Review: Primrose does that most difficult of things on this new EP for the Cead label's last single-digit release: hits a perfect sweet spot between dancefloor damage and nuanced home listening. The punchy and driving 'Los Angeles Wingspan' kicks off and is backlit by a heavenly synth glow that softens the punchy, tightly coiled kicks and sprinkles of fluttering metallic percussion. '1980 Dream' is a more refracted piece where melodic phrases dart about the mix, synths scurrying up the scales, paddy drums unfurl in broken patterns and the whole thing keeps you nice and loose. An Or:la remix of '1980 Dream' rounds out a classy EP.
Review: New week, new Instinct, new weapons. Burnski's unstoppable label continues to offer up the most fun and functional garage and house fusions out there right now. For this one, Prozak steps up with screw-face basslines and throwback organ stabs on 'Yush,' then 'Dash' rides on a pumping deep house groove that's underpinned by slamming bass. Benson steps up for collab cut 'Gangster' complete with gunshots, rude vocals and ridiculously naughty reversed bass stabs. 'Bounce' is a final fist pumping garage house banger to close an effective 12".
Review: PRSPCTV aka XENTRIX is an emerging Belgian techno talent who steps out here with his first release on Musik is Egall. His moody and atmospheric original 'Perspective & Surface' is found on the B-side. It's a hunched-over, stripped-back deep techno and dub fusion with grotty synths and vast incendiary hi-hats hurrying you along. Label co-founder Oliver Hess steps up with his own remix on the A-side and flips the track into something as deep as they come, with dubbed out chords and warm, edgeless but driving kicks and smeared pads all laced up with muffled vocal mutterings and rising synths. It's one for early-evening groove sessions or late-night zone outs.
Review: Putch continues to take sole charge of the music on their own self-titled label. This fifth transmission, which again comes as a limited hand-stamped white label 12" - follows on where the previous four, which all sold out in quick fashion, left off. That is to say with a dusty house vibe that is driven by frayed kicks, well-programmed rhythms and sharp percussion to cut through the deepness. Add in some melodies that range from cosmic and spaced out to trippy and neon, and you have another high-functioning EP.
Review: We loved the first PUP release so are super hyped to get this second one. It's a fine various artists' collection that explores an array of tech, acid and minimal sounds. Rat Bastard opens up and doesn't muck about with a fast-paced groove and slick electronic bass. Deezy layers in some trippy acid and lively breakbeats on 'Earnin' Bumps.' On the flipside, 'Prima' brings some fresh UK funky drum patterns and wooden hits to the light-footed tune by FRND and more Uk styles are tapped into on Mr Bizmuth's bass-driven, bulky 'Charmed, Sworn, Severed, Torn.' Woof wood, we dig!
Review: Ray Mono started out as a resident in Leeds at the cult mono_cult party and has since gone on to emerge as a top talent in the studio. He has a fresh blend of minimal, house and tech that has taken him to labels like Moxy Music but now it is that OG home of mono_cult that welcomes him for a first release on the new label. True to form this is silky and irresistible tech with liquid grooves and smart samples, seductive synth lines and plenty of emotion as well as dancefloor clout. Mihai Pol and Sota remixes completely Ray's standout originals to make for a fine first outing from this label.
Review: Mike Grant's Moods & Groves is one of Detroit's strongest deep house torchbearers and it has been for years. Raybone Jones has also been turning out the tunes for years but has kept a low-key profile while doing so. It's been a decade since his last outing on this label but that time hasn't diminished his skills: 'Detroit Driven (feat Bill Beaver)' is a dusty and ramshackle opening groove to get you in the mood and 'The Part We Dance' then layers up loopy broken beats and roughshod percussion with wispy pads that bring a future feel. 'Far From Over' brings some diffuse synth soul and jumbled percussive funk to another lush deep house excursion.
Review: Veteran of the Frankfurt scene Frank Heinrich aka Reboot makes a surprising appearance on local underground imprint Pleasure Zone here with 'Bombons', a blissed-out and evocative minimal tech house journey that's strictly made for the afterhours slot, all the while retaining his idiosyncratic sound throughout. The sublime feelings continue over on the flip with the widescreen, steel drum-led melody on 'Tell Me' which goes deeper and triggers an even more emotional response. This is highly engineered microhouse by a modern master of the art.
Review: Italian artist Recut is back with a new four-track outing that comes steeped in the lovably mad energy of acid, the enduring rawness of the Chicago underground and the drum sounds of New York. He has been active since the 90s so has a great through-line to these foundational styles but makes them his own here. Interestingly he started producing with turntables and mixers after being inspired by DMC champion so brings a real live feel to his sounds. 'Narcotic Tango' is a full-throttle pumper, 'Acid Street' layers undulating 303 lines into silky and elastic drums and 'Jack O Acid' gets more intense and in your face. 'Feel The Heat' shuts down with some trippy synth colours.
Review: We can't fault anyone for calling their EP Four Really Good Tracks just so long as it does indeed feature four really good tracks. This hand-stamped 12" from Terrazzo does just that with contributions from four different artists. Remotif's 'Ludovician' kicks off with a nice zoned-out tech roller for 4AM. Jay Gadian then steps up with 'Crisscrossing' which has a busier rhythm anymore searching synths smeared over the face of the groove. Reflex Blue's 'Mystic' is a busy workout with spiraling melodic refrains and a constant sense of cosmic takeoff. Wilt's 'Fractal Ceiling' then shuts down with acid laced deep techno.
Review: Constant Black is one of the numerous labels in UK artist Burnski's orbit. He's been a man on form on all fronts in recent years and here he snaps up Retrospect for a trio of super slick and funky minimal house cuts. 'Ay-up!' is a cheeky opener with subtle northern welcomes hidden in the mix as the lithe bass and 2-step tinged drums do their thang. It's reet good. 'Schneebly' gets more pacey and balmy, with silky and oily bass and kinetic drum work all underpinned by a sick bass tone. Last of all comes '4 U' which has something of an upright garage skip and downright irresistible groove. These are high functioning, charismatic cuts to pump up any floor.
Por Cuete (Felipe Valenzuela alternative mix) (7:21)
Por Cuete (Felipe Valenzuela Closer mix) (6:40)
Review: Following up some great releases by scene heroes such as Barac, iO (Mulen) and Gianni & Guillermo De Caminos, Chilean label Drumma returns with this terrific release by the master himself, Ricardo Villalobos of course, featuring Santiago-based producer Umho - together as Ricmho. The result is 'Por Cuete', a 15 minute long excursion in hypnotic minimalism awash in a swirl of atonal blips and bleeps, and underpinned by visceral polyrhythms that are a trademark of Villalobos' work as always. Over on the flip, label boss Felipe Valenzuela delivers two reworks, our pick was the deep and emotive Closer mix that makes perfect late night tackle for warm-up set.
Review: With over 25 years in the game and a legacy as one half of the revered German electronic duo Wighnomy Brothers, this veteran artist shows no signs of slowing down. His latest EP delivers a slick blend of minimal and tech house flavors with undeniable character. 'Frandga' kicks off with a sultry vocal performance by Delhia, layered over a groovy, addictive minimal tech foundation i funky, hypnoti, and impossible to resist. 'Wortkabular' follows with a more stripped-back micro-tech approach, sharp and precise yet full of subtle movement. On Side-B, 'Beatkutter' flips the energy into a playful, techy party stormer, driven by a nasty, elastic bassline that's pure dancefloor mischief. 'Kopfnikker' closes things out with a surprising twist i a broken IDM-inspired rhythm paired with unique melodic touches, offering a textured and thoughtful finish. This EP proves why his influence still runs deep, blending masterful technique with a fresh, free-spirited edge.
Review: Although Robag Wruhme has appeared on the main Kompakt label a number of times over the last decade, this two-track 12" is actually his first appearance on the club-focused Kompakt Extra offshoot. As you'd expect from a producer with such a great track record, A-side "Yes" is superb. Built around swinging, off-kilter tech-house beats, hazy aural textures and a driving bassline, the track builds in waves thanks to Wruhme's canny use of moody pads, sustained - and undeniably creepy - chords and a wiggly acid line that intensifies as the track progresses. Over on the flip, "Calma Calma" is an altogether deeper and quietly sunny affair, with Wruhme wrapping female spoken word vocals, stirring orchestration and glassy-eyed melodies around another crunchy tech-house groove.
Review: Over a career stretching back almost two decades, Robag Wruhme has proved to be one of minimal house and techno's most unique producers, with a trademark sound that's become a byword for mind-altering, late-night quality. Fans of the Wruhme sound will love his latest outing on Kompakt extra. Our pick of the pair is driving A-side 'No', where mystical sounds, exotic percussion and sustained chords rise above a thrusting bassline and a rock-solid drum machine rhythm. By his standards it's quite "big", though that's not a criticism - 'No' genuinely sounds like a proper peak-time banger. B-side 'Frontex Freppant' is more in-keeping with his hazy, hypnotic sound of old, with stabbing electronics, looped aural textures and wonky electronics clustered around another tough, weighty techno groove.
Review: Deep house fans can rarely go wrong with the work of Praising mainstay Frank Rodger. He's on a good run of late and now he keeps the going with a return to Seasons Limited that again taps into his signature and timeless sound. A side 'Deep Squares' is one of those long and winding sounds that slowly but surely seduces you and sinks you into its deep, evocative groves. 'Sandton Skys' then brings heavy kicks and subtle pad work while rickety percussion brings off-balance goodness. The highlight might well come last with 'Come Together', which is playful and louche, smartly sampled and underpinned by a dusty deep house vibe.
Review: Franck Roger recently impressed with a vocal project alongside Arnold Jarvis and is now back on Seasons Limited with some of his signature house depths. Opener 'Don't Look Down' kicks off with louche, lovely drums and swirling pads and vocals that soon melt the heart. 'That's Alright' is a more thumping kick but is no less heartfelt with its warped bass and prickly hi-hats. 'Proscription' closes out with smooth, serene grooves that have your head in the stars and your heart locked into the romantic melodies. .
Review: Seasons Limited made a welcome return in 2024 and now keeps up that good momentum with another big single from French house mainstay Franck Roger with some fine vocals by Paul B. It's a super smooth sound with drum swaying back and forth, molten synth adding late night and tissue soul and the tender vocal adding intimacy and late night romance. Rocco Rodamaal steps up for remixes and first of all he pairs things back to a sedate, seductive deep house roll then fleshes out the drums with some dubby weight to finish.!
Review: Tom Roland impresses once more with this precision-tooled selection of minimal and tech house gems. They manage to find a perfect sweet spot between devastating club functionality and soulful flourishes. 'Exposure' kicks off with some smart samples that infuse and r&b feel into the snappy drum and colourful melodies. 'Free Ride' then bumps along with some nice fat bass and lithe percussion while 'K2000' is a stripped-back groover that sways back and forth as acid lines grow ever more wild in the mix. Last but not least is 'Zero Control' which is the punchiest of the lot with some nice psychedelic colours over dusty drum loops.
Review: Upcoming UK talent Joe Rolet gets the nod for this third 12" from the new Synkroniq still nascent label. He does a superb job of introducing his signature tech house style which is designed for both body and head. 'Central Lines' has a lovely bobbling bassline that is loose and infectious. There is a little more grit and menace to the bass of 'Acton Digital' and the EP highlight might then be 'The Serpentine.' It's fleshy, warm, the sort of groove to pull you in then amaze you with its star gazing chords and smart vocal samples. 'Glassblowing' is a busy closers with layers of static, finger clicks and balmy pads.
Review: .Aussie DJ/producer Monika Ross delivers a stellar EP of deep and groovy house music on London-based Discotech, a label dedicated to underground sounds. The 'Space Is The Place' EP features four tracks that showcase her talent for crafting smooth and hypnotic rhythms, warm and soulful chords, and subtle and playful vocals. From the uplifting title track to the funky closer 'The Way', Ross takes you on a journey through the cosmic realms of house music on this limited 12' vinyl.
Review: By our reckoning, S.A.M. have been away in some sort of hibernation for about four years but finally awaken their beat-making inner beats and arrive on Delaphine with a trio of killer cuts. Opener 'Project050' (Studio version) is a stylish and serene Detroit house with meaningful synths and cosmic energy. 'Ha' then layers up silky drums and hits into smooth loops with bouncing drums that again have a futuristic Motor City feel and last of all is 'Project050' (live mix) which his more raw, direct and textured. A classy EP all round.
Review: Irish DJ and promoter Saoirse is back with a follow up to her critically acclaimed and hugely welcomed debut solo release on new imprint trUst Recordings, with this three track EP entitled Two Bruised Egos. The EP starts off with the bouncy and energetic groove of 'Gentle Romance', before the tough rolling tech house of 'Can't We Just Have Fun' which keeps the energy levels high in the main room. Finally, the London-based producer heads to the afterhour on the playful minimal funk of 'Chubby'.
Review: We asked our favourite remixers of the moment to tackle the electronic disco vibe of the original Sasse production taken from his recent album "Made With The Upper Stairs Of Heaven". Peter Dildo, the man behind Trackdown Records, delivers his phat trademark sound of deep-house meets-post minimal in a slamming arrangement of fine tuned drums and hypnotic synth stabbing.
Review: Rawax first released John Selway's Real EP back in 2020. It has aged well and is still an in-demand 12" following the sell-out of its first run. As such the German label reissues it now just as it was the first time around. The title cut is a tribal and chunky house number with thumping drums offset but tender and barely-there whispers. 'Sliders' is a twitchy technoid stomper with a sleazy vibe and the urgent, hurried grooves continue through 'Wraecca', this time overlaid with swirling solar winds and busy synth modulations. Proper tackle.
Review: This new various artists EP via Berlin label Rockets Audio is a bright collection of belligerent, boxout beats, filed under the tag "fight music": a genre name which, by our account, very few other records share in. Though not particularly any more jingoistic in sound than the average knockout minimal breaks record, this one is still a multi-ringed set of winded body shots, and an all-round demo of Rockets' rope-a-dope roster, each of said artists punching well outside their weight classes. All remixing Sepp's titular 'Fighta' - itself a fortified set of padded facial armaments encasing a softer, funkier core of pads and vocal pump-ups - the one-punch KO this round, however, has to be Cesaire & Disorder's remix, which splits open the cheek protectors with extra dynamic, agile breaks design.
Review: REPRESS ALERT!: People Pleasers is a brand new label that kicks off with the first sounds of a new project, Shep, by respected veteran producer Jay Shepheard. It is house music which underpins these but plenty more goes on up top. 'Peach Buzz' shows that from the off with some nice airy pads and emotive vocal stabs that will make any floor take note. 'Trust Your Nose' is a deep, warm cut with shuffling drum and humid 90s organ stabs while 'The Bell Curve' has a late-night feel thanks to the pulsing synth sequences that roam about the mix. 'Higher States Of Nonchalance' shuts down with the most heady sound of the lot and a persuasive dub feel that is perfect for back rooms.
Review: Silat Beksi returns to RAWAX with his new release, 'Keep It Real'! On the A -Side we hear Beksi's trademark minimal techfunk with 'Impress Me', which delivers lilting stabs against a skeletal yet weighty beat backdrop. 'Keep It Real' errs on the breaksier side, while the B-Side hears a team-up with Aman aka. Marc Philipp & Florian Meffert for 'Rise' and 'Blondjob', two cloudbound numbers of the dreamy, luxurious, richly-detailed variety.
Review: After 20 years of a restful sleep, the legendary Icelandic Thule offshoot house label 66 Degrees has been resurrected. Three deep cuts exhibiting what is in store for the year 2022.
It begins with "Can Ride", a neo-disco anthem from former resident Justin Simmons. Nifty groove with an acid-bassline - topped with all the razzle and dazzle that is needed to get the dancefloor moving.
The flipside starts with a remastered Raresh secret weapon, a proper minimal percussion-driven groove from Kate & Joan, a side-project of Dole & Kom from the renowned label BCC music. The Detroit-influenced dub house anthem will, without a doubt, be a useful tool for any DJs to get the crowd going.
The second cut on the B-side is from a Reykjavik-based beatmakers Oh Mama. Its wild style sample-based approach caught the label's attention and the result is a worthy debut vinyl release. Hypnotic, sexy and groovy - with a big and dirty bassline.
Review: A second round of equine tech-funk from Alexander Skancke, Foehn & Jerome and Henriku, none of whom present solo tracks, but rather collab as a trio on every number. Following up May 2024's debut edition of 'The Black Horse', we're met with a fleshed-out sophomore amble come gallop here. Opener 'Maximalism Minimalism' bowls us over with its muted flutes and hip-house samples, while 'Satt' moves more fay with its wind chime tinkles and festive woodwind riffs. On the B comes 'Hungry Beat' - by now, our steed is raveonous for a bite to eat and an oasis to drink from, lest it perishes from dancefloor thirst - and 'Eins' - on which said colt (a work-horse from a hobby) - is finally let to graze, and rest.
Review: Woody McBride's Sounds label continues to dive back in the archives and revive some absolute gold standard techno for modern diggers. This collab effort between McBride (in his DJ ESP guise) and DJ Skull originally came out in 1995, and it still sounds fierce to this day. 'The Drive' is a stripped down tool with all the right chops to tweak out a locked-in raver, but 'G-Rated' is the real gem on the record. In a blistering hailstorm of 303 squelch you get a definitive example of acid techno at its finest. 'The Power' might well find relevance in the present day trance-techno scene thanks to its unsettling leads and relentless forwards thrust.
Review: SND & RTN brings it home on this new 12" for Lempuyang that explores their signature techno depths. 'Palantir' opens with fathoms-deep dub and ice-cold synths that snake their way over the face of the track, while 'Hyperdrive' has rumbling chords and smeared pads that keep you on the ocean floor and 'Dub Conjurer' allows in a little more light from the surface with delicate shards piercing the murk. 'Tales From The Outer Rim' shuts down with a nice gentle rhythm that undulates beneath rippling pad work and works well as perfect early evening warm up.
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