Back in stock: Minimal/Tech House

Review: The sixth opus to be released by the Positive Future label is upon us. Here French producer Gab Jr invites us to penetrate a deep forest, and to listen eagerly to a collective fungal song. A rather large eight-track EP, 'The Mushroom's Ride' themes itself after mushrooms and their enduring influence on the human psyche, musical or not. In fact, it would seem that the entire Positive Future label is themed after fly agaric, wavy caps and/or other magic mycelial options available to the hallucinogenically disposed raver; it's only convenient that such fast-growth electro-house mycotoxins as 'KCFF', 'Positive' and 'Your Movement' should end up so infectious at the dead root, bringing foraged elemental choices such as electric guitars and wow-ing synth hits to the substrate floor.

Review: The Orb's 13th album is a carefully crafted collection of tracks that are couched in minimal techno and ambient house. The first half embraces so-called 'Schaffel' rhythms, while the second half explores classic Orb sonic landscapes and features guest appearances from Schneider TM and Ulf Lohmann. The likes of 'Captain Korma' are warmly infused melodic jaunts with shimmering vocals, 'Cool Harbour' is a lumpy, dubby and off-balance workout and 'Kompagna (Zandic mix)' is a raw, experimental blend of harmonic tones, smeared samples and ambient bliss. This one, then, continues The Orb's legacy of genre-defying music which started in the late 80s when they pioneered chill-out and ambient house.

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.