Back catalogue: House

Review: ***B-STOCK: Slight surface marks, record slightly warped***


In the summer of 2023, Upgrade Records launched via a nostalgic, party-starting EP from the previously unheard artist In 5 D (likely an alias for someone a bit better known, but don't quote us on that). For the label's return, long-serving DJ/producer Buckley Boland (best known for his releases on Made To Play, Black Riot and One Records) is the man at the controls. What he's delivered is a nostalgic, sample-rich affair that combines the angular wonkiness and mind-mangling noises of early-to-mid-2000s tech-house with nods towards vintage acid house, electro-house and the hard-to-pigeonhole house filth of the (long gone) Music For Freaks label. Basically, it's all fun-time, party-starting fare, with the bump-and-squelch of 'Daft Sandwich', the bustling brilliance of 'Nude Night' and the break-sporting hustle of 'S/A/M Real Man' standing out.

Review: Mark Grusane presence on Disctechno brings with it a compilation of five unique house tracks from Chicago and Detroit-based producers, as you will probably have guessed from the title. The A-side features DJ Slush's synth-driven 'Memory Blank' and Deon Jamar's bass-heavy 'AYYYO' which offer different but both killer sounds. The B-side opens with Jordan Zawideh's reverb-drenched 'Axolotls' followed by Grusane's intense, atonal 'The Recoil' and concludes with Thomas Xu's groovy 'School Street.' All of these are the sort of off-kilter sounds you would expect of these revered and enduring electric hotbeds. Raw, stripped-down and authentic, this is the contemporary Midwest underground.

Review: Ida Engberg's contribution to this release marks a striking departure from the Swedish techno DJ and record producer's usual sound, an unexpected, lush journey through the world of 2 step genre that's definitely not typically seen in her catalogue. The track is at once sensual and booming, designed for the late-morning hours when the dancefloor shifts from peak-time frenzy to more reflective, intimate moments. It pulses with a calm intensity, creating a smooth yet exhilarating rhythm that invites the listener into an immersive experience. On the flip side, 'Pink Monkeys' is a true sonic adventure, blending elements of EBM and sawtooth trance to produce a thrilling, psychedelic atmosphere. The track is a festival-ready anthem, charged with energy and unrestrained sound, allowing Ida to stretch her creative muscles even further. Meanwhile, Marco Resmann delivers two tracks that showcase his deep-rooted versatility. 'RIMA feat. Laatz' is a high-octane techno rollercoasterimenacing, frenetic, and impossible to ignore. Its relentless drive and chaotic energy keep the listener on their toes, offering a new, radical take on techno. Then, 'Dimensions' shifts into a more intricate, electro-driven vibe. Its low-slung groove is filled with subtle details, creating a balanced equilibrium that simultaneously engages both the mind and the body. Resmann's approach is detailed and meticulous, ensuring each sound has a purpose and brings the track to life. Together, these four tracks exemplify a mastery of genre-blending, pushing boundaries while still maintaining an infectious, danceable core that connects with listeners on a deep, visceral level.

Review: Kommuna marks its tenth year of activity with this new dancefloor-focused record from various artists whose music "reflects the glimmer of hope that music provides during these dystopian times." Fabricio's 'Collateral Effect' opens with a strident nu-disco sound and retro-future chords that get you moving. Charleze's 'Rage Power' is another chunky disco stomper with some nice cosmic melody and Wooka's 'Tirty Dalk' hits harder with mechanical beats and churning bass. Mooglee's 'Things I Love' brings a more dreamy synth sound but still club-ready beats.

Review: Focused on artists from the great anatine peninsula that is South America, Mirror Vinyl Series reflects the techno-house multi-talents of many an artist from Argentina to Bolivia to Ecaudor to Peru to Suriname to Uruguay to Colombia to Venezuela to Brazil... there are simply no limits on locale, except for the featuring artists' ancestries themselves, and that to hail from SA is a must. Here, after a stellar set of digitals recently from Sofia Duz, Zolbaran, Atemporal and Marcos Coya to name but a small few, we're now heard hearing the Uruguayan ur-builds of Marcos Coya ('Sabes Que Si'), the chord-smeared minitech funk of Colombian boheme Donnie Cosmo, and/or the hoarse breaks, seedy acids and "what do you wanna take tonight?"s of guileful Brasiliera, Guile.

Review: Four new prangers from France's BOOOoo! crew, startling our ears with audio-apparitions by ghosts of the resident French sceno-system: Jamahr, Mooglee, Jucid and Odeon. 'Black Loops' and 'Flex (Booty Mix)' invade elastic terrains of bass and flicky synth, churn them back through meshes of gradated beats and rond-squelching stab notes. 'The Question Is' eliminates much of the A-side's establishing layers and overdubs, harking rubbery and slip-tastic FX design, countered by the equally sticky 'Jimbeldance'.

Review: Chicago's Tied label rolls out a 17th release as good as all the previous ones, this time with a four-track various artists EP that showcases emerging talents from deep, spacey electronic realms. Just_Me's 'Laser Brane' launches the journey with electro-funk propulsion, while Lumieux's 'In Your Space... It's Me In Space' drifts into cosmic grooves and ambient textures. On the B-side, Constratti's meticulously crafted 'Bind' delivers intricate synth delays and solid rhythms that capture the feeling of interstellar motion. Label head Max Jacobson and 97 Till close with 'Orion,' a break-infused and celestial house cut built for late-night floors.

Review: Freerange's City To City series returns with its second edition, this time spotlighting Lisbon. Known for its stunning views, beautiful beaches and vibrant nightlife, perhaps one of the city's best-known hotspots is the iconic Lux Fragile, which has shaped the city's sound since the late 90s. Longtime resident DJs from Lisbon are now gaining global traction; to butterfly-net the essence of the coastal metropolis, this new mix LP hears six original tracks from local talents, chief among whom are Megatronic, progressor and ambassador for the city, and Yen Sung & Photonz, two names closely tied to the circuit's deeper-underground corners.A

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: Maara's debut on her very own Ancient Records lifts the lid on long-hidden truths and buried queer histories. Rein-whipping the steed of techno to redirect it towards better representations for lesbian communities in dance music, 'She's Startin' and 'Unbearable Delight' are heard resurrecting forgotten, seventh-hell secrets on a furious A-side. Faustian pacts tempt us to indulge a diabolical knowledge, while Maara holds out hope for a sapphic world, extracting simmering, fluid desires against a background of staid complacency. The Montreal producer ends on a slippery note with 'Scissor Me Timbers', where the sound design morphs into something eerily glottal, with bellowing voices, alarming hooks and knocky percs promising a ceaselessly hedonic alternate future.

Review: Tasteful Scandi label Sakskobing welcomes rising talent Mace, who we're told is a devoted house music enthusiast. This is his debut solo EP and was made in Germany, where Mace has spent years immersed in the dance and now explores all the many influences he has picked up in that time. The A-side is club-driven with the punchy drums of the title cut and space-tech energy of 'Energy', while the B-side embraces a deeper, more atmospheric sound with soothing pads, particularly on the new age bliss out that is 'Greetings From Italy' which more than nods to the great Don Carlos.

Review: It can be hard work keeping up with the myriad of different labels that Burnski aka Constant Sound aka Instinct heads up. This one leans more into UK garage and welcomes Main Phase for another succulent selection here. 'Gotta Maintain' kicks off with a nice dusty garage sound that will get your lip curled, and then Buckley brings broken beat rework with dubbed-out low ends. 'Soul Mirror' is a clean, bouncy sound with a cool synth breeze and 'Breather' brings some olds school references - the raga vocals, the bleeping synths and the monstrous bass. Brilliantly filthy.

Review: Fledgling label Sismo looks to Uruguayan talent Luis Malon for their next offering. He is based in La Barra and brings plenty of the signifiers those tuned into the Uruguay underground will recognise. 'Broken Bridge' is stiff, mechanical tech house with a real urgency and thumping bass. It's nicely undercooked production-wise but sure to overheat the 'floor. 'Pio's' is another metallic club sound with woozy pads up top, softening things somewhat, and 'Robota' has a gritty undercurrent and melancholy in the chords that chimes with the work of Omar S and the Motor City. 'Robot Dance' spins out on slapping broken beats and industrial cosmic energy.

Review: Burnski's agenda-setting garage label Instinct is back with killer new beats from Mance. 'Atmos101' gets things underway with sparking melodies zipping about the stereo field over chunky drums and with a filthy bassline. There is more of a throwback feel to the dusty drum loops of 'Stone Cold, Baby' complete with great vocal samples and spiralling pads. 'All Night' shows another look again with dry, stripped-back beats and big hits under warped synth stabs and more brain-melting bass. 'I Can't Help It' shuts down with silky pads work and soulful vocals.

Review: After years of sharing music through various platforms, The Wapstation launches its new label with an inaugural EP from acclaimed Italian producer Roberto Manolio. His records often sell out in quick time thanks to their magnetic appeal to minimal lovers and here he explores a tapestry of techno, house, electro and Miami bass. 'Sublevel Restrictions' is all sleek metal drums and spoken word samples, 'Orbit Around The Sun' has a Detroit soul to its crispy tech house and 'Fantasy Scratch' cuts loose with more sleazy low ends and trippy melodic refrains. Rising talent Christopher Ledger delivers a standout electro reinterpretation of the title track to finish this one in style.

Review: Swedish producer Martinou returns with his tenth single which is a double pack that cements his deft hand in sculpting deeply emotive and rhythmically rich electronic music. Spanning six tracks, this latest straddles techno, house and ambient techno with a balance of subtle innovation and classic sensibilities. 'You Took Me In' is an immediate hit with its broken beat structure which allows airy pads and a melancholy melodic line to float atop crisp, polished percussion. It's evocative, the kind of track that slips into your subconscious before you realize it. 'Blur' follows with an electro-tinged beat and a deep, rolling bassline that anchors its shimmering, crystalised melodies. Mid-tempo, it carries a quiet beauty that feels timeless. Other tracks worth mentioning are 'Somewhere', which pushes into ambient techno dub territory, rich in spatial textures and restrained pulse. It's both meditative and propulsive, inviting repeated listens. 'Light (From Within)' takes a more radiant path, channeling melody-forward trance motifs with a subtle emotional charged euphoria that is never overstated. Throughout the double pack, Martinou moves fluidly between rhythmic frameworks and emotional tones. Even at their most restrained, these tracks possess a clarity and purpose that make them idea and suitable for solitary listening. It's a release that reaffirms his position in the modern deep electronic scene, balancing precision and feeling with each track.

Review: We're firmly, groovily locked in to this latest release from Locky Mazzucchelli. Ironically, his is a *key* release on Helix Discs. The Melbourne upstarts have put out a thrilling threnody of EPs so far, with kitsch 3D rendered retro-sci album covers ('Digital Destination' by DJ Alan) and mega moods of automotive, intercity chic ('Close Contact' by The Audio Manipulator). 'Learn To Listen' fits neatly into the pile accrued so far, with 'Bias' providing a strangely out-of-order set of janker beats, and 'ShaiHai' and 'The Box' furthering this blinkered, badly-tracked yet charming sense of ease. Borked moods abound on the closing 'Leave The Party', which makes relaxed work of the otherwise sometimes fraught act of finding one's way home after exiting the warehouse.

Review: It's five up for the small but already fine NRV label who welcome Me&MyDog for this one. There is a darkness to their brand of tech that is evident from the off with 'Body Move' with its stark drum hits and twist deadline, all topped with some moody vocal mutterings. 'Moonside' brings kinetic rhythms that have carefully designed percussion sprinkled over the top to bring some looseness. A login bassline keeps things firmly rooted to the floor while 'GR308L (6AM mix)' gets more trippy with some acid modulations and wispy synths all fleshing out the minimal grove.

Review: Mehdi M's latest EP finds him expertly blending house, techno and bass-driven rhythms into one tight package. While the title might suggest a singular focus, each track on this release demonstrates the breadth of his sonic toolkit. The opener, 'Funky Mission,' kicks things off with a tight house groove, where punchy kicks and sharp snares form a solid foundation, while the high-pitched synth melody gradually builds to an energising peak. It's a fresh, feel-good start. On 'Sunday Service,' the vibe shiftsideep basslines rumble beneath a hypnotic rhythm, pulling the track into a more atmospheric space without losing energy. 'Funky Version' brings back a sense of playfulness, with bouncy bass and tight percussion, driving the track forward while keeping the mood light and funky. 'Tare Mode' stands out with its relentless grooveialmost hypnotic in its repetition, the bassline is starker, a steady pulse that forces the track into full-on motion. Closing things out, 'Ritmics' offers a complex, rhythmic journey, with intricate percussion and shifting textures that ensure the EP finishes as strong as it began.

Review: Merv keeps it super deep here with a trio of supremely tasteful techno cuts doused in dub culture. 'Sliver' is first and awakens the sense with some gentle rattling chords that sound like distant thunder rolling in with a storm. 'Embrace' is airy, with big kicks and frosty pads shimmering across the airwaves and crisp hi-hats cut right through. 'Strain' is last up on the flip and is an elongated journey through some sugary melodic pixelations, a frosty dubscape and hints of melancholia. All are perfect for those late-night and intimate back room sessions.

Review: The 'No Trickery' EP marks the second release of Connor Mikami's If You Know You Know and it culminates in a poignant tribute to the church that served as a vital dance music hub in Los Angeles until October 2024. 'ET' gets things underway with a gurgling mix of dark and dirty basslines and menacing synth growls. 'Church' has a more clean and serene sound with dumpy kicks and bright chord stabs that bring to mind a late-night sermon. 'Groovy G' is a jacked-up tech cut with cool swing and crispy sabre work topped off with a muted synth phrase.

Review: This rework collection brings a fresh perspective to Goa-influenced tribal techno, blending deep house and tech house elements with innovative, bang up-to-date production skills. Side-1's 'Shaker' (Workout mix), is a rhythmically inventive, funk-laced groove that locks in with an addictive pulse. 'Oase' (Trance mix) follows, fusing Goa textures with a modern sensibilityimystical yet laid-back, perfectly tuned for today's club energy. On the flip, 'Day In Night' (After mix) builds steadily, weaving tribal instrumentation into a hypnotic, evolving structure. 'Dimensional Rhythm' (Dream mix) rounds out the EP with atmospheric layers, rising melodies and an irresistible, driving beat that channels the spirit of classic Goa through a contemporary lens. A creative take on deep, tribal-infused club music from Netherlands-based producer Milio.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


Milion's latest EP on HOME//GRXWN is a sharp, energetic showcase of his evolving talent. Blending the raw power of garage with the dynamic edge of electro, this release channels the spirit of underground dance music while pushing it forward. The A-side track, 'Adventure Time', is a standout, layering genre-defying electro beats with euphoric undertones, creating an irresistible blend that's bound to become a regular in DJ sets. 'DALIA' follows and has already cemented its status as a club favourite, with DJs like Dungeon Meat and Enzo Siragusa spinning it to packed dancefloors. It's easy to see why - the track blends garage grooves with a punchy rhythm that keeps the energy high. The B-side shifts gears with 'Machines Breathe', an intricate composition exploring the emotional resonance of mechanical sounds. Voigtmann delivers a remix that amplifies the original's soul, adding his unmistakable groove and funk, to round off a great EP.

Review: In signature cinematic melodic techno style, Mind Against and Cay bring 'Cant U Hear Me / Trust', laying thick a hi-tech fusion of soulful house and synthetically squeezed sound-energy. The thrumming heartbeat of UK club culture is heart sifted through a harsh cyborg grate, reducing things to a metallurgic, pulmonary pulp. Crystalline percussion, cascading synths... 'Trust' makes particularly pristine use of untainted pluck design, with peaking plucks wriggling in the mid-high layer like buds on a mecha-euphoric flower (just look at that front cover).

Review: Ninja Records looks to build on the success of its first outing with a new outing from Miroloja who are brothers and key players in the Parisian underground with great credits already to their name on Berg Audio, Tzinah Records and OLO RECORDS. Their stripped-back but tight sound is laid bare on opener 'Linkblow' with its warm house kicks and wet clicks soon to make you move. 'Morgan' is speedier with some space-tech vibes and a snappier low-end. Closer 'Krazyteora' then explores a creepy late-night urban landscape with some cyclical drums and synths moving things onwards.

Review: An exciting blend of minimal tech house and experimental techno only equalled by an emotionally gripping acoustic version on the second side. The track immediately grabs attention with its intricate layers of moody synths and pulsating percussion. Steffen Linck's evocative lyrics float effortlessly over the atmospheric soundscape, balancing vulnerability and groove. It's a track that speaks to deep emotions while maintaining a steady, hypnotic rhythm. On the Side-B, Monolink presents "Mesmerized (Acoustic)', a beautiful reworking that strips away the electronic elements to expose the raw heart of the song. This acoustic version is a more intimate experience, where soulful vocals and acoustic instrumentation take center stage. The result is a tender, thought-provoking reinterpretation that breathes new life into the track, further enhancing its emotional depth. This release shows off Monolink's ability to blend electronic precision with organic emotion.

Review: Three outsize rarities on Mr. G's very own Phoenix G imprint (operating since 1999). 'The Lost Tracks 1' hears the man-myth-legend rise from the mounded ashes of a deep house firestorm, where in classic "vaults" fashion, Mr G aka. Colin McBean presents tunes as though they were known sequels. Even so, 'Narcoticz Pt. 2' hardly recalls an original tune by the same name. It's almost as though there's a hidden universe of sound we're only tantalisingly being let in on... With G's driven but distillate deep house sound on fullest display here again, make sure to cop these muted rarities, as they're RSD exclusives and will surely dematerialise quick.

Review: London label Fourier Transform welcome back Rekab (James Baker) and label debuter Mre for 'Ace High'. 'Armadillos' rolls up its chassis for a serious exercise in minimal weight, reconstituting tuned percussions as it trundles along, while Rekab's 'Always Having Fun' posits an ideal life-mode: a steady, direct current of enjoyment, set to hedonically calculated beats. 'Climbing High' rebates the percussions for a subtle lark's ascent in deep acid, while 'Ace' complementarily descends across cross-rhythmic breaks and harmonies.

Review: Cabale Records is a Parisian label that has, for the last few years been exploring the minimal techno world. It now branches out with its first various artist release featuring some tasteful tune makers starting with Pheek. He brings some loose percussive energy and wonky drum funk to his opener then Mod303 layers in dreamy and immersive pad work to deft, subtle drums on 'Paris City Zoo.' Night No Tori Vs Hubble keeps it deep and dubby with the late-night introspection of 'Deja Vu' then Sten's 'Slope' is a trippy afterhours sound with tumbling synth smears and percolating dub tech beats.