Juno Recommends Minimal / Tech House Best of 2020

Review: The mystery of the Botanic Minds Sunset Series continues to unfold with another bout of surreal and sensual club tracks that balance tweaked minimalism with a warm and hazy atmosphere. "Track001A" is packed with intricate rhythmic interplay, but it's the fluttering guitar licks and displaced vocals that give the piece its unique vibe. "Track002A" is a remix credited to Eastenderz regular Lizz, and it's a particularly spellbinding jam shaped out with lingering chords and a wistful mood. "Track001B" hunkers down around a low, throbbing bassline, but there's some sweet keys hovering up top to keep things from getting too dark. Barut is on hand with a remix for "Track002B", where trancey undercurrents meet with expansive piano and ethereal ambient swells, all strapped to a sturdy minimal house groove.

Review: Well, we're used to hearing Sasha on some progressive tip or, at least, bouncing around in the same space as labels like John Digweed's Bedrock, but here we have proof that the veteran producer is still out to diversify his sound and reach new audiences. The long-time DJ and producer steps up on Cologne's mythical Kompakt stable with "Out Of Time", a magnificently suave and laid-back house bombshell guided by the man's unmistakable prog-flex; this is the sort of gear you want to hear as you step into the dance and sip that first cocktail... a certified mood changer. On the flip we're graced with a few tenacious remixes; Patrice Baumel delivers an eight minute rework of the original, this time filtered through a much housier sort of guise that reminds us of the twilight hours on the Balearic islands' sandy beaches. Check the instrumental too - it'll be a useful DJ tool for sure.

Review: Attention all DJs seeking that crowd-rocking curveball to get the people freaking out. This cheeky one-sided 12" from Digwah is guaranteed to fly out thanks to its canny sampling of Destiny's Child's "Jumpin' Jumpin'". These iconic hooks are strapped to a rolling minimal tech groove with pattering machine drum beats and a mean bass synth that gets right under your skin. Fun on top, serious underneath, this is one of those unmissable club 12"s that will always do the damage when you want to liven up the party.

Review: After they last shared wax on Mosaic back in 2017, UK dub techno veteran Steve O'Sullivan and prolific minimal house rising star Frazer Campbell link up once again for the sleek and sophisticated sounds of "Straight To The Source". It's a shuffling, funky workout with understated b-lines to suck you in and subtle splashes of reverb to shape out a heady atmosphere. "Hypnotonic (West Side Shuffle)" on the flip has a more bubbling, psychedelic quality to it, without losing that cool Mosaic veneer that makes these joints so workable in so many different situations.

Review: Midlands retrovert Mat Cutler aka Lone returns on Ambivert Tools Volume One. Inspired in no small part by the rich seam of house that he's been excavating with his fine Magicwire imprint, this is where the guy shows you all once again just how dusty and lo-fi things can actually get. Starting off with the early nineties rave stomp of "Crush Mood", on the flip there's some deeper strains of classic throwback sounds in the form of the lovely "Chroma" with its neon lit synths and vintage drum computer sounds working in perfect harmony while "From A Past Life" calls to mind Derrick Carter's Oneiro project from the nineties on this rolling and hypnotic jam which is so damn lush!

Review: Disordered Rhythm Metronomy may be a puzzling (and, let's face it, rather strange) artistic alias, but the two men behind the project, Ricardo Villalobos and Edward, have produced some of the most distinctive leftfield techno of the last decade. As a result, you'd expect their first joint EP to be a killer... and it is. A-side "Vormlock" is a rubbery, off-kilter treat, with the experienced duo peppering an elastic synth bassline and sparse, skittish drums with glitchy stabs, tipsy lead lines and all manner of wonky, out-of-this-world noises. Over on the flipside you'll find title track "Down", a deeper and dreamier chunk of spacey minimalism in which typical Villalobos style percussion and softly squelching bass comes cloaked in some suitably intergalactic synthesizer chords.

Review: The heat just keeps coming from the EYA camp as they swiftly follow up LONEWOLF 003 with this crucial care package from Kiev's Zolaa. Moody atmospheres abound on the stripped and stalking electro opener "Silver Needle, Golden Pain" before giving way to the decidedly cheekier acid snapper "Noctivagant". "Horiy Spokiy" broadens the remit of the record too, taking on a widescreen sound that takes in rich layers of melodic counterpoint to create a vivid soundscape that still kicks in all the right places. Then Etienne drops in a remix for the B2 which shakes things up with some breezy, feel good chords to counteract the punchy thrust of the drums.

Review: The EEE series may utilise a very simple blueprint - each single-sided, one-track release combines tasty, 21st century tech-house grooves with vocal lifts and instrumental samples from a classic cut - but so far, the publicity-shy producer behind it has yet to put a foot wrong. This ninth instalment in the ongoing series is every bit as alluring as its predecessors, in part because the headline-grabbing Nina Simone vocal samples are used sparingly and dropped into the mix for maximum impact. They mainly appear within the melodious, smile-inducing breakdown, before making way for a return to the track's chunky, seemingly squeezable tech-house groove and sweet, glassy-eyed lead lines. On paper it shouldn't work, but it really does, making this another must-check EEE release.

Review: It was way back in 2009 when prolific Detroiter Delano Smith released "Deep Fundamentals", a three-track set of delicious deep house jams that has since become a collector's item. Here he presents a belated sequel of sorts, "Deeper Fundamentals I". He sets the tone with the superb title track, a fine fusion of futurist Motor City techno synths, dubbed-out electronics and chunky deep house grooves, before traveling in a warm and bumpin' deep house direction on "Time & Place". You'll find more bustling beats and tactile chords on B-side opener "Stolen Memories", while closing cut "On Arrival" is effortlessly dreamy, warm and enveloping: an ultra-deep dancefloor excursion of the highest order.

Review: The Mountain People have a cult status amongst minimal house heads for good reason - their approach feeds the scene's finest parties, but they always retain a certain kink in their tracks that deviates from formulaic genre studies. So it goes on this latest drop on their own label, which leads in with a stunning long form track that packs a nuanced groove into the low end and plays with a limber acid line over the top, holding the filter down low and only opening it up at the choicest of moments. There's also some bouncier, swinging monosynth machine funk to be enjoyed, all executed with originality and subtlety - essential ingredients for the best minimal house.

Review: Ted Amber first surfaced with an impressive 12" on minimal lynchpin Botanic Minds back in 2018. Now he's back on Romana with a new joint that maintains a seductively deep mood throughout, but still knows how to jack where it counts. The undulating synth tones of "808" get carried through to Magnus Asberg's ranging, steady building remix, while TIJN creates a delicate and detailed tapestry out of the ingredients to complete the set. For classy and consistent variations on a warm, mellow house theme, look no further than this deeply satisfying drop from the Romana crew.

Review: Three years on from his last full-length outing on Perlon, Japanese techno maverick Fumiya Tanaka returns to the admirable Japanese imprint with an eccentric set bristling with off-kilter dancefloor treats. His particular take on minimal techno is far more rubbery, synthesizer-rich and funky than many of his peers, a trait that makes his glitchy but elastic club cuts stand out from the crowd. Highlights across the three slabs of wax include the bleeping, dub-wise peak-time weirdness of the title track, the sub-heavy jazz/minimal techno fusion of "Breakthrough", the Villalobos-gone-wild flex of "I Want To Be A Human Being" and the squelchy, loose-limbed goodness of "Birth Of The Respect Club".

Review: The folkloric cosmic disco scene of northern Italy in the early '90s serves as the inspiration for the Antinote's new compilation "Studiolo: The 90's Afro/Cosmic Era" compiled by Parisian DJ Ygal Ohayon. Pioneered by legends such as Daniele Baldelli and Beppe Loda, this collection of tracks features many highly sought after classics from the era, such as 1995's "Tantawina" by Roberto Righi aka Mamukata. This one bears a resemblance to In Aeternam Vale's "Dust Under Brightness" however the latter was released a couple of decades later. Elsewhere, there's the low-slung acid disco of Claudio Diva's "Funky Nephos" and the mandatory pan pipes sound (a signature) as heard on African Project's "Ethno Beat" and not to mention some of those chipmunk vocals ("Indien Summer") - another unintended trademark of the style. A young Austrian named Stefan Egger is said to have caught Baldelli play during his residency at the Cosmic Club in the seaside resort town of Rimini and had a life-affirming moment on the dancefloor. He brought the sound to his native Innsburck and created a scene of its own there. His contribution "Cosmic Esmeralda" (1994) is pure euphoria on a Belgian new beat vibe.

Review: Given that they started their ascent to EDM superstardom over a decade ago and have already released a string of genuine crossover anthems, this debut album from Camelphat is undeniably overdue. So, was it worth waiting for? If you like their brand of festival-friendly dance music hedonism, then you will genuinely love it. The assembled 21 tracks scattered across three action-packed slabs of wax draw influence from many interconnected styles - mostly electro-house, tech-house and techno, but also indie-dance, synth-pop, nu-disco and more bass-heavy flavours - and repackage them as distinctively Camelphat style productions, complete with contributions from numerous collaborators and guest vocalists (Noel Gallagher, Skream, Jake Bugg, Yannis Foals, Jem Cooke and Christoph all feature).

Review: Even though he's been active for years, Los Angeles-based Adam Dyment aka Duke Dumont has never released a full length before. "Duality", then, is his long-awaited debut and it features a wide variety of moods and grooves, as well as some stylish collaborations. Dumont's infectious take on club music is best heard on the funky house party starter "The Power". Hear the drummer get wicked on the breakbeat energy of "Therapy", in addition to the glassy-eyed and bittersweet slow burner "Let Me Go" featuring RY 'X' Cuming. We should also mention that there's some fine collaborations, such as with house music royalty Roland Clark on "Obey" and R'n'B favourite How to Dress Well on the evocative offering "Together".

Review: It's heartening to see that the long-running (and once ridiculously popular) Global Underground mix series is still serving up new volumes. Their latest comes courtesy of Dutch star Joris Voorn and is being marketed as a wholehearted, full-throated tribute to the city where he came of age, Rotterdam. Musically, it's something of a thrill-a-minute ride, with the Dutchman somehow managing to squeeze almost 120 tracks into his two-disc set, in part by layering up elements of numerous cuts to create new compositions (or, as he calls them, 'Chapters'). The result is a non-stop journey through three decades of dance music culture that variously touches on a wide range of house and techno sub-genres whilst remaining rhythmically interesting and action-packed.

Review: Three years on from his last full-length outing on Perlon, Japanese techno maverick Fumiya Tanaka returns to the admirable Japanese imprint with an eccentric set bristling with off-kilter dancefloor treats. His particular take on minimal techno is far more rubbery, synthesizer-rich and funky than many of his peers, a trait that makes his glitchy but elastic club cuts stand out from the crowd. Highlights across the three slabs of wax include the bleeping, dub-wise peak-time weirdness of the title track, the sub-heavy jazz/minimal techno fusion of "Breakthrough", the Villalobos-gone-wild flex of "I Want To Be A Human Being" and the squelchy, loose-limbed goodness of "Birth Of The Respect Club".

Review: Transylvanian minimalist Alin Crihan returns with this impressive debut full-length for Sepp & Nu Zau's UVAR imprint. From his debut five years ago on Sammy Dee's Ultrastretch, to some great releases of late on Elliptic and Playedby, the 'Autostrada Soarelui' LP demonstrates his wonderful progression as a producer. From moments of low slung esoteric groove action like on "Editura Estivala", woozy and off-kilter microhouse heard on "Eforie Sub'' or rolling and ethereal tech house that's perfect for Sunwaves as heard on "Hotel Mzr" - it's obviously a diverse affair. There is a fair share of leaner and more subtle tackle that's geared towards the afterhours as heard on "Gazeta Olimp" and the particularly avant-garde vibe of "Ducele De Chilia".

Review: Leipzig's Mbius returns for the sophomore release of Ethernal, the sub label of French deepness purveyors Daydream. As like last time, it's a largely minimal affair, harking back to the early noughties glory days of Force Inc and Playhouse et al. From the groovy and dubby afterhours microfunk of "Jose", to the reduced boompty business of "6th Sense" which has that Cabinet Recordings kind of feel, plus a slick UK tech house style rework by man of the moment Nick Beringer (Rubisco) - this one's the bomb!

Review: Over the last three years Dragut Adrian AKA Dragutesku has firmly established himself as one of Romanian minimal techno's leading lights. It's for this reason that Dualism, his first full-length excursion, is so hotly anticipated. So, does it hit the spot? Undoubtedly. Dragut is particularly good at crafting wonky, off-kilter tech-house and minimalistic techno tunes that are sparse and unusual, but also boast tons of percussive funk and swing. These kinds of club-ready tunes form the DJ-friendly backbone of the album, with occasional deeper, darker or even stranger deviations (see the creepy 'Paranormal' and squelchy, electro-fired melodiousness of 'Apus') providing welcome variety. As a result, it's a set you can listen to from start to finish, despite the dancefloor-focused nature of its construction.

Review: With all the unfortunate hassles that label boss Denis Kaznacheev is enduring of late, we're happy to see that he is still getting on with the job of running Nervmusic. Its next release comes from St Petersburg's tech house hero Andrew Guyvoronsky aka Tripmastaz, and it's also the accomplished producer's debut full-length. Andrewsheeny Skazkif features all the functional and swing-fuelled flavour that you've come to know and love from the Plant 74 chief: from the hypnotic and ethereal bounce of 'No Grind - No Fish To Find', or the trippy Sunday morning microhouse of 'Ditch A Broad Of A Wain, Minimise A Horse's Pain', through to the slick boompty business of 'Even Vinegar Tastes Sweet If It's Free' and the evocative deep house groove of "Fisherman Sees Another Fisherman From A Distance".

Review: Named after the titular character in the Nicolas Winding-Refn movie, Bronson is the new project of Grammy-nominated, Seattle-based duo Odesza with masked Sydneysider Golden Features. Story has it that they first met at a music festival in Australia and formed an instant connection. Years passed by where they collaborated online, until their next meeting in-person where they found a space in a rural area, engaging in open-end jam sessions in an isolated and timeless space. The results appear on their self-titled debut LP for UK label Ninja Tune, which sees the trio 'reflect on their respective needs to challenge personal struggles, both internal and external.'

Review: On his first ever Mule Musiq release. Swiss-Chilean minimal maestro Luciano delivers some meditative journey music, full of repetitive patterns geared for stimulating the subconscious and designed to bring you to a higher level of energy and creativity. The Cadenza chief and Ushuaia resident claims a love of music with a dimension beyond the mainstream, and that sure is evident on this EP - featuring four sublime versions of the fittingly titled "Luci Neu House". Part 1 and 2 on the A side respectively are deep and hypnotic rollers which are perfect for those solitary moments on the dancefloor. On the flip, it's all about the life-affirming deepness of Part 4, which sure nails that summertime vibe with its soulful vocals.