strap in for another episode of Anaoh Invites, which is always a great way to lose your mind to some tripped out techno. Gaetano Parisio is the first one to boggle the brain with 'Human Ratio' layering up twisted synths and drums. Dig It's 'When I Get Home' is another mad melange of smeared and stretched synths, stabs and thunderous kicks that tugs you in many different directions at once. Raffaele Attanasio kees it straight up and funky with 'Ulisse' and Fixon taps into high speed dub and percussive rawness on 'Clinging To The Roots.'
Review: Sweet Harmony is back with a compilation bursting with colourful shapes, textures and fresh techno rhythms. Anatole Serre's 'Hyperdulia' is a fast-paced fusion of drums, breakbeats and subtle allure that is followed by Xiaolin's 'Breath of Water,' a more ethereal yet still-driving percussive trip. On the B-side, Feenicks' 'All Fairies Tell Tall Tales' delivers an uplifting blend of trance and new wave that has a dreamlike energy and the closer from Alfred Czital is a fast, progressive wonder.
Felicie - "Shadow Works" (Cleric 3/10 Years remix) (5:56)
Review: The Clergy label celebrates ten years in the game by serving up another of its vital techno sermons. This one comes with the sub-head 'Charlie' and sure is a charged-up various artists affair that kicks off with the anxious synth designs and nimble drum funk of USAW's 'Kokedama'. Red Rooms coats his beats in dusty and scruffy hi-hats on 'Imaginary Pleasures' while Bidoben gets more deep and eerie with the melodic howls of 'Mimic.' SLV's 'Ohne Sonne' keeps the tension levels high with paranoid synths peeling off an unrelenting groove and two further offerings explore more paired back sounds that tunnel deep into the future.
Review: After turning his hand to big band jazz on his previous album, Father John Misty (John Tilman to friends and family) returns to more familiar sonic territory on this sixth set. The Sanskrit title apparently translates to "great cremation ground", offering a hint to the weighty and philosophical themes behind some of the singer-songwriter's lyrics this time around. In many ways, it is a classic Father John Misty album: all sweeping strings, Americana-tinged folk-rock, grandiose 1970s pop-rock productions, funky-as-hell nods to Rare Earth ('She Cleans Up') effortlessly emotive vocals and White Album-era Beatles excellence.
Review: Before Aretha Franklin made her mark with stomping southern soul in the late 60s, she had already built a diverse career. Beginning as a gospel singer, she spent the early 60s recording in various genres, with mixed success. These early recordings with the Ray Bryant group present her as a jazz vocalist, reminiscent of Sarah Vaughan or Ella Fitzgerald. Tracks like 'Ain't No Way' and 'Take a Look' capture her ability to blend effortless technique with deep emotion. The sessions are pristinely recorded with no overdubs, allowing Franklin's voice to shine in its purest form, proving her talent in jazz long before she became an icon of soul.
From P60 - "Sun-Kissed Shores" (feat MnemonicKiss) (5:48)
Forteba - "End Of The Day" (6:18)
Review: Zoltan Nagy AKA P60 has spent the last four years slowly building up his Midnight Fashion label and its dedicated downtempo offshoot, Midnight Fashion Chill. Following a handful of solo EPs on the latter imprint, Nagy has now decided to offer up a first imprint compilation - one that not only showcases his work, but also that of Marcel (AKA sometime Cookin' Records artist Marcell Dudas) and Plastic City regular Forteba (AKA Hungarian stalwart Krisztian Dobrocsi). Musically, the set lives up to its' title, offering an enticing and undeniably blazed mix of DJ Calm style trip-hop, warming 1990s style downtempo grooves, slow-burn Baleric soundscapes, Onra-esque neo-boogie beats and warm, deep and languid, jazz-flecked mid-tempo house.
Marc Ertel & Wayne Robert Thomas - "Coronation Ring" (11:56)
Review: This new one from our favourite US ambient outlet takes the form of a selection of long-form compositions from artists who are close to the label. As such it's a perfect reflection of its signature sound - deeply immersive soundscapes, slowly shifting synths and meditative moods made with a mix of hardware tools, guitars, pedals and even baritone vocals. It's named after a Norwegian term for warmth and intimacy, which certainly plays out from the evolving loops of 'A Whisper' to the textured melancholy of 'Canaan' and the reverberant drift of 'Coronation Ring'.
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