Constant Black

Review: Malaga's Cuartero is next up on Constant Black, bringing a finely honed minimal house sound that fits into the label's shadowy club aesthetic perfectly. "Rame" is a driving, insistent slice of stripped down house with plenty of subtle wriggles and textures gurgling away under the surface. "Melkor" has some tougher drums, not least around the low end, but the same economy of sonics is applied here where the beat takes the lead and the FX skirt and skitter around the beat. "Caterpillar" has a tougher, less swung accent to its beats, but the chunky drum machine patterns are still executed with that stern focus that makes a minimal track pop off in the mix.

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: Constant Sound's vital Constant Black offshoot welcomes Nike Maxen for a fine debut that comes after the artist has impressed already in 2020 with EPs on Mellow, Talman and Honne Music. The sounds on offer are classy and heady, with opener 'Dogwood' pairing dreamy pads and sparse percussion with a nice rolling and dubby beat. 'Laurel' picks up the pace but remains supremely smooth, and 'Willow' again gets you even more upright with its punchy kicks, but the languid pads keep things deep. Closer 'Whitebeam' is an icy cool tech house number with heady loops and superb bass warmth. This is another functional but characterful offering from this label.

Review: Constant Black continue to bring you the finest in minimal tech house from underground operators and upfront scene leaders alike. This time around they're welcoming back the ever-prolific Noha, who first inaugurated the label back in 2016 with the "Hamal" 12". This time around he's debuting the ISKRA alias, which comprises more of the keenly sculpted, propulsive but healthily unusual brand of minimal house he's been known for, but with an added emphasis on interesting rhythmic formations. "Every Day I Spend With You" is especially delightful on the ears, while "Escape The Sleep" should appeal to those seeking pure, unadulterated, deep grooves.

Review: The latest joint on Constant Black is from Subb-an and Thoma Bulwer, who work together to bring forth some seriously smart ruminations on minimal techno with an inventive modern edge. "Apollo Sun" holds court over the A side with an artful, modulating synth voice that sounds as though it could well have been cooked up through a tangled network of patch leads. On the B side, "Cosmic Breaks" has a strong set of drums that crunch in all the right places, and plenty of dreamy seasoning to make for a truly smart midtempo roller. "Spray" completes the set with the spiciest joint on the record, all tightly wound beats and nagging rhythmic wriggles both built for functionality but equally intriguing on the ear - a perfect DJ tool with enough sass to stand on its own.

Review: Having impressed with his 2019 debut album on Negentropy, the breaks/tech-house/minimal techno fusion of Rhythm Tension, Zweizig has been given a chance to showcase his wares on Constant Sound's popular Constant Black offshoot. The headline attraction is undoubtedly opener 'Manipulate Our Reflections', a spaced-out chunk of hypnotic late-night science that wraps wonky, Villalobos style electronic noises and pulsing pads around a locked in (but also surprisingly swinging) tech-house groove. Relic provides a chunkier and groovier remix that boasts darker noises and a more beefed-up sound, while bonus cut 'Vvoid' is a twisted, undulating acid-jacker.