Back in stock: House

Review: CFRT's fourth release features early productions from Sven Rohrig under his acclaimed techno and house alias, 3 Phase. These tracks were originally released on Push back in 1996 and offer a window into his innovative approach, even though he was in his formative years. All these decades on, they still bang. 'Moon' is textured, edgy techno with restless drum rhythms and metallic percussive sounds, 'Other Edge' is a psyched-out number with bleeping melodies and thudding drums and 'Magic Edge' strips tings back to deep, pulsing bass, lashings of synth detail and a paranoid mood while 'Stash' shuts down with more slow motion sounds for the post-rave comedown.

Review: Eclectic technoizer Basic Bastard locks arms with Detroiter Orlando Voorn, their dual sonic output being the new 'Drama' EP. The three-tracker is nothing short of a sonic adventure, spanning acid, to dub, to uncategorisable entrainments. Bastard's original 'Drama' nails the art of the acid loop, a tricky tactic that is much less masterable than one might think. Voorn remixes the track my miring its elements in a cruddy ambience, while also greedily occupying the entire B-side with the urban-hellish jazz-noise-house cut 'Survival'.

Review: Call Super delivers a superb telecommunication in the form of 'Swallow Me'. We're not sure why Call Super wants us to ingest him, but we're not going to question it too much. The new track samples Kamala Sankaram's performance at the final Resonant Bodies festival in New York in 2019. "In Ancient Greek, ololyga is the ritual shriek of women, a sound so alarming to men that it could not be uttered within their earshot" - goes the liner text. Sonically, Mr. Super blends the ololyga with Hebden-esque shuffles and glossy dance schlop, building a deeply resonant tune sure to kill egos the world over.

Review: If you ask us, Kalahari Oyster Cult is a label as unique in sound as it is in name. You can never quite be sure what they might serve up next, but you can be sure it is worth dialling into. Alfred Czital & Ayu step up for this one, which starts at high speed and has drums and hits skating along the surface at compelling pace as warped vocal fragments loop to trippy effect. 'Talk To Me' is another groove with real urgency but plenty of inventive sound designs and clipped, underlapping bass. It's hyper modern and dead good. The Sleep D remix is more zoned out and smooth for the afters and Roza Terenzi brings a signature sense of wonkiness.

Review: Fabio Caria launches his new label, Hoops, as a means to explore the intersection of house and techno through a minimalist lens. The debut release is a collaboration with Hubble under the moniker Fabble and it's a fine one with three meticulously crafted tracks that manage to perfectly balance compelling rhythms with plenty of synth-based introspection. 'Catharsis' introduces a three-note Rhodes piano sequence with flowing pads and psychedelic synths and 'Donald' offers a steady 4/4 beat with sombre pads and powerful sub-bass. 'Persignis' with Italian legend Claudio PRC is the most dancefloor-driven with processed pianos creating an emotional mood and in all, this EP sets a nice high watermark for the Hoops label.

Review: Internal Dialogue Records kicks off with Ginno as the artist leading the charge on its debut EP. This release "embodies the label's commitment to diversity and quality" with Ginno dropping two techno-driven tracks designed for the dancefloor and packed with synth-pop vocals with deep, immersive bass and dark, mystical melodic work. LVCA's remix brings a nostalgic Electroclash vibe from the late 90s, while 'Log In' closes the 12" with a remix tailored for the most intense and electrifying late-night moments. It's a presuming start from all.

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: Fierce electronic mavericks LNS & DJ Sotofett deliver a thrilling two-tracker that's built for serious warehouse action. The A-side is a teeth-clenching, bassline-driven beast that is raw, gritty and euphoric with static rhythms, stabbing synths and a halftime arpeggio breakdown that erupts into dreamy pads. On the flip, DJ Sotofett's 'Buzzy Breaker' starts minimal with just kicks, stabs and dubs, then morphs into a breakbeat monster with polyrhythmic tension and soaring pads underpinned with jungle-inflected drops. Both tracks harness deep, hypnotic repetition while sounding bold and system-ready so make for techno with real weight but also edge and purpose that results in high class DJ and dancer tackle.

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: Silias Records welcomes Marko Nastic, a venerated DJ and producer from Serbia who could rightly claim to be one of his country's biggest underground electronic music exports. He brings peak time renegers here with tracks rooted in techno and tech such as 'Sour Pie' with its mechanical drum loops and rickety rhythms run through with blasts of electricity. 'Circuits' is smoother, deeper, more rounded in design and jazzy in melody. 'Que Rico Enrigo' is packed with well-designed sounds and a hint of Latin flair in the vocal sample and 'Clockworksx' shuts down with a thudding, persuasive and chunky tech sound with clattering percussion adding some texture.

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


A mesmerising blend of organic textures and synthetic precision, delivering a fresh take on techno and house. The title track, 'Upside Down', kicks things off with a clever nod to the glitch and microhouse era of the very early 00s. Its gorgeous melody and intricate layering make it both nostalgic and forward-thinking. 'Eyes Between Letters' follows with a deeper bassline and spacious, intricate production. Side-2 opens with 'Beyond Light & Shade', where Asian-inspired melodics weave seamlessly with a balanced blend of techno and house, offering a richly textured and emotive piece. Closing the EP, 'Complementary Senses' delivers profound depth, bringing an introspective quality to its lush production. A unique release tailor made for fans of innovative, boundary-pushing electronic music.

Review: Chicago born, Detroit-raised Delano Smith is one of the foundational artists of the contemporary house scenes. In 2023, he revealed he was suffering with a rare form of cancer but as this new EP title suggests, he is still here and still crafting high-grade sounds. 'When I Was Young' kicks off with his signature smoky drum loops and train travel sense of hypnosis. 'The Rush' is another heads down jam, this time marbled with eerie pads and wet clicks and claps that oil the groove while 'Rewired' shuts down with real late night delicacy and evocative minimalism.

Review: Swayzak is a micro house, minimal and techno duo, aka James S Taylor and David Brown from the UK, whose name alone will get many older dancers hot under the collar. Their craft was second to none during their peak and here we get a reminder of that with a new outing on Rawax. 'Floyd' is a jazzy dancer with live claps, spinning hi-hats and louche grooves all topped with synthetic synths that never quit. 'Doobie' is a more deep sound with late-night headsy vibes. The drums are supple, the synths squeal and spoken word mutterings add a human touch. Two well-realised and effective cuts from Swayzak.