Review: Niklas Wandt is a Berlin-based man of many talents including drumming, singing, playing synth and percussion and DJing, as well as crafting delicious techno depths such as those on this latest EP from the fledgling Viscera Transmissions. Initially, 'Mehr Phett' veers towards hi-tek soul a la early Detroit with its surging pads and sleek percussion. 'Feuerwerk Der Rhythmen' is another quick and kinetic cut but one with great meaning in the musical synths. 'Subcutaneous Dance' then gets more wild and free with layers of synth pulses, scintillating drum programming and a driving bass line that will lead to dancefloor lift-off. Eden Burns remixes the opener into a tropical, dubby, elastic house workout with an off-balance bassline.
Review: The Breaks and Beats label kicks on with a 31st instalment of magical sound that will inject soul and funk into any party and keep working DJs well stocked with heat this winter. First up on this limited 7" is The Webs with 'It's So Hard To Break A Habit', a slow and sentimental sound with aching v vocal harmonies and gentle rhythms laced with melancholic melodies. Gamith's 'Darkness' picks up the energy levels with some more bristling breaks and live drum sounds, funky vocal stylings and psyched-out guitar lines.
Review: Classy dancefloor-slaying action on 10" vinyl no less from West Norwood Cassette Library, combining a thumping four to the floor beat with nifty percussion, a fairly well known snippet of hip-hop vocal and ravey stabs. The results are as hard to resist as they are to classify, except to say it leaves absolutely zero prisoners. "This one had been previously doing the rounds as a 'dubplate only' exclusive," WNCS told us, "cut especially for the Futurepastzine tenth anniversary bash just on the cusp of lockdown ... so it seemed only appropriate to ask FPZ head honcho and fellow Cassette Librarian, Rawtrachs, to attend to remix duty." So flip it over for that equally excellent reworking from Rawtrachs and stand well back - we predict not only a riot, but an awful lot of spilt beer too.
Review: Stefan Schwander is known for aliases like Harmonious Thelonious, A Rocket In Dub and Antonelli Electr and now strikes once more with his third EP, 'While My Sequencer Gently Bleeps'. Entirely crafted on Elektron's Monomachine, this one delivers deep basslines, ravey bleeps, piano chords and synth melodies that evoke the sounds of Jamaica, UK and Chicago while looking toward the future. The EP opens with the groovy 'Title Track' followed by the minimal, dub-influenced 'Sublime' with shuffling beats and a smooth synth line. On the flipside, 'Definition Of ...' combines deep bass, lively percussion and subtle melodies that are both danceable and storytelling.
Review: Whodamanny's Biloba sublabel on Periodica Records takes us into dark, hypnotic sax-driven sounds here with a new single that comes with four unique versions. The Club mix of 'Volveran ' features chanting vocals and neon-hued pads over tinny electric disco beats with some big sax stylings. TehSax Only does what it says on the tin and the Radio mix condenses this energy into a spellbinding pop gem while the Dub version removes the sax, highlights delayed drums, cosmic chords and sunlit guitar riffs and tops it with hazy vocals. These are lively, retro-future disco delights that are sure-fire crowd-pleasers.
Review: Repping Sugar Records and Tanum Sounds, Winsome comes through with three really interesting perspectives. 'Tab' is a unique and highly springy piece of work as it works and wriggles its away around some well sculpted table drum hits and sub plunges. '24gb' takes us down a much dreamier pathway, sitting somewhere between Indian Ropeman and Chicken Lips. Finally 'Who' closes this stunning EP with a faraway drone. Intense.
Review: The Winston Brothers make a triumphant return with two new tracks, this time pressed on striking blue vinyl, following the success of their 2022 debut Drift. The A-side, 'Straight Shooter,' is a full-throttle funk workout, packed with gritty guitar licks, sharp horns, and head-nodding drum breaks. With a raw edge and plenty of analogue warmth from the Fostex 8-track recording, it's a b-boy anthem in waiting. On the B-side, 'Island Travel' shifts gears into a more laid-back groove. A smooth afrobeat-inspired journey, it blends spiritual jazz and ethno-funk, with Kimo Eiserbeck's serene flute solo gliding over the hypnotic rhythms. Perfectly balancing the A-side's intensity, this one's for the heads looking to kick back and vibe out.
Review: The Winston Brothers return with two fresh cuts on their latest 7" single, marking their first release since 2022's Drift. On the A-side, 'Straight Shooter' lives up to its name, a raw funk jam that could kickstart a b-boy battle. Funky guitar riffs, punchy horns, and tight drum breaks propel the track forward, its energy intense and unfiltered, thanks to an all-analogue recording on a Fostex 8-track. On the flip, 'Island Travel' takes a more laid-back turn. It's a hypnotic Afrobeat number, with dreamy flute work from Kimo Eiserbeck, blending ethno-funk with spiritual jazz vibes. It's cinematic, atmospheric, and offers a perfect contrast to the edgier A-side.
Review: Constant Sound is one of the very many labels that is headed up by Burnski and one that he reserves for club-ready tech house and minimal. Wodda steps up for the latest outing and brings some future garage energy to the opener, 'Reggae Fusion' (Deep mix) which is lit up with lithe synths and smart vocal samples. 'On My Way' has more infectious garage vibes to it with the squelchy drums and hits and some nice heady melodies up top. 'Changing Faces' gets more twisted and brings intergalactic drama to the ass-wiggling cyborg tech beats and last of all, a Tuff Mudda mix of 'Reggae Fusion' shuts down with a silky thump and throwback UKG bass.
Review: The Woodentops are long-time Balearic bossmen and peerless party starters and now their music is under the spotlight on this new remixes EP from Hottwerk. It is their tune 'A Pact' that gets four different versions here starting with a nice loose-limbed and percussive house workout from the UK veteran Bushwhacka!. Then Skyscraper HiFi B aka Anglo-Swedish pair Jon Dasilva and Jonas Nilsson offer a remix that slows it right down to a nice downtempo jam with indie vocals and then offer a second remix that is more sleazy and raw with a low-slung house grove topped with acid madness. Last but not least is the label head Spatial Awareness with a remix which glides on silky synths and airy drum loops with some nice trippy vocal touches.
Review: Havoc are back, with the fourth release on their label, and arguably the strongest effort yet. Here we have 4 reimagined efforts, including a galloping disco delight that's been tamed to perfection, a deconstructed US New Wave track guaranteed to get the freaks and fiends moving (wait for that kooky vocal and guitar halfway through!), a little-known German 80s gem given the trademark Havoc treatment, and a catchy as hell slo-mo Austrian Europop groover. With these fellas' edits finding favour with the likes of DJ Harvey, you know this is likely to disappear fast, get on this while there are still copies left!
Review: Is It Balearic? presents the second EP from the Wrekin Crew, continuing where the first left off and delivering two original tracks, 'Vapour Trail' and 'Broken Wings'. 'Vapour Trails' has the trademark nod to the Italo Disco & emotional pop bombs that are a staple of their DJ sets. Goldsuite remixes Vapour Trails and create a softly mesmerising balearic pop twilight shuffler. 'Broken Wings' keeps the same feel, poignant vocals over slightly more late night beats and Woolfy brings a cosmic arpy feel and dubs it up for a more electronic groove.
Review: Ruf Dug has long been one of the cultish followers of mysterious beat-maker and frequent Instagram poster Wu-Ki, an artist with zero previous releases but a vast archive of largely home-made music (much of which samples dusty old VHS tapes). The pair met by accident last year (or so Ruf Dug says - it could all be an entertaining tall tale) and a deal was thrashed out for the Mancunian producer to sign Wu-Ki to his reliable Ruf Kutz imprint. There's a definite 'child of the 80s and early 90s' vibe to proceedings - all fizzing, multi-coloured synth sounds, chopped-up house-not-house beats, stabbing TB-303 sounds, mutant boogie beats and layers of deliciously analogue fuzz. Set phasers to fun!
Review: Real-deal 90s ethereal breaks from the electronic music duo Way Out West. First released in 1997, this was not their best-known outing: only when this Bristolian duo was later joined by singer Omi (Emma Everett) did this happen, and this Deconstruction debut had only seen their instrumental incarnation so far. Nevertheless, this is a distinctly of-its-time record, offering blinding, game soundtrack-informed fusions of chillout flourishment with ascendant breaks-phoria and only vaguely touching on the theme of the wild West, ironically separate from the electronic music enthusiast's main imaginary. The record's non-breaksy moments are well worth noting too, with the slidden guitars of 'Earth' and chattering dub atmospherics of 'Dancehall Tornado' serving as the two most out-there numbers.
Review: Under the open skies of Southern California, with the San Bernardino Mountains in sight, Sam Wilkes, Craig Weinrib, and Dylan Day came together to craft this album in one seamless evening session. Wilkes' bass, Weinrib's drums, and Day's electric guitar unite to form an organic and unhurried collaboration. The trio's sound feels effortless yet focused, driven by the natural chemistry between them rather than stylistic constraints. Each note speaks to a deep mutual understanding, allowing the music to evolve naturally, guided by the landscape and the moment.
Review: Yasmin Williams' upcoming album, Acadia, marks her debut with Nonesuch Records and her most expansive work yet. The album features nine primarily instrumental tracks composed and produced by Williams herself. Known for her innovative approach to guitar, she also plays the banjo, kora, calabash drum, and even tap shoes. Collaborators include Immanuel Wilkins, Dom Flemons, Aoife O'Donovan, and more, bringing a diverse range of musical influences into the fold. The single 'Virga', featuring Darlingside on vocals and Rich Ruth on synth, shows her unique blending of folk traditions with modern textures. Williams describes the song as a reflection on navigating the challenges of being an artist in a world that doesn't always value introspection and art. The album as a whole draws from the idea of Acadia as an idyllic space for creativity and collaboration, crossing genre lines to explore new dimensions of folk music. Williams' unique style and imaginative approach has a vibrant, innovative sound. With Acadia, Williams continues to break boundaries, crafting an album that both honors tradition and carves new paths in contemporary music.
Review: Wladimir Manshanden and Wladimir M is something of a Dutch techno legend for those who know. He is an Eevo Lute originator and now makes his latest mark on the venerated Delsin label with 2024. It's an evocative and widescreen work of techno poetry with deft rhythms and rich sound designs making for an otherworldly feel. Spoken words detail each piece next to lush ambient pads and widescreen synthscapes as supple and deep rhythms unfurl and evolved down low. It's an intriguing, personal work that draws you in close and keeps you there throughout
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