VOODOOS & TABOOS Vinyl & CDs

Review: You might have caught onto German label Synq with their release of John Dimas' Rave Wave back in 2020, and now the label finally kicks back into action with a various artists release which widens the scope of the label. DJ Gus leads the way on the A-side with 'Toxic Dementor', a throbbing workout taking cues from Italo and Hi-NRG while retaining the cool demeanour of a modern day club track. Lis Sarroca throws down a dreamy electro beat on 'Solstice' and Voodoos & Taboos brings the heat to 'Press One' before Cosmic JD cleans up with the trancified wig-out 'Soft R@ve'.

Review: The latest edition to top up Belfast's Duality Trax label is the quixotically quality 'Time Out' EP by Voodoos & Taboos, a dream pair of underground stalwarts whose efforts are heard here alongside rising talent Bertie. Following the tried, tested and proven formula of pairing both established and upcoming artists on the same discographies, Voodoos & Taboos qualify for the latter category; the pair have released several EPs in the latter half of the 2020s so far, though this is their first to appear on Holly Lester's label. Though the title track urges time to stop, it hardly does; 'Time Out' and 'Endless Game' nail that sweet mixture of rubbery sound design and gurgly audio alienage, both so prevalent in today's sonic zeitgeist. Bertie's B-side version is phatter and brasher though no less technical and it brings a nifty breakdown with it too, making for an almost Ibizan isthmus between two forward groovier sections, just in time for some closing 'Action'.