Rekids レコード& CD

Review: While it's become fashionable to release records that draw on the more psychedelic musical elements evident in vintage techno, electro and trance records, A Sagittariun has been ploughing that sonic furrow for many years. He successfully dips into this pool of influences once more on the Strange Brew EP, whose title may be a reference to a club in his home city of Bristol. He begins by enveloping a punchy, rolling electro-breaks groove with cosmic-sounding pads, bubbly electronics and slivers of TB-303 tweakery on 'The Mind Blanks at the Glare', before opting for a sweaty, rave-era-house-goes-acid-techno sound on the chugging, mind-mangling 'Don't Look in the Freezer'. Best of all though is flipside 'Cosmic Trigger', a deliciously immersive chunk of deep techno rich in trippy electronics, sumptuous pads and tactile grooves.

Review: Chicago based but Ukrainian-born Alinka steps up to the mighty Rekids with another standout EP that shows she has a unique, melon twisting sound. It kicks off with the full throttle 'Teacher's with jacked up drums and percussion. 'I'm Your Ghost' then layers in circling acid lines and old school bass while 'I Still Believe' lats the spirits with its trippy synths and sci-fi melodies all bring a subtle sense of party and joy. Closing out this punchy analogue EP is '909 Lives' with more potent drums and rugged grooves.

Review: Following the release of his blisteringly heavy Funfzig album on Rekids last year, Mark Broom returns to Matt Edwards' imprint with a teaser for the hotly anticipated follow-up, 100% Juice. As you'd expect, there's no messing around from the UK techno veteran, with opener '100% Juice (Sampler Mix)' delivering a bowel-bothering, cranium-snapping blend of rave-igniting, minor key stabs, booming bass and stomping beats. In contrast, 'Contingo' is trippy in tone thanks to all manner of overlapping synth lines, while 'Nod To The D' sees Broom blend his own drum machine-driven take on techno with vintage Motor City sounds. Rounding off a rock-solid EP is 'Spiked', a raw and razor-sharp techno throb-job primed for peak-time floors.

Review: Mark Broom is a techno veteran, but just because he enjoys that sot of status doesn't mean he has lost his edge. He proves that here with a hefty new record on Radio Salve's mighty Rekids. It bangs from the off with his signature heavy drums defining each of the tracks across all four sides of vinyl. '100% Juice' is peak time tackle with incendiary hit hats and loopy synths, 'Slush' is a head melter with more warped lines and elsewhere 'Wonky Workout' does exactly what says on the tin. There is a brilliantly unsettling and eerie vibe to 'Boxed In' and straight up dance floor fire in 'Wiggle Me This.'

Review: Mark Broom is one of the mainstays of the global underground. The UK titan has a recognisable take on house and techno genre that is underpinned by slamming kick and that comes to bare once more now as he lands on fellow legend Radio Slave's Rekids label. These four cuts bring a more house feel to start with as 'Klashjamz' layers up disco strings and vocals into something joyous. 'Showtime' has a garage slip to the loopy, silky drum rotations and 'HighNRG' throws it back with big stabs, percussive drums and chopped up vocal shards. 'Jazz Ting' is an aptly named closer with plenty of steamy sax notes of raw, loopy grooves.

Review: It is impossible to pin down Roman Flugel. The German innovator has had more different sounds and aliases than most of us have had disco pellets. Here he is back under his own name on Berlin mainstay Rekids with four to-the-point yet still characterful techno cuts. 'Yes People' with both amp up the energy in the club but also trip out all those who hear it thanks to its caustic drums and mind-melting synths. 'Play Simple' is a double time weapon with spoken words morphing before your ears next to an insistent rhythm and sleek pads. 'Jam' is a wonky one with detuned chords tumbling about the mix over old school techno directness and 'Mysterious Delight' again cuts loose at the afters. This may be his best work in some time.

Review: Frankey & Sandrino are a mighty pair who know how to lay down compelling tech sounds. They unite once more here for a powerful two-tracker on the legendary Berlin-based Rekids label. First up is 'Brainscan' which is dark and moody, with futuristic synths and stark vocals over a rolling, tense bassline. On the flip is 'Condesa' which is a much more loose affair with broken beat drums and 80s synth lines. It has a post-rave 90s feel but updates for modern dance floors. Both tunes are likely to get plenty of plays this winter.

Review: ** REPRESS ALERT ** Russian DJ/producer Nina Kraviz recorded 'Mr Jones' back in 2013 which receives a reissue on REKIDS here on clear double vinyl. A fine collection of sturdy DJ tools, it features the sensual deep house cut 'Desire' featuring her own vocals, the sonar transmissions of 'Remember' which ventures into techno territory in collaboration with Detroit dub techno engineer Luke Hess, as well as the dreamy hypnotic beats of 'Black White' and closing it out with the minimal basement jam 'Sheer'.

Review: You always know what you are going to get from Radio Slave, and that is high functioning techno that never fails to make an impact in the club. The man behind the music, Matt Edwards, is one of techno's most enduring and consistent performers and he confirms that again here with the pair of bangers on his own Rekids label. 'Acid Dip' has punchy, funky drums that hammer home the groove with big, bouncy hits bring further dynamics as an occasional slaying synth sprays across the face of the tune. Devastating. 'Armani' is a brian-frying, loopy, synth-heavy workout full of texture.

Review: The entrancing tribal house groove of Jerome Sydenham, Fatima Njai's and percussionist Mario Punchard's Kraftwerk channeling 'Trans Afro Express' is one of this year's biggest tracks for Rekids, which now receives a series of impressive reworks by the biggest names on the scene. Running Back's Gerd Janson delivers a sunny and blissful rework in his signature neon-lit disco style on the A side of the disc. Over on the flip, it's over to the master of minimalism - none other than Ricardo Villalobos - who takes the track deep into the afterhours with his heady makeover delivered in his idiosyncratic style.