John Shima

Review: Ferox brings you four of the UK and Ireland's finest on this 4 tracker.

Review: The revered Halal Prepared series on boe extends to its fourth volume with four new acts fresh to the label. Hotly tipped duo, Invisible Menders, made up of outstanding DJ Jane Fitz and thus far underrated producer Dom Ahtuam contribute a stunning Balearic bass-heavy house cut "Fifth Time Lucky". Fresh from his solo EP, John Shima slots in a deep techno workout "Thought Wave". Toby Tobias of Rekids fame pumps out some raw basement lofi vibes with his jacker "Sword Art Arcade" and rounding off the EP on a delicate note is Tim Smith's soft and melodic 707 jam "Graphene".

Review: Rising star and all round nice guy John Shima has gone on record as saying it was a dream to work with B12 man Steven Rutter, whose work from the early 1990s onwards has been a constant source of inspiration. Predictably, the duo's first collaborative EP is something of a far-sighted, intergalactic treat. Opener "Skywards" sets the tone, wrapping melancholic chords, poignant melodies, rumbling bass and deep space electronics around a soft-focus IDM beat. There's a classic "Artificial Intelligence"-era deep electro feel about the similarly beautiful and melodious "Broken Spell", while "A New Day" pulses and throbs impressively via the use of a stabbing but spacey bassline and shimmering chords. Closer "Disjointed Route", a slow motion but intensely picturesque affair, is also sublime.

Review: More classic and emotive techno sounds from a Detroit/Sheffield state of mind, from the always impressive John Shima, following up great releases on Firescope and Instruction. His new offering courtesy on the recently returned Exalt imprint is "Discreet" - a sombre, bleep fuelled epic, with a subtle flourish of funk and backed by the trademark clang and clatter of classic Roland drum machines. On the flip, underrated legend Matthew Puffett aka Future Beat Alliance takes the track into deeper hi-tech soul territory on his awe-inspiring rendition.