Review: Berlin duo Ame share the delicious progressive future house polyp bloomer 'Asa' through their home imprint Innvervisions. In the label's own introspective words, the duo of Kristian Beyer and Frank Wiedemann are a regular fixture of the international festival DJ circuit, and have managed to retain the freshness of their image despite technically not having released any new music in just over three years - until now. Released with little accompanying context besides the dripping-wet, papillary form depicted on the front cover, 'Asa' is an arylide sonic yellow, made up of variably filtered stabs and rattling, naturalistic percussions; the track conjures the image of a lively marine gala, and recalls the extenuated disco-house blooms of Maurice Fulton especially, its buzzsaw leads helping the track along to a dazzling pre-climax at around the five minute mark.
Review: The icy techno sounds of Cologne's Barnt make their way across Europe here to Studio Barnhus's Swedish bunker. Across five fresh cuts, he brings plenty of experimental flair but also some playful rhythms to a forward-thinking EP that sounds like little else. 'Aqua Melopella' is an unsettling opener with glistening synths scurrying like ants over a sparse rhythm, 'Aqua Breeze' establishes a marching beat and 'Aqua Bass' brings twanging synths and frosted loops that keep you on your toes. 'Millennium Silver' is another tune blend of dystopian synth sounds and distorted lines that speak of human destruction and last of all 'Millennium Melopella' offers moments of ambient reflection.
Review: A welcome return to action from Studio Barnhus boss man Axel Boman, who has been surprisingly quiet since the release of his excellent Luz/Quest For Fire double album in 2022. On the Space Drag EP, Boman showcases the depth, variety and imaginative eccentricity of his deep house productions to the full. For proof, check side A, where the ghostly, stab-happy hedonism of 'Acid Left and Right' - all bubbly TB-303 motifs, synth-strings, digital woodblock lines and repetitive bleeps - is followed by the druggy, dubby and percussively dense Latin house quirkiness of 'Forever Latino'. He throws in a fine curveball in the shape of 'Space Drag', where looped-effects laden Swedish vocal samples and woozy chords ride a tight kick-snare pattern and deep, warm bass, before closing things out via the picturesque breakbeat house deepness of 'Ohh Baby'.
Review: Second-wave Chicago house mainstay DJ Sneak has been around for years but is currently at the top of his game after an almost decade long hiatus. He nods to that in the title of this new EP, 'Still Jackin'', on In The Future. It kicks off 'Going Back To My House' and with some underlapping bass and nice roughshod kicks while industrial metal hits up top bringing some balance. 'Still Jackin' has reverb-drenched drums and crispy hits that make for perfect mid-tempo body music and 'Can I Get Ahhh Feeling' brings some more diffuse, soul-infused vibes and late-night warmth. 'String Me Up' shuts down with a blend of textured stabs, winky beats and uneasy atmospheres.
Review: This EP is such a favourite that it gets repressed on the regular but still always sells out in quick time. Now it's back once again, this time on a nice white slab. Drewek and Nevada collaborated extensively in the mid-2000s and honed in on their own distinctive electro-techno hybrid as they gained attention with 'Done In 2 Days' which featured on Slam's popular Nightdrive mix album. The original EP containing this track also features other tunes that have aged gracefully while retaining a spiky attitude that resonates with modern dancers. It showcases a range of sounds, from the rubbery acid grooves of 'Follow Me' to the edgy tech vibes of 'More CPU Please.'
Review: Frankey & Sandrino return to their house roots with their latest EP 'Love Complete' on the Sum Over Histories label. Released on their own imprint, the EP captures the essence of the early 2000s dance musical zeitgeist, blending classic soulful house vibes with a modern production sheen, defined by an ultra-clean, untainted synthetic palette. Having reunited with singer Charlotte Riby, who also featured on their acclaimed track 'Memories' for Innervisions, the pair dare to deliver a delectable duo of ditties here, drumming up moods of conjugal anticipation and dreams of fulfilment on 'Love Complete', while a vibeshift makes itself apparent in terser form on 'Contrary', which plays back a more weightless and green-roomed sound by comparison.
Review: Giralda's PVC 02 on Pirka Vinyl Cuts is a diverse and vibrant collection of tracks, drawing from a variety of influences across minimal, tech, disco and Balearic house. Side-1 opens with 'Stages', a fusion of techno and disco that brings a fun, upbeat groove while maintaining a deeper, moody edge. It's a modern twist on classic disco, blending dancefloor energy with a thoughtful vibe. 'Jack The Groove' follows, paying homage to house anthems with solid drum machine programming and tribal drums. The track is high-energy and playful, perfect for peak-time moments. Side-2 kicks off with 'Vogue', a techno rework of the iconic Madonna track, retaining the full vocal for a familiar yet fresh club experience. Rounding out the EP is 'I Want You', a nod to early 90s house with lively sax and an infectious groove, radiating feel-good vibes. This EP is a versatile blend of house flavors, with something for every mood and moment.
Review: Personality Disorder Music is only early in its adventures in the label world but is already turning some heads. The fourth outing from the crew brings together some accomplished underground mainstays for four tracks of twisted tech. There is an edgy vibe to the opener 'Deception' with its throwback breakbeats powering along warped bass, and spoken word snippets adding a sultry twist. 'What Are We Doing' is a stringy and skeletal minimal groove peppered with twangs and hits, sine waves and toms. The B-side melon twisters are just as good with 'Chaos' (feat Mari Kvien Brunvoll) in particular having a nice occult cosmic edge.
Review: Since making his first appearance on Shall Not Fade off shoot Lost Palms in 2018, Harrison BDP has become one of the imprint's most consistent and reliable artists. Here he returns with his second missive for the label of 2024 and his ninth in total. The Cardiff-based producer channels the spirit of the deeper and more dubbier end of turn of the 90s bleep and bass on the alien-sounding excellence of 'Dialled In', before reaching for bumping garage beats, more weighty sub bass and psychedelic motifs on the locked-in excellence of 'Finished'. Over on side B, he wraps colourful and attractive synth sounds around a retro-futurist deep house groove on title track 'Vanishing Act', while 'Space Invaders' sounds like the missing link between Roger Sanchez's deep bleep explorations as Ego Trip, and the rubbery jack of early Chicago house.
Review: Any discerning deep house heads will be familiar with Yossi Amoyal's work as the head of the cultured Sushitech label, and now he steps out with a new imprint, Endell Street, alongside co-founder Nils Hess. This one is named after a busy thoroughfare in the heart of London that was home to the Eukatech record store and will be focussed on reissues of work from the Eukahouse archives. First up we some prime tech house from genre pioneer Nathan Coles who serves up a kicking and unreleased mix of the Housey Doingz classic 'Kitchen Spasm'. Then comes a garage-tinged bumper in the form of Soggy Plop's 'Hairy Scary' (Get Fucked remix) and last of all, Flunky's 'Love Song' brings low-slung sleaze.
Nicole Moudaber - "Rise Up" (feat London Community Gospel Choir) (8:13)
Armand Van Helden & Mark Knight - "Down To Earth" (6:37)
Review: NEM 100.1 Vol 1 isn't your standard deep house compilation. With heavyweight contributors like Danny Howard, Nicole Moudaber, and Armand Van Helden, this release feels like a meeting of minds with a shared purpose: to push familiar boundaries into unexpected places. Danny Howard and Eli & Fur's If You Were sets the tone with a blend of understated house rhythms and finely layered vocals. There's nothing overblown here - it's precise, refined, and confident in its restraint. PAX and Rui Da Silva's Touch Me follows, reviving the iconic anthem with modern production sensibilities. The track is driven by its deep, chugging bassline and stabs of melody that feel like a nod to the original, but also refreshing in their approach. Nicole Moudaber brings a more atmospheric element to the fold with Rise Up, featuring the London Community Gospel Choir. It's expansive, combining gospel depth with Moudaber's signature techno edge, resulting in a track that demands attention without feeling heavy-handed. Closing things out is Armand Van Helden and Mark Knight's Down to Earthia production that melds classic house tropes with a contemporary spin. Its punchy, syncopated rhythm and laid-back groove avoid the typical tropes, instead offering something warm, slightly off-kilter, and entirely captivating. This is a collection that doesn't fall into the trap of overused house formulasiit's bold without overstating, intricate without being pretentious. A strong reminder that these artists still have a few tricks up their sleeves.
Review: American producer Huerta is one of the contemporary tech house world's most standout talents. He has a great range of moods and grooves and his sound designs are second to none, no matter how many jams he kicks out. This latest outing on Leizure is a four tacker with some serious heft: 'Box Of Slicers' is one for the peak of the night with its old school breaks jostling for attention next to pulsing bass, 'Get Your Cave In Order' then hits hard on stripped back, dusty kicks drums that skate along the floor of the club and 'Nx 2 U' brings some slinky percussive deftness and silky pads. 'Cool Frijoles' (feat CJ) is a nice playful beat with super cool charm.
Review: RAWAX welcomes Janeret to their artist bank, also delivering the EP 'Muba' in the process. From the entrancing, tropical greens of 'Kan' to the agri-synth undulations of 'Huk', Janeret paints a distinctively future-organic sonic picture, in which posthumans speak in monosyllabic tongues (as of the track titles) whilst biomech bots handle the entire food commodity production process, from tilling to threshing to logistics to stocking. The music here is like the minimal-tech scrimmage call of a bird of paradise to its flock, all of whom together find themselves happily locked, but still aviatory, inside one of many of these future greenhouses. 'Yubu' and 'Muba' soothe the soul further, the latter especially with its abstracted funk, its synthetic gazes outside casements, through to the world outside.
Review: Johnny Kick's Come On EP on Rawax Germany is a vibrant homage to the early 90s rave sound. On Side-1, things kick off with 'Burnin,' a track that blends classic house and techno with strong melodic stabs, reminiscent of MK or Nu Groove. 'Come On' follows with a fun and clever UK breakbeat style that echoes the energy of 808 State. On Side-2, 'Alright,' is a perfect recreation of the early 90s techno rave sound with classic samples. Closing the EP is 'Everybody,' a breakbeat dancefloor destroyer with keys that pay huge respect to Outlander's 'Vamp.' Each track captures the nostalgic essence of the rave era while delivering a modern punch. Massive!
Review: Will Long's 'Behind The Times' delivers a refined minimal tech-house experience, blending smooth jazz elements with deep house vibes. The title track on Side-1 is a laid-back, melodic journey with a low tempo, incorporating subtle jazz influences into its minimalist structure. Its gentle, flowing rhythm creates a serene atmosphere, perfect for immersive listening. On Side-2, the 'Bassline Mix' elevates the track by introducing a powerful bassline, giving the smooth composition a darker, more groove-oriented feel while maintaining its minimal aesthetic. Long's ability to balance intricate jazz influences with house and techno elements shines throughout this release, making 'Behind The Times' an understated but captivating entry in the minimal/tech house genre.
Review: Killowat Hour is a collection of 90s-inspired gems that seamlessly blend new and old influences. On Side-1, LP Rhythm's 'Want Your Love' kicks things off with a nostalgic nod to prog and euro house, delivering a distinctly 90s vibe. Aida's title track, 'Killowat Hour,' ventures into futuristic techno territory, incorporating elements of new beat for a modern twist. Mance's 'Cross Reference' follows with bouncy techno rhythms, smooth melodies, and trance influences that keep the energy flowing. Other highlights include Hottpretty's 'Make Me Yours,' which takes listeners on a trancey, heady journey through early 90s techno, offering a vibrant and energetic experience. Mad Again's 'The Night' closes the collection with deep euro house vibes, adding a layer of sophistication to the nostalgic set. This compilation is idea for those who like deep house and those who appreciate the balance of classic and contemporary sounds.
Review: There's a reflective quality at work on the latest Ellum Audio release, which finds label boss Maceo Plex teaming up with emo-tech-house stalwart Gabriel Ananda. The resulting "Solitary Daze" is laden with melancholic chords and synth sweeps, featuring a delicate drum section that buffets along the heartbreak harmonies with patience and poise. Barnt gets snapped up for a remix that injects a touch more mystery and dancefloor bite into the proceedings, using a little Eastern mysticism and a punchy bassline to make for a catchy revision that will help confirm the widespread praise the producer has been garnering of late.
Review: Portuguese house wizard Joao Manata, who goes by the name of Manata, steps up here with his first solo release on the Nugs On Board vinyl-only label, and in the process marks five successful years. Manata has become a prominent name in Portugal's underground scene and so has naturally also expanded out to now perform extensively across Europe. His debut LP features nine tracks with each telling a unique story. The title track transports you to the nostalgic roots of electronic music with its catchy old-school synths and captivating vocals. Other standouts include the deep and pulsating electronic drums of 'Unforgettable Bonanza', outlier acid tech of 'Fastest Plane On Earth' and serene dub class of 'Flamingo Nights.' A quality album, for sure.
The Missing Member - "Cold Knights" (Re edit) (6:53)
Nathan Coles - "Burning Remixed" (6:46)
Flunky - "Rattlesnake" (7:45)
Review: Alongside co-founder Nils Hess, Sushitech's main man Yossi Amoyal ventures into new territory with Endell Street, a fresh imprint named after a bustling London thoroughfare that was home to the Eukatech record store. The label's focus? Reissuing gems from the Eukahouse archive. With Amoyal's expertise and dedication to curating quality releases, Endell Street is poised to make waves in the realm of deep house and beyond and it does that with this EP. Featuring a trio of no-frills, original tech house sounds that are primed and ready for the club, The Missing Member, Nathan Coles and Flunky all feature.
Review: Nuron returns to De with another collection of rare gems, pulled from his archived DAT tapes. As one of the pioneers of the UK emotive techno sound, Nurmad Jusatiaka Nuron/Fugueihas crafted a distinctive style that resonates with fans of melodic techno. His journey began after attending his first warehouse party in the mid-80s, an experience that spurred him to create his own music, heavily influenced by the early house and techno scenes from Chicago and Detroit. This compilation, recorded in the late 90s while Nurmad was living in Malaysia, reflects the underground house music movement taking root there. The tracks carry the same energy and excitement that Nuron felt during the UK rave scene of 1989-1990, a perfect blend of emotion and rhythm. These unearthed tracks showcase the enduring talent and creativity of a respected melodic techno veteran, offering fans a chance to dive deeper into his rich musical archive.
Review: Nuron's new 'DAT Tapes' volume makes you want to shake DAT arse! Continuing his journey on De:tuned with yet another selection of exhumed DAT tape saves from old forgotten and attic-bound "vaults" - well, apparently, though these tracks sound decidedly modern, such to the degree that we'd be totally blown away if it was truly the case that these were made in the 90s - the producer also known as Nurmat Jusat deploys four fulsome measurers in the vein of classic bleep techno and pythagorean electro. This one's best features are its zapping yet mega-harmonic chords, best heard on the harmonic breakdown heard on the bustling furore that is 'Jungle Frenzy'.
Review: Courtesy Of Balance is the tasteful house label run by Brawther and it was back in 2019 in Lviv during an underground warehouse party that he first made contact with Laconica label founders Ocean and Sasha Pervukhin. They all hit it off and so were invited to showcase the deeper side of the house sounds of Western Ukraine, and the results make up this new EP with the artists taking one side each. Ocean T's opener is a psychedelic, trance-infused cosmic trip while 'What If' rides on crisp beats with some lush dubbed-out synths. On the flip, Pervukhin's 'I Hate This DJ' is balmy, heady deep house from up amongst the stars and 'TR 18 Blues' is a nice kinetic, lithe minimal house cut.
Review: Spanish techno duo make their second appearance on Ellum Audio after a two year hiatus in releasing music, and it shows a return to their melodic, big room approach that feels right at home on Maceo Plex's label. "Teach The Wind" packs a mean line in grinding electro synths over a solid tech house beat with plenty of anthemic nous to get hands raised aloft in sunny climes. Meanwhile the label boss opts to remix "Learning To Fly" from the pair, making a pop-laced tech-house roller loaded with melodrama and autotune soul that should get plenty of radio play alongside the warm up slots in more mainstream dances.
Review: Hot on the heels of its digital release comes the fifth top-up to Melody Of The Soul's repertoire. The actual melody of the soul has an infinite song, unending as the universal spirit that unites us all; any representations therein can only be incomplete and numbered, though this four-track home-in is more happy to revel in this limitation, and find a kind of ethereal beauty in the fact. This time focusing on the production efforts of Proff, his progressive number 'Three Sisters' takes centre stage (the album cover is its namesake) and fundamentally proffers a kind of May Day queenly house, with rounding, ascendant female vocals bounding about the mix like a circlet - or coven, even - of magical sisters incanting a rejuvenative dirge.
Review: Kulture Galerie is back with more wax and the third time proves a charm here with Doc Sleep, Rambal Cochet, The Jaffa Kid, Mesmerist, Jack Bags and Undsidedly all coming correct under the stewardship of label head Filippo MSM of Metropolitan Soul Museum. Cochet kicks off with some trance-infused prog techno, Doc Sleep offers jacked-up and analogue house, there is lithe cosmic tech from The Jaffa Kid and twisted machine sounds from Jack Bags, while Undsidedly's dreamy electro and The Mesmerist's peak time synth techno close down in style.
Review: A genuine UK acid house, techno and tech-house pioneer, 'Evil' Eddie Richards boasts a catalogue rich in rare, hard-to-find and overlooked gems. The ever on-point Repeat Records, who previously offered collections of rarities by Terry Farley, Jay Tripwire and others, have spotted this - hence this first instalment of what they promise will be a series of Richards retrospectives. There's much to enjoy within the eight tracks stretched across two slabs of wax, from the rolling, deep house influenced early tech-house excellence of 'Joetwo' and the bouncy brilliance of 'Open The Red Door', to the spacey smoothness of 'Old Klang Road', the immersive early morning hypnotism of 'Heat' and the head-nodding downtempo excellence of closing cut 'Madness'.
Review: Following the success of Half Past Century EP featuring a remix by tRicMast aka Ricardo Villalobos & Tripmastaz, Santos returns with Second Wave EP as the second vinyl release on his Let Me Understand Records label. This four-tracker explores diverse styles from the underground as side A opens with 'Nziscira', a minimal, fast-paced track with floating chords and a poetic solo. 'Dumbeat' blends dark breakbeats with a 4/4 kick-drum, ethnic sounds, and subtle vocals for a funkier groove and then side B features Venus Gala, a modern funk piece with 70s influences, while 'In Everywhere' is an 80s electro-funk track with Korg VC-10 vocoder vocals.
Review: Coming off a successful transatlantic exchange, Brian Kage and his Michigander label keep the momentum, and the collaborative spirit, moving with an EP that hits closer to home. For any Detroit artist, working with Delano Smith would be on the bucket list, as one of the city's original, more influential DJs - before the D developed any of its "waves" - who would come into his own as a producer later to, once again, help mold the Techno City's sound. Make no mistakes about it, this tastemaker had a ripple effect back before techno even had a name, when it was just "progressive" music and mixing. The thing is, the feeling of admiration and respect here is mutual, from the moment Smith first stumbled across one of Kage's records and had to know who was making these sounds. This meeting of the minds happened organically and timely, with Keep 'em Movin' as the result.
Danny Tenaglia presents George Vidal - "Out From Obscurity" (6:11)
Danny Tenaglia & Cevin Fisher - "Move That Body" (Antranig remix) (6:32)
Review: The legend that is Danny Tenaglia seems to have been creatively re-energised in recent times, with last year's 'The Brooklyn Gypsy' delivering a gorgeous and celebratory blend of good-time house grooves, mazy solos and life-affirming dancefloor energy. 'Tonight', his latest missive, is another gem, presented in 'beats (intro)' and 'no beats (intro)' variations. Both takes feature many of his aural trademarks - think impeccably programmed beats, a mesmerising bassline and incredible sound design - alongside waves of awesome electric piano solos, dreamy pads and eyes-closed female vocal snippets. Over on side B, he doffs a cap to his days as Twilo resident with a deep, dark and deliciously percussive workout ('Out From Obscurity'), before ANTRANIG delivers a similarly heavy, druggy and mind-mangling take on Cevin Fisher collaboration 'Move Your Body'.
Review: TODDSONIC33's Yes EP on Hot Biscuit Recordings is a fresh take on classic disco vocals, transformed into a modern Chicago house sound with a deep house twist. Side-1 starts off with 'Yes,' a track that features a jackin' beat blended with post-disco vibes. The result is an exciting track that captures the essence of both eras, creating a rhythmic pulse that drives the dancefloor. On Side-22, 'Make Me A Woman' and 'Deesko Music' continue the exploration of High NRG disco vocals within the Chicago house framework. 'Deesko Music' stands out for its innovative use of vocal samples, skillfully integrating them into the Chicago house sound in a way that feels both fresh and natural. TODDSONIC33's approach to blending these vocal elements with deep, groove-heavy beats is both classy and distinctive, offering a new perspective on how disco can be reimagined in the house genre. This EP is a standout example of how classic sounds can be innovatively updated for modern audiences. These will bring a different and original peak to dancefloor madness.
Review: Manuel Tur's Intertextual release gets pulled apart and rebuilt here by some fine remixes for the Spaced Repetitions label. The first out of the blocks is 'Omina' (DJ Counselling remix) with its layers of sugary and crystalline synth over supple house drums. 'Flakon' (All Is Well remix) slows things down to a dubbed-out world of downtempo bliss, 'Slow White' follows a similarly slow-burning route thanks to Yuu Udagawa's poised and dreamy remix and 'Shadowgraph' comes live with some psychedelic synth swells over yet more mid-tempo and percolating beats, which are one again the work of Yuu Udagawa.
Review: Plenty of sonic sleaze is on display on this new hand-stamped weapon from Boot Waves. It kicks off with Tyree OG's 'Poppin' which pairs snaking cosmic synths with some raw ghetto beats. The vocal sample, (the classic 'my neck, my back') brings the naughtiness as this one marches on and gets crowds nicely revved up. Skinny T chucks loads of goods stuff int a blend - speed agar bass, garage energy, deep house warmth - and out comes the compelling 'Messy Idiot' which is stiff and urgent but full of character that will always stand out.
Never Stay For Love (feat Eefje De Visser - Night version) (3:30)
Changed For The Better (Disco version) (4:35)
Review: Amsterdam-based duo Weval, known for their intricate and richly layered electronic music, return with a new EP titled Night Versions via Ninja Tune's Technicolour imprint. This EP presents club-ready reimaginings of key tracks from their critically acclaimed album Remember, which was celebrated for its high-energy blend of nostalgia, euphoria, and genre-blurring creativity. On Night Versions, Wevalicomprising Harm Coolen and Merijn Scholte Albersifocuses on enhancing the dancefloor appeal of their original tracks. The EP includes dynamic versions of tracks like 'Remember' and 'I Saw You,' now infused with the pulsating energy reminiscent of artists like Max Cooper and Apparat. The result is a five-track journey that amplifies the frenetic, danceable elements of the original album while maintaining Weval's signature complexity and emotional depth. A compelling evolution of their sound, designed to ignite the dancefloor.
Review: Ilkay Yeler serves up a debut EP that explores a fresh house sound that is perfectly suited to the Mood Waves house sound. Up first is 'Donations Feed' which is a kicking tech cut with wispy synths lashing about next to snappy snares. 'Ghost House (Dyson dub)' then gets deep and freaky with a marching beat and meandering pads that bring a ghoulish vibe. There is more kick to 'Space Lounger' but no less depth with more cavernous pads and a turbocharged bassline. Last of all is the more sci-fi leaning 'Wait A Minute' with eerie cosmic energy and a grubby, unrelenting bassline.
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