Review: Deeper shades of a finely sifted pedigree. Irish label Appian Sounds, helmed up by Al Blayney, champion only winnowed techno sounds, not threshed. A welcome international team huddle in, with these six artists from locales as far-flung as Amsterdam and Valencia contributing the likes of 'Tsuneo' and 'Persist'. The tunes verge melodic as they move through and beyond jankiness, distending die-cut acids and subtly synthetic humanisations, especially in the percussion department. 'Fuego' is the zen roshi's choice, its gaffered, glass-smithed pads topping off a naturalistic percussive surging forward, one best experienced with your eyes closed.
Review: ***B-STOCK: Warped, otherwise plays fine***
The second various artists EP from the Merkwurdig label is another tasteful collection of up front sounds from a clutch of inquisitive underground names. Body opens up with some nice cosmic tech powered by rasping bass and reverberating synths. Nate SU's 'Neutrino' is a busy jam with hooky synths and splashy cymbals that takes on a twisted sense of cyborg funk. OBG very much smooths things out with the heady house roller that is 'With The Wave' and Fabiano Jose shuts down with the rock solid kick patterns and subtly rising joy of his diffuse piano chords on 'Discotale.'
Review: This is a four-track sampler taken from parts one and two of the One Hundred and Fifty Steps VEP series which is all about exploring the rise of 150 bpm dubstep, a sound that characterised by fast basslines, broken rhythms and heavy halftime pulses. From VEP pt. 1, L.A.'s Carre delivers pacey wobblers and then Berlin's Formella debuts with playful breaks and more wobbly bass on 'Dripstep'. VEP pt. 2 features Leipzig's Old Man Crane with their intricate, syncopated style shinning through on 'Grey' and Valencia's Andrae Durden then shows class with a Kryptic Minds-inspired low-end powerhouse.
Review: After years spent serving up tasty, digital-only singles, Polish imprint That's Right Dawg Music finally makes its vinyl bow via a six-track mini-album featuring some of their most-checked catalogue cuts. Demarkus Lewis kicks things off via the carefully crafted disco-house release of 'TGIF', before Federfunk slams down the jazz-sampling peak-time punchiness of 'We Keep It Groovin' and Jazzmik offers up the funky deep house bounce of 'Get Him Outta Here'. Over on the reverse, Oggie B cannily combines mind-mangling electronic stabs, pumping beats and orgasmic vocal samples ('Steady Old Foot'), Makson makes great use of vintage rap and disco guitar samples on the energy-packed house thump of 'Last Man Standing', and Casserta and Jonny C join forces on the bass-heavy garage-house bump of 'Party #1'.
Review: Orlando Voorn and Blake Baxter deliver a powerhouse collaboration that channels the raw vitality of house music's formative years. Driven by a relentless bassline and crisp, propulsive rhythms, the production is both punchy and atmospheric, striking a balance between grit and groove. Baxter's unmistakable vocal style adds depth and urgency, weaving seamlessly into Voorn's dynamic arrangement. There's an immediacy to the track that feels alive, capturing the spirit of dancefloor culture while paying homage to the genre's roots. This is a meeting of two titans, where history and innovation collide with thrilling results.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
I Believe - "Master Spirit" (5:19)
Girls On Pills - "Vheladei" (Open Spaces Update) (4:44)
Steve Mantovani - "Doctor Of Dreams" (4:39)
Miki - "107" (Melly Melody version) (4:54)
Open Spaces - "A Beginning Of An Idea" (5:14)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
Volume One of a label retrospective of pioneering early 90s Prog House label Interactive Test Compiled by Alex from Utopia Records and enigmatic Interactive Test founder Franco Falsini. Falsini, responsible for many of the underground classics on the label he founded in Florence in 1991 was first known for his 70s Italian Prog / Cosmic group Sensations Fix. A trailblazer who continued to push the boundaries of electronic music two decades later with Interactive Test, accompanied by the up-and-coming talents of Trance hero DJ Miki the Dolphin, his brother Riccardo and an host of cult Italian music producers. Here we start with 5 tracks from the archive, all highly collectable, remastered for DJs and psychedelic music enthusiastic alike from the best sources possible. Authentic and original dance sounds still hitting the spot in our times.
Review: Jooice, yet another sublabel of London-based proggy dance and electro label Lirica Archives, drop a swell new dark acid trance release collectively smithed by five sound-stokers: J6, Christian Sarde, Aline Umber, Krol and Otis. Each titans in their respective scenes (between which there is much crossover on this release), the overarching mood is one of renegade sci-fi escapism and revolution, with glitching, quivering robo-vocals and technic, sciencey sound-tunnellings aplenty.
Review: Four new prangers from France's BOOOoo! crew, startling our ears with audio-apparitions by ghosts of the resident French sceno-system: Jamahr, Mooglee, Jucid and Odeon. 'Black Loops' and 'Flex (Booty Mix)' invade elastic terrains of bass and flicky synth, churn them back through meshes of gradated beats and rond-squelching stab notes. 'The Question Is' eliminates much of the A-side's establishing layers and overdubs, harking rubbery and slip-tastic FX design, countered by the equally sticky 'Jimbeldance'.
Review: Koenig Cylinders always kept it hella real with their techno. The pair of John Selway and Oliver Chesler were pioneers of the hard stuff first time around and now that it is back en vogue, why not reissue this classic? 'Untitled' opens with a freaky vocal and eerie synth sound before '99.9' brings a wall of white noise and slamming drum patterns. 'Carousel' is an urgent wall-rattler with cantering drums and rave sires that light up the 'floor and 'Choreomania' shuts down with razor-sharp synths and acid flashes that tickle your brain. Arresting tackle of the highest order.
B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition
Kwengface vs Joy Orbison vs Overmono - "Freedom 2" (3:30)
Kwengface - "Freedom" (3:19)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***
These tracks have received some huge hype just from the plays they have been getting from DJs luckily enough to have them. Now they finally get a vinyl pressing so the rest of us can join in the fun. First up is a three way collab between a trio of well-regarded artists in the UK drill rapper Kwengface, master bass producer Joy O and techno's Overmono. 'Freedom 2' has cut-throat rhymes and two-step garage influences with low-end subs which will destroy the club. The original version features on the flip with a less club-ready and more drill-centric sound.
Review: REPRESS ALERT!: Fletcher and Steve O'Sullivan have often worked or appeared together in the past so it makes sense that the former now invites the latter to be the first person to release on his newly minted and always sure to be worth checking Social Currency imprint. They take the reins together across floor-focussed cuts that are marbled with deep pads and introspective sounds. 'Cold Calling Blues' is warm and airy with smoky vocal sounds and precision dub techno drum loops, 'Midnight At 1:30' hits a little harder but is still zoned out and serene and 'Shatner's Groove' takes on subtle deep space moods with deft pads and spoken word additions.
Review: To their credit and our benefit as fans, Oasis are smartly leaning into the spiking demand for the atmospheric and nostalgic formnat that is the 7" single and celebrate the 30th anniversary of 'Some Might Say' in doing so. It's a seminal single - their first UK number one and a track you can envision being a great set opener at their upcoming reunion shows. This version is remastered so it'll leap out of your speakers like never before. A guaranteed scorcher for any knees-up you're planning with your mates.
Obatala Sango Ochun - "The Beginning" (Afrikan Latino mix) (6:24)
House II House - "Into The Night" (5:25)
Bizzy B - "Summer House" (3:20)
Rohan Delano - "Inflight" (5:17)
Montana Orchestra - "Esto Parese Amor" (Tribal Love beats) (5:11)
Uncle 22 - "The Man From" (6:22)
Review: Hotmix deliver another two-track slaying from an aliased ambassador of the label itself, this time the first edition in the new 'Obscure Bad Dreams' series. An homage to Sauro Cosimetti (the Italian house and techno mastermind whose credits include releases on Frequenza, Natura Viva and Beatfreak), six acolytes of the artist bring six, discoic house hosing-downs to the table. Most exciting among the selections are the lively African trad chanter 'The Beginning', the dreamy soulful house 'Inflight' by Rohan Delano, and Montano Orchestra's freestyle-inspired dub-electro-disco 'Tribal Love Beats' version of their own 'Esto Parese Amor'.
Review: Obongjayar is back with a striking double-single release that mixes up contrasting styles into a cohesive artistic statement. The dreamlike, danceable pop of 'Just My Luck' captures themes of loneliness with an infectious rhythm and shimmering melodies. On the flip side, 'Tomorrow Man' is all about a raw, percussive energy that confronts the theme of laziness with unflinching honesty. Together, these two tracks showcase Obongjayar's ability to explore emotional depth and sonic diversity and offer a tantalising glimpse into the creative direction of his next chapter. Whatever that may bring, he remains a boundary-pushing voice.
Review: New Zealand dance-pop trio Obscure Desire are among the finest to come out of the first wave of the Auckland club scene in the 80s, which centered around the venue named A Certain Bar. Auckland's answer to the Hacienda. They used the inspiration from that scene to craft this EP of effervescent pop, new wave and funk. The group were vehemently DIY and disbanded shortly after the release so the original pressing sells for hundreds because of its scarcity. This reissue comes after a surge in popularity over the past decade making this hotly-anticipated short but exceptional collection properly accessible for the first time.
Review: Pounding rhythms, layered melodies and relentless energy define this high-impact techno release. Across six tracks, the sound explores raw, driving percussion, deep grooves and nods to classic Detroit and Chicago influences, creating a package built for the headstrong. Opening with 'Reborn Identity', the tone is immediately setihard-hitting tribal techno wrapped in hypnotic loops, chord stabs and a beautifully melodic undercurrent. DJ Rush takes it even further with a no-holds-barred remix, pushing the track into pure Chicago mayhem with scooping kicks and aggressive energy. 'All We Imagine As Light' follows with a deeper approach, leaning into rolling percussion and a groovier, more hypnotic flow. Flipping over, 'Broken Circle' injects raw power into the mix, designed to move crowds with its high-energy pulse. 'Instinct' shifts gears slightly, merging techno's intensity with house elements, weaving in Detroit-styled melodies and rich strings for an anthemic feel. The journey wraps with Volpe's remix of 'Instinct', stripping things back to a chord-heavy, dub-influenced sound that brings warmth and depth. Each track carries its own character, yet together they form a cohesive, floor-focused collection. Hard, deep and rhythmically relentless, this EP embraces the genre's foundational sounds.
Review: Occibel cranks up the decibels on this new outing for the fledging label Playful. The artist taps into a fresh tech and minimal sound from the off with 'Behind The Walls' spinning out on disco stabs and phased basslines. The kinetic 'Look Around You' then pangs more prickly drum programming and spaced-out synth work with sensuous spoken words and 'Freak' layers up balmy pads and bright, shiny and sugar melodies for a nice colourful exploration. 'The Mess' shuts down with more menace thanks to its monstrous bassline and snappy drum hits.
Review: KMA60 Prozektiva's exploration of a mutant, electrified take on tech and house continues with Ocean T taking the mantle across four future-facing new cuts. The opener 'Never Enough' has steely drums that slap hard while the twisted, glistening melodies and 90s stabs bring a rave feel. 'KO' is a darker and more gritty sound with dubby low ends and vocal aspirations adding a touch of human soul. 'OBSSSD' has more old school vocals buried in a shimmering mix of synths and snappy drums and 'Been There Too Long' flips the vibe with a much more soft, rounded, warm deep house jaunt with deft vocal fragments and neon colours all making it the best of the lot.
Review: Serenity is a mental health charity label that is now back with more sonic gold, this time in the form of a reissue of Marco Bernardi aka Octogen's 'The Journeyman' from 2008 on Soma Recordings. It is an immersive, emotive sound with lush and ethereal pads and a moody bassline that keeps you locked. The B-side offers two original tracks from Bernardi 'Travelling to the Sun' is one to hypnotise floors with its hypnotic chimes and raw drums, while 'Little Tiny Crickets' delivers a fast-paced IDM twist with some killer synth work. As always, proceeds go to charity this time Papyrus UK who support youth suicide prevention and MusicSpace.
Review: It feels like most every week Burnski starts a new label that is immediately as good as all his others, and here is this week's case in point: Reliance is a new outlet from the super producer and it kicks off with ODF who you may know from a brilliant remix of Special Request. 'Yeah (Uh!)' opens with bubbly basslines and neon melodies and is a timeless garage bumper. '2 Turn' then brings the funk with tight bass and lovely silky drums, 'Rattlesnake' is more dark and menacing thanks to the trippy samples and low end and 'Back To 98' is a stateful shot of garage nostalgia direct to the veins.
Odopt - "11000 Versions Of A Simple Track" (Berlin mix) (5:37)
Remotif - "HAJKSD15" (6:39)
N Tropic - "One Night Stand" (Full Circle & Kris Baha remix) (7:45)
53X - "Simulaatio" (5:38)
Review: Avidya is back with a third EP to build on the head-turning success of the first two and it is another trip to the outer edges of the dancefloor. Odopt from Born Free and 777 Recordings kicks off with a snappy cut that is deceptively simple but devastatingly effective with its gurgling and acidic bass. Remotif is a fast-rising talent who impresses with the heavy techno sludge of 'HAJKSD15' and Full Circle aka Alexis Le Tan and Joakim link with Kris Baha to offer a remix that is all twitchy electrons, busted drum loops and fizzing pads before 53X's 'Simulaatio' is another brilliantly loose jumbled of wiry electronics, sci-fi effects and techno chug for a fantastic closing beatdown.
B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition
Picha (7:22)
Picha (instrumental) (6:42)
Picha (Jamie Paton remix) (6:30)
Picha (Jamie Paton dub) (6:38)
Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***
Odopt is back on Especial and this time is in collaborative mode with Sebastian Hoyos aka Sano, who is a regular on the likes of Matias Aguayo's Comeme and Munich's Public Possession. The pair cook up a fine globally-minded club trip that comes with another label return, this time from remixer Jamie Paton. The original 'Picha' first started as a sketch in 2016 then became a demo in 2019 now finally arrives on wax. It's a raw percussive workout with razor-sharp snares and plenty of cowbells. Next to an instrumental comes the Paton remix and it is a trademark deep and dubwise piece of work with widescreen dynamics.
Review: Off/Grid has impressed with his ability to cook up tracks that keep the tension going throughout. He's done it before on the likes of Rotterdam's Arts collective and more than once on Planet Rhythm. This one for another Dutch label brings plenty of texture to opener 'Down The Vaults' which has a fizzy lead prying between the sturdy drums. 'The Movement' is much more bouncy - one of those cuts that gets fists pumping and smiles on faces. 'Protect Ya Deck' is precision-tooled, acid-laced peak time gear for when the whole club is on the same vibe and the strobes are flashing, and 'Never Ready For This Shit' shuts down with some pent-up funk and brilliant syncopated drum work.
Review: It's a nearest and dearest thing; Polish craftsman Offish calls up his pals from around Europe for this epic collaborative free-for-all. Taken from the full digital album that comprises 13 bleeding edge slabs of timeless brutalism, this vinyl sampler highlights its extremes with these four powerful cuts. 'Eviscerate' (with Forgiven Soul) nods to the Quarantine sound with strong elements of Digital and Spirit (RIP) while 'Mushrooms' (with Greg Lvov) is an immense and hypnotic weave of percussive elements. Elsewhere the ominous dubbed out minimalism of 'Look For Patterns' (with NonRev) set us up for the disarming depths and cosmic charm of 'Cautionary Tale', making this this is an exceptional trip for DJs, dancefloors and listeners alike.
Review: Bobby Orlando is something of a hi-NRG master - his work with Divine is credited as a major influence on the Pet Shop Boys - who tapped up the then soon-to-be iconic duo Oh Romeo for their debut outing back in 1982. Their work on 'These Memories' made it a hit right from the off with big drums, shiny synths and arps and plenty of campuses. Late last year, Iventi d'Azzurro put together this remastered package featuring extended versions of four rare Oh Romeo tracks on the EP Living Out a Fantasy. These bangers really capture the duo's signature energy and timeless appeal and make this a record that suits both working DJs and lovers of big jams alike, all with the right amounts of nostalgia.
Review: Ohm & Kvadrant are back on their Kontakt label to kick off 2025 with another stunning dub outing. Pressed on classic black vinyl, with a limited gold edition also available, this EP features two exceptional tracks starting with the A-side, 'Peblinge.' It's a mesmerising melodic dub creation, rich with warmth and depth-perfect for those late-night sessions. On the B-side, a second jam delivers a refined electro-dub masterpiece, blending synths, hi-hats, and fathom-deep low-end frequencies. Both tracks showcase the duo's signature style with soothing results.
Review: Finnish label Vuo kicks off its year with a second instalment in the Ruutana City Mood Series. Once again it brings four vital dubbed out grooves to a lovely green marbled vinyl starting with Ohm & Kvadrant's 'Borsen' which is a smoky, grainy roller with icy drums. Armin Bender's 'All Or Nothing' brings a little extra light and optimism in the airy pads and Tm Shuffle pairs things right back for 'Efficient Answers' which is a gritty basement jam. Gonzalo Villarreal's 'Curanto' shits down with tons of lovely echo and reverb on a raw percussive cut.
Review: Vuo returns with another entry into his ongoing Ruutana City Mood Series, with this one being on eco black wax but a green vinyl version is also available. Ohm & Kvadrant open with a smoky, textured roller driven by icy drums. Armin Bender follows with 'All Or Nothing' which offers a lighter, more optimistic vibe with airy pads. Tm Shuffle strips things back on 'Efficient Answers' to deliver a gritty, minimalist basement groove. Closing the EP, Gonzalo Villarreal presents 'Curanto', a raw, percussive cut bathed in rich echo and reverb for a captivating close.
Review: Okain brings the class to this final outing of the year from German tech titans RAND Muzik. It's a full-throttle 12" that wastes no time in getting down to business: 'Dirac Sea' combines funky drum programming with nice squelchy acid, warped synth lines and crisp percussion to soon sweep you off your feet. 'Pterodactyl Phaser' is smoother and has a subtle garage shuffle to its low end, while balmy pads keep things cosmic up top. 'Spintronics' then ups the ante once more with thumping tech kicks and lively synth lines. 'Circuit Model' shuts down with some nice psychedelic clouds and a busy bassline. Quality tackle for sure.
Review: A great exploration of deep house that seamlessly blending classic influences with a modern, dancefloor-driven touch. Luca Olivotto is a German producer who back in 2020 opened his own label which this EP now celebrates the tenth release or the label. The title track starts off with an infectious energyiits uplifting piano chords and driving groove create a euphoric late-night atmosphere, embodying the essence of a peak-time house anthem. 'I'm (Not) With You' follows, maintaining the momentum with a strong, party-ready groove that leans into a love for classic house rhythms and vibrant melodies. Side-2 shifts into more soulful and emotive territory. 'Don't Need To Know' delivers a warm, uplifting feel, ideal for early morning sets where the energy softens but the vibes remain high. The closing track,' Givin' All My Love', is a jazzy, atmospheric piece, wrapping up the EP with deep, melodic richness sure to put a smile on your face.
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