DJS: MOST CHARTED - MINIMAL / TECH - MOST CHARTED IN 2012

Review: REPRESS ALERT!: Trelik returns with a repackaged edition of one of the catalogue's most treasured releases. "Overcome" and "Lady Science (NYC Sunrise)" need little introduction, and now come sporting the new TR11:11 matrix number. Written and produced by Thomas Melchior and Baby Ford aka Soul Capsule, these tracks came from one of the many sessions recorded at the West London Ifach Studio in 1999. On the A Side "Overcome" is stripped back and energetic, driven by rolling and shuffling garage style beats, tight bubbling bass and atmospheric synth pads. The intermittent vocal samples and the release's signature organ set you up for the flip, "Lady Science (NYC Sunrise)". Possibly one of house music's most emotive pieces, the track builds slowly with the introduction of each part building a story of soulful optimism based around a sparse palette of deep synths, uplifting keys and warm analogue bass. The understated beauty of the main vocal riff never seems to grow old or tired with the track lending itself perfectly to either main room, peak-time play or after-hours sessions alike. Remastered by Rashad at D & M.

Review: Senor Woolford has joined Loco Dice, Bug and Troxler in the small but well respected band of producers to contribute to NRK's compilation series The Lab, which is thankfully rolling on despite Nik Harris' recent decision to close down operations at NRK HQ after 15 years in the game. This four track vinyl sampler gives you a well judged taste of the double CD which presents Woolford at his most wilfully eclectic. The A Side has two titans of US House in Chez Damier and Terrence Dixon, while the flip sees Skudge turn in a typically gripping remix of Iron Curtis and Edit Piaf's Achterbahn D'Amour next to "Berlin Sunrise (Die Dammerung)", Daniel Wang's stunning electronic disco turn for the Ghostly label.

Review: We can always rely on Ornaments to deliver the best in quality house music and 2012 was another important milestone for the label. Their last EP sees label favourite, Rhauder go head to head with on of the most charismatic voices in house and techno - Mr.Paul St Hilaire, famously known for his work with Rhythm & Sound and its sub-label, Burial Mix. The original is actually reminiscent of the Basic Channel tradition, with those long, sweltering chunks of percussion flowing so neatly along side St Hilaire's enigmatic voice. The dub version is even deeper and indulgent in its delay tradition - exactly what we want to see here! The Pop-a-dub mix is an absolute gem though, allowing those drums to release themselves from the torrent of reverb and tape echo and grind their way to the sound of those gorgeous dub vocals.

Review: Ricky V's return to Perlon this year! That's correct, some four years on from his last appearance for the Frankfurt label, Villalobos returns with a two track 12" housed in those distinctive Perlon colours that precede the release of the Chilean's fifth studio LP later this summer. While Ricardo has been in experimental mood of late - see the Shangaan Electro remix or the Re: ECM album he completed with Max Loderbauer - both tracks here are very much in the canon of trademark Villalobos productions. Lead track "Any Ideas" plays around with the repetition of a vocal sample over stretched out textures that veer into mind bend territory whilst the pitter patter groove at times sounds like a ping pong game in action. On the flip "Emilio (2nd Minimoonstar)" is reminiscent of a ZX Spectrum having a meltdown in time to a minimal bump.

Review: Autoreply offshoot Stuga Musik welcomes back Apoena, who hails from Porto Alegre, capital of the Rio Grande Do Sul state in southern Brazil. His first 12" for Stuga Musik - Falando Serio - was championed by the likes of Baby Ford, Willie Graff and Jus-Ed among others, the latter proceeding to release the self-titled Apoena album on his own Underground Quality imprint earlier this year. As an accomplished musician of many instruments and nationally renowned reggae artist it's no surprise he knows a thing or two about making a killer record. Here he steps up with "Mover", a warm, hypnotic floor-workout that references the early pioneers and is equally suited to peak time or early morning play. On the flip "Cooler" displays layer upon layer of colorful emotion whilst showcasing the artists love for vintage keys and analogue synthesis. Enjoy.

Review: Maayan Nidam & Vera Heindel rekindled their rarely seen Mara Trax project for this Sensibilia double drop on the recently quite impressive Perlon imprint (the heads at Juno were on that Fumiya Tanaka 12"). There's an undeniably intoxicating and unhinged quality to lead track "Words Of Love" which twists a mind bending vocal refrain of "Sister, lover, friend" around the off kilter percussive rhythms and rough hewn bass line with echoing reverberant glee. "Murphy's Laugh" begins equally experimental in tone, embellishing the nether regions of the track with ocean deep echoed effects, though the track adopts a straighter rhythmic poise than the jagged A Side. Bizzarely brilliant.

Review: Japanese-born Fumiya Tanaka has been around for donkey's years, having released some timeless techno explosions on Tresor, Sundance and his very own Torema Records. It's time for his shot at the Perlon catalogue and "337" quickly sets the tone what what develops into a lo-fi, glitched-out frenzy of aqueous melodies, distant bass riffs and crunchy percussion - a subtle masterpiece. On the flip, things turn more raucous thanks to the nervous bundle of cowbells and snares spewing from all angles. Another great EP for Perlon's best year in a while!

Review: Having made his debut on Claude Von Stroke's Dirtybird way back in 2005, multi-talented San Fran electro-bass producer Justin Martin makes his full-length debut with this excellent LP. Luckily for fans of last year's excellent, juke-influenced collaboration with Ardalan, "Lezgo", there's a VIP mix included here that makes for a bigger, more building rerub, while Martin also does a great job covering Goldie's seminal "Kemistry" - adding some real venom and bite in the process. Look out for the deep and twisting "Ruff Stuff" and the syrupy "Night Calling" too.

Review: Some 12 months after Sub Static regular John Spring debuted on the Air Drop imprint with the Benzo EP, the Berlin meets Bushwick operation usher forth this killer remix EP which features imaginative tweaks from Mike Huckaby, LHAS Inc and Airdrop stalwart Franco Cinelli. The latter opens proceedings with a bumping disco house revision of "Playing No More Games" - the kind of effortlessly fun track you could picture DJ Sneak dropping in one of his more playful moods. Huckaby shares links with Mr. Spring via their mutual contributions to Native Instruments, and apparently was keen to further develop a working relationship with a remix, which is good news for Airdrop as his take on "Drummachines" is Motor City grooves in its purest form! Lending an English touch to proceedings are Felix Dickinson and Jamie Read, adding further credence to the idea their re-emergence together under the Larry Heard Appreciation Society studio moniker is a good thing with an illuminating take on the title track. Recommended!

Review: Having been welcomed into the Phantasy Sound fold earlier this summer with the excellent Need Electric EP, Daniel Avery's musical tastes are further represented with this one sided white label brandishing a rather excellent, knackered pirate radio remix of "Taste" from Paul Woolford under his recently established Special Request alias. Supposedly the first of several such releases (Photonz are also due to be involved) Woolford brilliantly messes with Avery's programming here, transforming one of the oddest tracks made for dancefloor purposes into a constantly spiralling array of busted up, recycled drum breaks. It's all expertly edited by Woolford and the merest hint of the original's slightly unnerving guttural analogue thrust remains intact. A quite superb DJ tool that sets the standards for who the label looks to next!

Review: Connaisseur veteran Chymera presents an insight into how his forthcoming third LP Death by Misadventure might sound with lead single "Strange Things Are Afoot." Housed in a clear PVC sleeve and pressed on equally clear vinyl, this is an impressive looking 12" and the music matches the feel, with the Irish producer presenting a master class in how to build a track, as a complex array of spectral textures weave between one another atop a strident kick drum. It is the moment where the bass line emerges from the nether regions and dissipates into one glorious arpeggiated lead that grabs your senses wholly. Two men of the moment in Conforce and Claro Intelecto offer their own takes on the B Side, with the former's relentless jack hammer through brooding electro complemented by the altogether more serene dubby scraping of the latter.

Review: **RAUM REPRESS** Although Ricardo Villalobos has already appeared on Raum Musik under the RiRom moniker together with Roman Flugel, the Baby EP is his first full release for the label. The title track sees a firm kick and wood block snares forming the backbone for a drifting piano chord and sensual vocals which lead to a climax of delightfully glitchy vocoder. On the flip, "hansup" takes on a tougher groove, as sprung bass and minimal house stabs are joined by ethereal chords and twisted vocal samples.