New releases today: All genres

Review: The '90s Groovez Vol 1: Back The Funk' EP from Planet Rhythm is a nostalgic journey back to the golden era of techno. With its retro-sounding basslines, house elements, and early rave influences, this EP captures the essence of a time when dance music was pushing boundaries. The title track, 'Back The Funk,' is a perfect example of this, with its infectious chord progressions and powerful bassline that demands attention. 'Beginners' transports listeners to the early days of rave culture in Belgium, while 'The Funk' will battle for deck privileges on any main floor. For those who have experienced the 1990s dance music scene, this EP offers a chance to relive those glory days. And for newcomers to the genre, it provides a taste of the era that shaped contemporary electronic music. We can't wait for Volume 2.

Review: Wiremu popped up back in 2018 on Pathway Traxx, and now the wriggly minimal upstart is back with another crafty workout for those who like their stripped-down club gear a bit on the wonky side. 'The Subtle Hustle' has a springy, playful funkiness which calls to mind the mid-00s era of labels like Trimsound and Minibar, where there was space for a little jazziness in the miniscule samples darting around the drums. It's a quality which follows through the whole of this standout EP, which is teeming with detail and soul in equal measure.

Review: There is a big-hitting trio of Detroit techno titans all featuring on this one EP: DJ 3000 is behind the originals which are 'Kazani', a serrated and corrugated electro-techno bumper with rigid metal synths and flashy synth melodies that dart about like fireflies, and thumping deep dub techno in the form of 'Work In Progress'. It is Jon Dixon who first remixes this one and remodelled it as a more hurried, hard edge and alien techno rhythm with bunce in the beats, and last of all DJ Godfather's remix races off to the cosmos with a classic bit of high-speed, frantic and synth-laced Detroit techno minimalism.

Review: Spaced Repetitions is a new label by veteran producer Manuel Tur who has always been known for his deliciously deep sound. For the imprint's fourth outing, he serves up two versions of a tune by Ingrid Lukas taken from last year's album ELUMELOODIA. The Estonian-Swiss singer, pianist and composer's angelic vocals remain in place up top as the dubby drums roll down low and all manner of icy synths and gassy melodic tinkles pepper the groove and get you into a celestial state of mind. The dub version allows that to come to the fore even more.

Review: The Politics Of Dancing label hits release number 30 here with a suitably fresh new offering that finds the eponymous label head stepping up with three balmy new tunes. 'Let's Do This' is fresh as you like house music with deep drums and heady pads circling round in cosmic fashion. Boris Werner's Bleep remix is a little more driving and thumping for the later hours and then 'Mamma' again gets its head up amongst the stars with more colourful synth work before the liquid and loopy house pumper 'Never Stop' closes out a lively and vibrant EP.

Review: UK mainstay Subb-An makes a welcome return with this fresh new EP on Aesthetic. It finds him in great form with opener 'Seeing Colours' heading off down a nice liquid minimal route with crisp tech drums and twinkling synths up top to bring the magic. On the flip side is 'Plants', a rather serene and sublime cut with more rolling drums and plenty of deft synth designs that bring a certain celestial charm to the fizzing leads. Snad's remix then shuts things down with a more driving sense of tech house rhythm to complete a tasteful EP of heady sounds.