Back catalogue: House

Review: Johannes Kolter is Kolter and is also a producer who went under the name DJOKO. He's been busy this year with plenty of goodness dropping including an album and three EPs. Now comes hit sone, again on his home label Pilot. It is inventive stuff that functions well on the floor as it straddles the worlds of breaks, house and plenty more. 'Got High Again' is lively and dynamic with its squealing leads and dusty breaks, then 'Weirdo' layers up leftfield melodies and blurts of playful synth modulation. 'Prospekt' is a wild fusion of rock riffs and high-speed funky breaks and 'Duck Concert' closes with hardcore drum breaks and soulful synths next to mad scratchinG.

Review: Kolter is back on his own Koltarx label for a second outing on vinyl that once again sets its sights on the stars. 'Search & Discover' is a great mix of serious tech drums, characterful robo-vocals and withering melodies that has something for everyone. 'Keep Bustin' will indeed keep you busting moves with its garage tinged house shuffle and jazzy chord work while its the leggy, rubbery bassline funk of 'You Can Have It All' that provides the EP's highlight. Last up, 'I Need A Fix' is more intense with its busy synths and acid daubs. This is a colourful and vibrant brand of minimal and tech house from a mainstay of the sound.

Review: Hot Creations' latest vinyl sampler delivers four essential cuts, each with its own distinct flavour, while maintaining a coherent, subtle progression. Kolter's 'Red Alert' opens the A-side with a thundering intensity, its old-school house energy and relentless groove laying down a powerful foundation. Jamie Jones's rework of 'XTC' follows, taking the original into a deep, bewitching realm with dubby atmospherics and a head-nodding rhythm that perfectly complements the previous track. Flip it, Lauren Lane's 'Ryde Or Die Anthem' offers a playful rework of DMX's 'Ruff Ryder's Anthem', blending rolling basslines and rapped vocals with transcendent guitar stabs for a tripped-out ride. Finally, Carloh's 'Quisiera Tenerte' injects a lively Latin groove, dripping with enthralling basslines and hooky vocals that ensure the groove never falters. Each track is finely tuned to create a mix that's full of energy but never overcomplicated, seamlessly connecting one moment to the next.

Review: Cologne's Hoove label makes a welcome return here with more fresh and contemporary house offerings from a range of interesting names. The always reliable Kolter is up first with 'U Make Me Feel' - a nice and inviting, well swung and mid tempo tech cut with some astral pads. J. Feierabend & Rami's 'OK, Captain!' is just as smooth a cruise through space and Thalo Santana then offers something a little different with a more drum led sound - 'Duradura' has pristine kicks and snares with incidental melodies unfurling up high. D&J's lovely 90s throwback deep house sound 'So We Danced' might be the best of the lot.