Juno Recommends Minimal / Tech House: October 2022

Review: Impressive reissue of sound designers and masters of field recordings Ultra-Red. These unique sounding tracks were first released on the legendary Fatcat label some 20 years ago and kept as secret weapons of DJs like Ricardo Villalobos, Craig Richards and Miss Kittin over the years. Here we have the two long, uncut versions that were never released before. Limited copies!!

Review: Duboka Records proudly welcomes Lizz to the family this vinyl only release comes with a special remix from Priku. Warm,cosy grooves that flirt with disco trappings while retaining thier minimal/tech mission, all delivered with a rather assured, classic edge.

Review: Following some great releases by Moy On Wire, Volen and US legend Seafoam, UFO Series returns this week with a new one by Spanish prodigy Moray, who presents another timeless release full of old school aesthetics and obviously, influences from outer space. On the A-side of the False Purpose EP, you've got the euphoric second summer of love-style bounce of 'Bandits Forever' followed by the tripped-out tunnel vision of 'Midnight Raver Space'. Over on the flip it's all about the strobe-lit martian breaks of 'Cluter Spectra'.

Review: Hamburg's Sidney Charles has been doing his thing for some 10 years, blazing a trail of fun and fruity house music which has graced the likes of Hot Creations, Moda Black, Relief and Moon Harbour. You would have last caught him on Eastenderz at the tail end of last year, and he's back on the label for round two with more of that freaky tech house gear that gets bodies wiggling. 'Phantom Jam' has fun with some funked up samples which bed down into the sleek modern production like butter on hot toast, while 'Catch The Beat' goes all out on tweaked synth lines and an insistent groove. There's sass and sophistication throughout this EP, marking another stone cold hit for Charles and Eastenderz alike.

Review: Constant Black is one of the numerous labels in UK artist Burnski's orbit. He's been a man on form on all fronts in recent years and here he snaps up Retrospect for a trio of super slick and funky minimal house cuts. 'Ay-up!' is a cheeky opener with subtle northern welcomes hidden in the mix as the lithe bass and 2-step tinged drums do their thang. It's reet good. 'Schneebly' gets more pacey and balmy, with silky and oily bass and kinetic drum work all underpinned by a sick bass tone. Last of all comes '4 U' which has something of an upright garage skip and downright irresistible groove. These are high functioning, charismatic cuts to pump up any floor.

Review: Djebali's latest for TRMNL, a detour away from his own self-titled imprint, is a cleverly thought out, vibe-locking foray though swung tech trance. With its central chords seeming to shaft in and out between its beats, like light streaming through space-age shutters, it's all backboned by hefty beats and the occasional pinch of melodic acid.

Review: Welsh label OGE welcomes two new tracks from friend and mainstay Vincentiulian, whose brand of shuffly tech (on close listen) melds many a dubby layer and subdued pulse between the beats. 'Asid' is a backroom party-starter, equal parts breathable and 303-driven, while 'Equal' roots for fairer dancefloors via echoic stab-shouts, strange vocal samples, and tactile low ends. In a move we've not seen a label do before, there's even a 'starter' track pushed by the label to set the tone.

Review: Anatoliy Antpin AKA Silat Beksi has been in fine form of late, delivering a string of fine EPs for the likes of Constant Black, La Clap and Third Stream. The 'Solar Probe' EP, which marks his debut for Sounds of Sirius, is another fine release from the Ukrainian. He opens by fusing intergalactic, off-kilter tech-house with a touch of deep house warmth and the mind-mangling sonics of Romanian minimal techno ('Solar Probe'), before opting for a more locked-in, hypnotic brand of early morning tech-house on 'Iteration'. Over on side B, 'Africa' is melodic, piano-rich chunk of off-kilter tech-house eccentricity, while 'Lui Cuza' is a smoother, marginally tougher and more mind-bending dancefloor excursion.

Review: Following up that excellent Synchronicity on EP Phonica AM a couple of months back, hero of the Birmingham scene Subb An returns with more underground quality with this new one on the mighty 20/20 Vision. 'State Of Flow' is an emotive and breathtaking affair that's equal parts acid, progressive breaks and UK tech house with a seething Reese bassline lurking throughout that underpins angelic vocals. Over on the flip, remixes come from Adam Pits who takes you beyond the strobelights to reach for the lasers on his ravey take, followed by Armec's menacing experimental techno rework.

Review: As the London-based NorthSouth Records enter their fifth year they also arrive at their tenth release. After a run of artist EPs NSR returns to the split format to deliver four tracks from two of the label's founding members; Sam Bangura and Harry McCanna. On the North side we hear Sam's first cuts pressed to vinyl for the imprint. Shining with his characteristic sound of bubbling melodies, refined grooves and tied together with a growling low end, 'Jaspe's Groove' and 'Marble Leg' are two driving tunes aimed straight for those facemelting late-night moments.

Heading down to the South side we catch Harry working again under his alias Henry Hyde. 'More Days Inside' starts things off on something of a mellow tip, whilst still being a functional track for the dance floor. 'Wading Through' on the other hand offers up shuffling percussion, spacey synth plucks and one of Harry's signature squirmy, swarming basslines. It's an EP that showcases some of the signature NorthSouth sounds and who better for it to come from than two of its own.

Review: The enigmatic r.hitect returns with the seventh release on his eponymous imprint, presenting more advanced, future facing minimal techno on the Common Souls EP. Feel the basic trance induction of the sublime title track on side A, followed by the hypnotic and bass-driven 'Isometrics' which is perfect tackle for the afterhours. Over on the flip, it's all about the dub techno-infused rolling drama of 'Sees' which nails that perfect 'Rominimal' sound aimed squarely at the main room dancefloor. Tip!

Review: Amsterdam-based minimal producer Ferro is back after that excellent collaboration alongside Ricardo Villalobos on VBX Music earlier this year, with a new release this week to inaugurate his brand new imprint 3six9. 'Lie With The Cobra' features a hypnotic vocal monologue backed by seriously stomping and cavernous beats. Over on the flip, the suitably titled 'Paranoid' is perfect tackle for getting weird at the afterhours, followed by the lean and wonky groove subtlety of 'DM Addiction'.

Review: Milan's Zenk follows up an impressive run of releases on his label Micro Orbit for an appearance on the newly inaugurated Like Minded. There's four solid tracks on the Uriel EP: the totally tripped-out minimal tech house of 'Suburbs', followed by the arcane and atmospheric deepness of 'Red Forest' on side A. Over on the flip, the woozy Sunday morning microhouse of the title cut receives a rework by Rominimal scene hero Cosmjn next, taking the track into typically hypnotic and bass-driven territory.

Review: The Hedzup label has become one of the more interesting outlets in the ever evolving world of minimal house in recent times. It proves its worth once more here with a four track various artists offering that covers plenty of interesting ground. Kirik gets off to a bumpy start with rasping bass sounds and spinning hi hats building up the pressure and Andrea Caioni then gets all silky and smooth on his infectious bumper 'Space Probe.' On the flip is Cosenza, a nice tech cut with soft melodies raining down over retro-future house grooves. Closing down is Alfee with 'Sextans' which is a more stripped back and tech edged cut to sink into.

Review: Irish DJ and promoter Saoirse is back with a follow up to her critically acclaimed and hugely welcomed debut solo release on new imprint trUst Recordings, with this three track EP entitled Two Bruised Egos. The EP starts off with the bouncy and energetic groove of 'Gentle Romance', before the tough rolling tech house of 'Can't We Just Have Fun' which keeps the energy levels high in the main room. Finally, the London-based producer heads to the afterhour on the playful minimal funk of 'Chubby'.

Review: Danish DJ/producer C.K. of the Aarhus-based Regelbau collective returns to his PRS imprint with four cuts on the No One Cares EP - and it's a fairly diverse offering. Starting on the first side with the trippy Berlin-style retro house vibe of 'Decisiveness', followed by some late 90s intelligent drum 'n' bass on '0 Room For 1' (Make Some Space). Over on the flip, the emotive dub tech house of 'Divider' was the real stand-out track, followed by one more mesmerising and minimal affair in the form of the deep cut 'Connector'.

Review: Following some great releases on top labels like Desolat, Saved Records, Kling Klong and Kaluki Musik, Chilean Francisco Allendes is back with 'What You Do' on Crosstown Rebels. A sweltering house number aimed squarely at the main room, its infectious vocal atop is perfect for getting those heads down on the dancefloor, something that the now Ibiza-based DJ/producer has been an expert at over the last years. Over on the flip, the inimitable Harry Romero takes up remix duties and gets deep, down and dirty as expected, followed by one more original by Allendes in the form of 'Maratone' - a trippy minimal/tech house cut more suited to the afterhours.

Review: Fuse off-shoot Locus keeps on serving up the goods for those who like their slick tech house. This new one from M High not long after a fine outing on the Dutch label PIV Records. It's a fresh take on house with nice bright colours, spaced out pads and rubbery grooves that hook you in and take you on a nice trip. 'Do You Even Groove' is a great example of that while 'Endless Whispers' has a cut up beat and acid bassline keeping you busy. 'Faded Senses' is a winky one for the afters and another different side to this artist's lush sound.

Review: Move over Ross From Friends;' Brain De Palma is the newest and most hilarious dance name to hit wide-scale public consciousness in recent memory. This time, the fun and slippery house music producer stops off over at Peggy Gou's new Gudu Records, delivering yet another lovable pun - 'Purple Brain' - to a surrealists' pipe dream, and four tracks of synthpop preciousness. Beachside cocktails and jelly glimmer in the sun as we take in the sonic glory of 'Purple Brain', which reminds us equally of the style of mysterious artist E. Myers blended with the 8-bit uplift of Cold Beat or Anamanaguchi. Choice cut two is 'Once Were Dancers', an arpy, farty, renegade dance bit suitable for much fruity ocean-skimming and saucy skinny-dips.

Review: There's something pleasingly unshowy about PIV Records decision not to celebrate notching up a half century of releases. Their 50th EP is no over-the-top affair, but rather a debut EP from newcomers Retrouve - an outfit who've chosen to keep details about their identities limited. What's on offer is smooth, emotive, late-night dance music that cannily blends elements of tech-house and deep house. They set their stall out with 'Doubt', where spacey but dubbed-out synth sounds and sci-fi chords ride loose-limbed beats and a jazzy tech-house bassline, before adding a touch of warming deep house spice (and sampled French language spoken word vocals) to a groove reminiscent of the best works of Sheffield duo Swag. Over on side B, 'Dr Soul' is a smooth and shuffling warm-up treat, while 'Found' makes fine use of a TB-303 bassline and swirling pads.