Review: If you were a young production twosome growing up in Cologne, you'd aim high and send your demo recordings to the city's most storied techno label, Kompakt. That's exactly what Mourad Kehalia and Sebastian Fischer AKA 90ASE did, and it led directly to this quietly impressive debut EP. The headline attraction is 'Streetpoet', a dreamy and colourful slab of breakbeat-house gorgeousness smothered in elongated church organ chords, tactile pads and auto-tune enabled Arabic vocals. The mighty Axel Boman remixes, delivering a 'Trancehall' mix that ups the dreaminess levels further while employing squelchy synth bass and pumping, tribal house style beats. To complete a rock-solid package, Kehalia and Fischer offer-up the maximal deep house headiness of 'New Ballad', which is as gorgeous as it is dancefloor-ready.
Review: Henri Bergmann and Wennink's Guardian Angel marks an impressive debut on Crosstown Rebels, delivering a track that expertly fuses melody with depth. Bergmann's knack for sculpting rich, atmospheric landscapes is matched by Wennink's haunting vocals, creating a piece that feels both expansive and intimate. It's the kind of collaboration that hints at a shared vision without ever losing individual identity. The original track opens with textured percussion, slowly unfurling into an emotive soundscape as Wennink's vocals hover above like an ethereal guide. There's a melancholic undertone, but it's balanced by an uplifting drive, showcasing their ability to blend light and dark seamlessly. The remixes take Guardian Angel into uncharted territories. Stimming strips things back, opting for a more minimalist approach that sharpens the focus on rhythmic intensity, while his subtle use of effects amplifies the track's ethereal quality. It's a remix that feels lean but still full of intent. Hardt Antoine, on the other hand, plunges deeper into the shadows, pushing the bassline forward and letting synths stretch into eerie, sci-fi realms. His reworking is darker, stranger, and ultimately a satisfying close to the EP. With this release, Bergmann and Wennink add another strong entry to the Crosstown Rebels roster, proving that their partnership is one to keep watching.
David Hasert/Nicone - "Wasting My Time With You" (6:11)
Review: Kompakt have billed their latest collaborative spiritual house release - three groove sandwiches shared between Deer Jade, David Hasert and Nicone - as an antidote to the all-to-prevalent late-winter blues and lack of sun, an affliction that seems to blight ravers in particular. Aside from canvassing for more outdoor and/or glass-roofed venues, all we can do in the meantime is weight the tonearm and jog-start the disc; 'Jukurpa' and 'Wasting My Time With You' are just the course of sonic vitamins us daywalkers need. The former is a deep, righteous blur of just piano tritones and circumscribed handholds around fires, as weighted knee-slaps and impacts evoke the feeling of a collective ritual come out-of-body experience. 'Cosmic Dream' returns to the very same rave spot at nighttime; at this point, it's all gone a bit lunar-psy, but the desert winds and temperate nighttime heat allow ample energy for continued soul flight.
Review: Robert Dietz continues to impress with his latest EP, Rejuve-Nation, demonstrating his versatility and skill as a producer and DJ. The standout track, 'Crane Song,' explores proggy house territory with a sophisticated touch, offering two distinct mixes that captivate the listener with their intelligent arrangements. 'Deranged Self Therapy' takes a different turn, blending IDM with new wave drums and poignant synths, resulting in an excellent composition perfect for lovesick robots. 'Centro Di Gravita' builds upon the qualities of 'Crane Song' while infusing it with an acid lines to push boundaries and experiment with different sounds. Closing the EP, 'Any Plan(t)s This Weekend' provides a soothing ambient experience, like a confident sketch for the end of a beautiful summer. Rejuve-Nation offers a bouquet of bangers catering to various musical preferences.
Review: Innervisions continue their exploration of house music's myriad sub-genres with this EP from Berlin-based Ede. The title of the record is instructive, as this breakthrough artist from the label's Secret Weapons series seeks to fuse the unmistakable sound of Detroit with an unabashed pop streak. The vocals are front and centre on these tracks, and they sound absolutely huge when strapped to a stadium-sized remix of 'Do My Thing' from the mighty Dixon on the A1. 'Your Love', 'When You Need It' and 'On My Mind' are equally powerful though, charged with those star-scraping synth lines which make Detroit techno such an eternally cherished sound.
Review: The Edge of Me series operates in the shadows, offering a mixture of sample-heavy cuts from a producer (or producers) who wish to remain nameless, and unauthorised (but often rather good) remixes of familiar and lesser-known cuts. Volume four in the series is, like its predecessors, another mysterious beast containing four untitled tracks. Opener 'Track 1' wraps a well-known hip-hop/r&b acapella around a deep, drowsy, bongo-rich tech-house-tinged groove, before 'Track 2' opts for a more druggy dancefloor take on an analogue-rich, synth-heavy cut of unknown origin. Over on the reverse, 'Track 3' is hypnotic, deep a d trippy with added r&b vocals, while 'Track 4' is dreamy, shuffling and pleasingly sunrise ready.
Fisher Vs Kita Alexander - "Atmosphere" (extended mix) (7:24)
Fisher Vs Kita Alexander - "Atmosphere" (acappella) (1:42)
Fisher Vs Kita Alexander - "Atmosphere" (extended instrumental) (5:56)
Fisher Vs Kita Alexander - "Atmosphere" (3:24)
Review: 'Atmosphere' is an all new and highly effective earworm pulled from the depths of a tequila bottle. It is sure to be another mega-hit for EDM royalty and pro surfer-turned-producer FISHER who is best know for his last anthem, 'Losing It.' Featuring ethereal vocals from Brisbane's Kita Alexander, the track blends ecstatic synths with massive, pogoing bass and has already got tens of millions of streams and a gold certification. Various mixes all tweak the drums and synth but the original is the one you will be hearing all year long.
Review: Sydney label Club Sweat deals in big, accessible, effective house tunes that are designed to bring a smile to your face. The latest in a long line of such tunes is from Hot Creations man Lee Foss and Franky Wah. Their superb 'Name Of Love' has it all - effortlessly smooth and rolling house drums, the sound of chanting children and silky pad work. Finishing it off is a carefree vocal from SPNCR and the whole thing is just divine. The Torren Foot remix is much more angsty and edgy, with big percussive energy, sizeable drops and rock solid, kicks for teeth-gritted late night dancing.
Celebration (Featuring Lilli Ellen - Denis Horvat remix) (4:56)
Review: Vokabularium's Denis Horvat returns with another contribution to his very own label. 'Marlou' is a densely textured four-tracker of deep and minimal movers, several of which push the boundaries of the genre with abrasive sounds and vocal experiments from singer Lilli Ellen. The arpy and metallic 'Poudrextase' is a case in point of this abrasion, with its juddering leads made to harmonise still with the otherwise dreamy backings. Meanwhile, 'Corpalium' and 'Celebration' move slower, allowing for Ellen's vocals to burgeon and brood over the mix in an extended fashion.
Review: On his first release of any sort since dropping his debut album, 'The Serve of the Abnormal', last year, Denis Horvat makes his bow on Afterlife with an EP that drags tech-house and minimal house in dark, trippy new directions. For proof, check opener 'Cha Cha', a menacing, EBM-influenced affair that peppers a chugging, early morning groove with rising and falling lead lines, creepy counter melodies and rasping, trance style stabs. The EP's inherent sense of clandestine atmosphere comes to the fore once more on shuffling, moody vocal number 'Precious Unica', before the Copenhagen-based producer opts for a more forthright darkwave meets-peak-time-tech-house flex on 'Momentum of the Arapaima'. Closing cut 'Majstor', meanwhile, is an incredibly trippy, K-hole trance number underpinned by a wonky triple-time beat.
Review: Following the warm reception for the most recent Vokabularium release, label boss Denis Horvat once again joins forces with talented vocalist Lilli Ellen on the EP ‘Two Makes Everything’, a murkily earnest progressive house record building on indie pop and blues. The title track moves snakily, through watery grain-echoed synth plucks and brimming background pads, as Ellen pleas for understanding despite a newfound sense of determination in who she is. ‘Gone’, meanwhile, prefers a more plodding abstraction, held together firmly by a three-note stab.
Review: Jeigo dropped a thrilling debut album Cerulean back at the end of 2022, worked in a tune with Elkka for her DJ-Kicks mix and also dropped a mix for Bicep not long ago. Now he follows all that up with a firing four-track EP on Tread Records that again collides different club sounds, great samples and hooky melodies. 'Hatchet's Cave' is hands-in-the-air house euphoria with blistering drums and warped pads, then 'Move X' is a gritty tech bouncer and 'Compulsions' is a bubbly one with crisp hits. Nervous Horizons label boss Anunaku remixes the title track into a bass-heavy banger too.
Review: Toolroom head honcho Mark Knight has pulled out all the stops here and joined forces with some of house music's biggest names. His ow-slung new tune 'The Greatest Thing Alive' is a collab with the one and only Chicago don Green velvet plus James Hurr and it has already made an impact on global dancefloors since its digital release in October last year. Between these talents they all dig deep and cook up something perfectly chunky and detailed with fresh percussion. It's the sort of tune that will blow up in Miami and has the addition of Green Velvet's take on the classic 'Mannish Boy' from Muddy Waters.
Review: Deep techno mainstay Rico Puestel has many killer cuts in his back catalogue and now he has decided to remaster and repress some of them. The Undeniable Classics Vol 1 is a bold title for your own work but the tunes stand up, thankfully. This is the first time these have actually been available on vinyl too so do not sleep as 'Volute' is a perfect early evening roller with dubby drums and languid hits that hook you in and get you ready for more. 'Remembering October 3rd' is a cut for the early mornings with soulful pads and vocals soundtracking the moment the sun first peaks through the blinds.
Review: Skatman's sounds often merge different facets of different genres into something fresh enough to pique the interest. This new album on Cognitive Prophecy is another case in point. It is club-ready tech and minimal but with standout character such as the squealing lead and auto-tuned vocal fragments of 'Fresh' which make it sound super futuristic. There is a warm afterglow to the vamping chords of ageless house jam 'Feel It' and 'Dream On' very much gets you into that mindstate with its widescreen synth smears.
As It May Seem (feat Paul Brenning - Beat version) (6:26)
As It May Seem (feat Paul Brenning) (3:11)
Cult (6:07)
Blau Cel (8:11)
Review: microCastle's second release of 2024 sees Upercent return to the label with another great new EP. Since his debut in 2011, the Valencia-based artist has developed a unique style of electronic futurism with an experimental approach and often fresh creative vision. As such he has become one of the standout artists of the past decade and his first microCastle release, 2018's Vuit, marked the label's second vinyl project and featured contemporary club tracks and innovative sound explorations. Persevere continues with his signature aesthetic with tracks like 'Oracle', 'As It May See', 'Cult', and 'Blau Cel' offering immersive grooves and imaginative soundscapes.
I Love You More Than Mysel (feat Rome Fortune) (5:19)
Spaces (feat Noemie, Mowgli) (3:25)
Review: Parisian house music producer and artist Agoria (Sebastien Devaud) channels his delight at the 20th Century so far into a new album, theming it after illumination and individual self-becoming. In a rare case of an artist penning a short LP-accompanying manifesto - doubling up as a thankful testament to the opportunity to travel the world for the past 30 years, and to experience the richness of diversity in sound and culture - Agoria is quick to wax spiritual: "the metamorphosis is coming", "the light that chases away the shadow". Building on the now towering Detroit-influenced house and techno discography amassed since 1999, Unshadow is a feature-packed compendium, bringing a newfound, downtempo, graceful serenity to the artist's already varied discography.
Review: Still-rising new electronica artist Ben Bohmer shares his first new studio album in three years, Bloom. Coming off an ambitious world tour in support of his previous album, Bohmer made a point to take time to himself afterwards, returning to the peace and quiet of his studio; the return would also help him process the heartbreak and grief that drove the inspirations of the record in equal measure. The artist embraces his imperfect journey thus far on the forthcoming album's first single, 'Best Life', featuring Berlin-based singer-songwriter duo JONAH. "Life is short and fast," JONAH remarks on the track. "You try, you fail, and sometimes we lose a special person along the way who is irreplaceable, but the memories stay with us, shaping who we are. 'Best Life' is all about that rollercoaster ride of trying, failing, and a reminder of the importance of living each moment to the fullest." The album features a swathe of styles and tempos that earlier tracks in his career feel like breadcrumbs to.
Review: Ben Bohmer's upcoming album Bloom marks a significant milestone in his musical journey, offering a reset from the pressures of his previous successes. The album, shows his growth as an artist, emphasising spontaneity and a return to his improvisational roots. The lead single, 'Best Life,' featuring Jonah, explores themes of life's fleeting nature and the importance of cherishing each moment. 'Best Life also represents a sonic departure for Bohmer, signaling his intention to break free from predefined musical boundaries. The album promises a diverse range of styles and tempos, featuring collaborations with artists like Lykke Li, Oh Wonder and Enfant Sauvage. Overall, Bloom appears to be a deeply personal and musically adventurous project that reflects Bohmer's evolution as a musician.
Camelphat vs Artbat - "For A Feeling" (feat Rhodes) (5:30)
Inbetween The Lines (3:20)
Camelphat vs Yannis Foals - "Hypercolour" (3:29)
Spektrum (feat Ali Love) (5:19)
Dance With My Ghost (feat Elderbrook) (4:06)
Easier (feat Lowes) (5:10)
Camelphat vs Au/Ra - "Panic Room" (3:34)
Camelphat vs Skream - "Keep Movin" (feat Max Milner) (4:01)
Wildfire (feat Lowes) (3:20)
Camelphat vs Elderbrook - "Cola" (4:04)
Camelphat vs Cristoph - "Phantoms" (4:54)
Camelphat vs Jem Cooke - "Rabbit Hole" (3:10)
Not Over Yet (feat Noel Gallagher) (3:32)
Camelphat vs Eli & Fur - "Waiting" (5:30)
Carry Me Away (feat Jem Cooke) (5:06)
Camelphat vs DEL30 - "Reaction" (feat Maverick Sabre) (4:46)
Camelphat vs Will Easton - "Witching Hour" (4:14)
Expect Nothing (3:11)
Camelphat vs Cristoph - "Breathe" (feat Jem Cooke) (6:15)
Review: Given that they started their ascent to EDM superstardom over a decade ago and have already released a string of genuine crossover anthems, this debut album from Camelphat is undeniably overdue. So, was it worth waiting for? If you like their brand of festival-friendly dance music hedonism, then you will genuinely love it. The assembled 21 tracks scattered across three action-packed slabs of wax draw influence from many interconnected styles - mostly electro-house, tech-house and techno, but also indie-dance, synth-pop, nu-disco and more bass-heavy flavours - and repackage them as distinctively Camelphat style productions, complete with contributions from numerous collaborators and guest vocalists (Noel Gallagher, Skream, Jake Bugg, Yannis Foals, Jem Cooke and Christoph all feature).
Review: It's quite shocking it's been six years since the last Caribou album, 2014's knockout "Our Love". Dan Snaith has never felt the need to rush his music out, and there was an interim Daphni album in 2017 to be fair to the guy, but here we are with a new set that sees Snaith returning to a little of the delicate songwriting and winsome electronica he forged his reputation on in the early days. There's a lot going on in here, from smooth as silk yacht rock-isms to deliriously modernist cut ups and more than a few wild pitch shifts to keep listeners on their toes. It's playful and heartfelt, and rarely lingers in one place for too long while still retaining a sense of calm. It may be not at all what you expected from Caribou's return, but we'd wager it's even better than you hoped.
The Emanations - "Rhythm Is Easy" (feat Janet Planet - Che Luca Lucid Rave mix)
Review: The fully mixed version of Confidence Man's debut Fabric mix record is here on CD. In contrast to the selectors' LP version - also sold by us - this full version is a seamless, singular slab of optical laser-read musical licence, espousing the central vibe-theme of Confidence Man's message: have confidence. Well, except for want of a receiving ear, we find ourselves tentatively able to confide in Confidence Man's Fabric mix ("better than therapy" joke happily dodged) as a substitution in the meantime; for it too shows us that real, authentic, and boundless confidence can, believably, indeed, be found in bouncy dance exclusives available on CD only. Among these are Patrick Prins' kitsch chipmunk banger 'Fiesta Conga' and Cygnus X's steezy-cheesy trance stutterer 'Positron'03'. With both many a throwback and a present promo in tow, Confidence Man dice up and dole out a small slice of their huge stash of their patented auricular confidence dust.
Review: British singer-songwriter Elderbrook is best known for the vocals on 2017's 'Cola', a Grammy-nominated single with CamelPhat, but now he shows a much broader range of sounds with his new album Another Touch which he bills as "a journey of personal discovery." It builds around themes of life's love, loss, ups and downs but essential is a collection of very accessible and feel-good dance-pop hits for large-scale clubs. The production takes the form of lots of catchy and melodic house and tech grooves while his vocals are a mix of falsetto and more moody sung-spoken deliveries. It's an album that very much chimes with the crossover dance sound of now.
Review: Contemporary British electronic pop expert meets singer-songwriter Elderbrook expands his sound with his new album, Another Touch, which comes after establishing himself on the world stage s the voice of the Grammy-nominated 2017 collaboration with CamelPhat, 'Cola.' He has described this new long player as a "journey of personal discovery' and on that trip, he explores themes of love, loss and life's ups and downs, packaged in catchy, feel-good dance-pop tracks suited for big clubs. Blending melodic house and tech grooves, while his vocals mix falsetto with more moody deliveries, this album perfectly captures today's dance music penchant for crossing over by offering up accessible beats with some catchy emotional depth.
Review: After a three-year break, Swedish producer and DJ La Fleur is back with 'Vasen', her long-awaited debut album. The pandemic led her to pause her music career as she returned to Sweden from Berlin, putting her Pharmaceutical Science degree to work in Stockholm's hospitals. This significant life shift followed a decade of running her Power Plant label and accomplishments like being named Mixmag's breakthrough artist, releasing an Essential Mix, and performing at major festivals like Creamfields and Awakenings. During this hiatus, La Fleur reflected on her artistic direction through her challenging time. Originally planning to release her debut in 2020, she instead waited until the timing felt right. 'Vasen' is a sleek, emotionally resonant exploration of house and techno, a collection born from both personal and musical growth that finally feels ready for the world to experience.
Falling Down (feat Totally Enormous Estinct Dinosaurs & A-Trak) (3:49)
Y Don't U (8:11)
Alive (feat Bloom Twins) (3:31)
R U Dreaming? (feat Mathew Jonson) (7:44)
So Low (feat Zoe Kypri) (5:56)
La Hija De Juan Simon (feat Mestiza) (7:02)
Warrior Dance (feat Jojo Abot) (9:53)
Sunrise Generation (feat Fink) (7:27)
Force (feat Jojo Abot) (4:29)
Review: Damian Lazarus's fifth studio album is another left-of-centre exploration of house and tech, often with a spiritual twist and hints of voodoo magic. It is heavy on collaborations and finds the Crosstown Rebels boss hooking up with the likes of Hem Cooke for the spine-tingling downtempo opener 'Searchin' while 'R U Dreaming? (feat Mathew Jonson)' is a more deep and bubbly late-night tech sound. 'La Hija De Juan Simon (feat Mestiza)' is laden with percussion and warped bass, and 'Sunrise Generation (feat Fink)' is a deft and progressive melodic roller that is sure to be huge this summer and beyond.
Review: Maceo Plex has managed to pivot this alias from accessible house cuts with creamy basslines into a far more interesting project that explores astral techno with a range of different influences from sci-fi to wave to the sounds of the 80s. That has never been better exemplified than on '93, his expansive album on his Lone Romantic label. It features emo-anthems like 'Revision', disco-techno stompers like 'Go Back' and chunky robot-tech like 'All Night'. Plenty of guests from Mystic Bill to label mate AVNU Jane's Addiction frontman and alternative music legend Perry Farrell all help add a wide world of sound to the electronic core.
Review: The creative partnership between Tiga & Hudson Mohawke expresses a mutual love of "hardcore romance," a liminal state where the bounds between euphoria, melancholy and the raw power of friendship disintegrate completely. Recorded in Los Angeles from 2019-2023, these commonalities ebbed and flowed through various recording sessions, culminating in their debut album - L'Ecstacy - the sounds in which "all come from the same place, the same musical universe," in Hudson Mohawke's own words. Referencing the album's locus of bouncy elasticity and cinematic gloss - "we're building a particular kind of zone where it all fits together. A place lost in time." With guest appearances by luminaries like Abra, Channel Tres, and Jesse Boykins III, as well as album artwork by Wolfgang Tillmans, the result is delivered with "no apology, no cynicism, no irony, no winking."
Review: San Francisco's Dirtybird label has been kicking out big-ass party jams and wonky house and tech for a full two decades now. After 20 years of keeping clubs bumping the label now launches its first-ever commemorative vinyl box set. Dirtybird Hand Picked Box Set, Volume 1 features fan favourites from label founder Claude VonStroke, Aussie sensation FISHER, house vocalist John Summit, the legendary Sacha Robotti and mainstay Nikki Nair amongst many more. The set spans iconic tracks that have defined the label's legacy across the years and each one is big, bold and colourful, much like this set which includes one of a selection of exclusive items
Kolsch - "All That Matters" (feat Troels Abrahamsen - Artbat remix)
D*Note - "Shed My Skin" (Pete Heller Stylus vocal mix)
CamelPhat & Elderbrook - "Cola"
Amber Broos - "Amok"
Dennis Ferrer - "Hey Hey" (Riva Starr Paradise Garage club mix)
Fiocco - "Afflitto"
Review: UNTZ Anthems is a wild ride through some of dance music's biggest dancefloor moments. There is absolutely no restriction in terms of genres, eras or artists which makes each one a real selection box of sound. This third volume for example takes in the timeless house classic 'Move Your Body' as reworked by Solar, but also the pop dance of Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding's 'Miracle' and jump up jungle of Sub Focus & Dimension's 'Desire.' CamelPhat & Elderbrook's GRAMMY-nominated 'Cola' brings a touch of house depth while Riva Starr's Paradise Garage club mix of 'Hey Hey' reworks the house anthem into something more strobe-lit and energetic.
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