SAMUEL L SESSION Vinyl & CDs

Review: "Keep it trippy..." There sure aren't that many Rhythm Cults out there that we know of, and this Barcelona-based sect is certainly one we'd like to join. Celebrating ten years in operation, the label here brings back a cross-section of artists who've helped sculpt its distinctive sound. The new anniversary edition aquaplanes the murky edges of house, techno, and experimental electronics, spotlighting the minimal yet girthy dance stylistics of Funk D'Void, Aquarius Heaven, Samuel L Session and more. From early signings to recent collaborators, we've a decades' worth of tunes on our hands here, all re-centring a darkly sophisticated house sound.

Review: It feels like it has been a hot minute since we hear from techno mainstay Samuel L Session, but thankfully he is now back with a new outing on wax thanks to his own SLS label. The opener 'Legacy' starts with a dark and moody bassline and hunched-over kicks. It's shady but alluring with its snappy percussion adding bite. 'Bisou' is more classic techno with sustained chords and loopy main motifs amping up the energy levels. 'Eric's Hit' then sinks into dusty deep house territory but it still packs a proper punch under some mice aloof male vocals and rugged, sparse chord stabs.

Review: One of this week's more pleasantly surprising releases is by Christian Smith's longstanding Tronic label, and features artists you wouldn't usually expect. Motor City stalwart DJ Godfather serves up some dystopian electro on 'Invasion Of Detroit', legend Carl Finlow presents another fine example of his idiosyncratic futurism on 'Anomaly 3' and even Swedish techno veteran Samuel L Sessions gets in on the electro act - on the data bass of 'Engine Of War'.