NIKO MAXEN レコード& CD

Review: There's much to admire on this second "chapter" of Talman's "Retro Future" EP series, which lands in stores two months after its sold-out predecessor. The title is apt, because much of the material effortlessly joins the dots between the spacey bounce of late '90s tech-house and the rolling, bass-heavy glitch-funk of today's leading tech productions. Chris Stussy steals the show with opener "Atlas", a cut full to bursting with intergalactic-electronics, ear-pleasing chords and glassy-eyed futurist house grooves, while Per Hammar's "Dynamic Ranger" cannily mixes a swirling atmosphere with druggy, mind-altering rhythms. Elsewhere, Ray Mono provides ear-pleasing peak-time hypnotism, while Niko Maxen makes the most of some stabbing analogue bass and chiming, delay-laden riffs.

Review: While most artists saw their vinyl releases drop in 2020, Niko Maxen actually increased his output. He had six EPs out last year, including efforts on Constant Black, Talman Records and Linear. Here the rising tech-house star delivers his first missive of 2021, offering up a quartet of cuts that combine smooth, hypnotic beats and gently spacey sounds and locked-in early morning motifs. He starts in confident mood via 'The Quest', where wonky noises and creepy electronics rise above thickset bass and mind-altering beats, before drifting off into deep space via the becalmed but addictive 'Consolidate'. Over on the flip we're treated to two tweaks: a spaced-out, acid-flecked revision of 'The Quest' from Vlad Araparu, and a sparkling, colourful and deliciously melodious take on 'Consolidate' courtesy of Viceversa.

Review: Over the past couple of years Niko Maxen has been busy firing out hit after hit of refined minimal with an emphasis on moody atmospheres and intricate, off-centre groove programming. From early releases on Pathway Traxx to recent outings on Roche Noire, Rowle and many others, he's already got a lot of heat behind him, and so it continues with this killer 12" for Constant Black. "Go Gently" is a dense, electrifying workout with a killer beat and spooked out pads, while "Sanctuary" edges towards bubbling modular synth lines perfect for psychotropic warm-ups. "Cosmic Jazz" is a little more straight-up in its demeanour, albeit with wigged out FX sends riding over the top, while "Light Drizzle" heads into tripped out territory once again.

Review: The Aesthetic label is steadily growing as yet another strong side to the Constant Sound empire, and they're sounding fit as a fiddle with this latest drop from Niko Maxen. "Aesthetic 04" leads in with "Calibans Dance", a swirling, dubbed out affair with intriguing percussive tones to add an intriguing edge to the stripped back house groove. "Lessons" has a heads down, twitchy demeanour it's impossible to resist, and then "Twelvty" summons up some elegant synth strokes that hover in between the shuffling beats. The latter provides more than enough inspiration for Kepler to deliver an astounding remix that plays around with bouncy arps and pointed house rhythms in his inimitable style.

Review: Inaugurating new deep house imprint Aesthetic are a bunch of current heroes of Europe's deep house underground. The EP kicks off with ascendant Leeds based DJ Niko Maxen (Shadow Sanctuary/Fantastic Friends) who delivers the hypnotic boompty business of "Busheila", the always impressive Nick Beringer (Rubisco) delivering some sublime tech-house of the dubbier variety on "Unit Sphere" and fellow Berliner with the best alias ever Stevn.aint.leavn (Beste Modus) with the emotive swing-fuelled antics of "Pinter". On the flip, Sy gets back to the delay drenched Basic Channel/Deepchord influenced side of the things, on the rather entrancing "Cosmic Waves" which was our pick of the bunch - but be assured they're all fairly tight grooves on Aesthetic 001.