Border Community Vinyl & CDs

Review: In the fine tradition of Border Community, Luke Abbott comes correct with this selection of winsome techno designed to tug at the heartstrings through heavy deployment of gently detuning synths. "Brazil" in both its incarnations here shimmers with the hazy charm you expect form Mr Abbott, while "Grumble" has a real edge to it thanks to some wilful distortion. The krautrock tendencies of Etienne Jaunet's remix makes it our pick of the two (admittedly sublime) tweaks, although the Gold Panda version is well worth checking too.

Review: James Holden needs no introduction, without doubt he is now classed as one of the worlds top producers. His top selling singles "One For You", "Nothing" and the debut release on his own imprint Border Community "A Break In The Clouds", are without doubt some of the standout tracks of the past 4 years. Extrawelt may not be a name already familiar from your teutonic techno collection, but hopefully they'll be taking their place there very soon. For the debut release of new side project Extrawelt, the duo have turned in a pair of melancholy gems which fit in perfectly with the Border Community ethos. The understated epic 'Soopertrack' furthers our minimal trance manifesto set forth in Holden's 'The Sky Was Pink' remix, slowly building to a peak of a subtlety which few producers possess the restraint to achieve. Standing in a complementary symbiotic union is the made-for-soundtrack ambient two step of 'Zu Fuss', throwing down the gauntlet to courageous DJs everywhere to fit this must-be-heard unclassifiable beauty into sets from downtempo through electro to breaks. All this, plus another pair of those tools you all love, and release number eight is in the bag.

Review: James Holden's label was always seen as the imprint most likely to enjoy mainstream success, but it's only now that this prophecy looks likely to come to pass. Nathan Fake's productions were too dreamy and abstract to win mainsream support and Holden himself lacked the patience to enter the pop world - even though he certainly did not lack the creativity. Instead, the honour of most likely pop star in waiting falls to Canadian producer Jake Fairley aka Fairmont. Those with long memories and bulging record collections will recall that under his own name, Fairley made a series of stunning widescreen techno records for Berlin label Sender. Though inspired by Detroit melodies and the grainy, unrelenting bass of early 00s German techno, these releases laid the basis for a sound that has splintered into different strands, all of which reach their logical conclusions here. The muffled vocals and atmospheric hooks of "Cold World" are expressed, albeit using a more downbeat tempo, on the layered synths and downer medication slur of the title track, while the bristling, twitching techno of "Drama" is evident on "Vanguard", which builds to the sound of Alden Tyrellistyle arpeggiated synths. However, Fairley also builds on his more recent work as Fairmont, and the trancey synth hooks, throbbing bass and, on "Cannon", the androgynous vocals may finally propel Fairley from underground status into the charts.

Review: Over the past few years Jake Fairley has become recognized as a key force in the growing Canadian electronic music scene. In September 2004 Jake Fairley released his first full-length release in over two years. "Touch Not The Cat" brings together and draws from every project and release from Jake's entire career and takes his music to the next level. Many different ideas and sounds are brought together for the first time to create an album that is extremely catchy, danceable and unmistakably Jake. His trademark straight and dirty beats are pitted against the shuffle riffery of T Rex, the tense monotone of Lou Reid and the distorted pop of The Misfits.

Review: Largely absent from the art of original productions since that stunning Christmas track for Pampa back in 2010, Nathan Fake has been occupying himself with the odd remix here and there while working on the material that makes up Steam Days, his forthcoming third LP set for release on regular haunt Border Community. On the basis of Iceni Strings, this three track 12" prelude, Fake has spent his time wisely, with the title track one of those glorious examples of the Norfolk melodic wunderkind's innate talents for crafting warm organic music. The track's clipped percussion and glacial undertones gradually succumb to the obvious charms of that thickly resonating synth line that pulses onwards towards the skies, accruing all manner of fuzzy widescreen texture along the way. On the flip, "Sense Head" crafts together six different drum palettes while Fake goes overboard on twisting the sepia tinted melodics inside themselves, and the off kilter programming of "Bauxite Dream" attempts to trudge through the grimey recesses of low end with requisite results. The new album should be amazing on the basis of these tracks.

Review: "You Are Here" is the latest release from James Holden's Border Community imprint. Taken from Nathan Fake's critically acclaimed "Drowning In A Sea Of Love" long player, the package features a remix from Kieran Hebden's Four Tet project as well as live versions and a previously unreleased track.

Review: Apparat & Fairmont are the winners of this new Border remix record. Very nice, straight & lovely!

Review: After the abrasive nature of Gone Feral, James Holden delivers another 12" of singular techno abstraction that bolsters the Border Community main man's intention to surge ahead with starkly original material. "The Illuminations" is a fast-paced thriller that mixes analogue mischief into psychedelic leanings, leaning on a constantly surging rhythmic intention as a sturdy backbone for long-form synth tweaking of a resolutely hand made nature. On the flip you can lose yourself in the pure drum workout of the "Drumsolo" mix, where the frenetic patterns make for a potent techno tool, or alternatively you can cut loose the percussive anchors and drift off on the ambient wonderment of the "Arpsolo".

Review: It's rather rare to see Wesley Matsell turning out a release, having only managed two previous EPs since 2008, one for Studio Barnhus and the other for Border Community who he returns to here. As you might expect from such an association, synths are the order of the day and in keeping with James Holden's interest in dirty distorting sounds there are plenty of red-lining moments in amongst the full-bodied melodies that drive this record. The lead track is a dazzling medley of raw bleeps, synthesised voices and rough drums that move between shuffle and staccato with glee, making for a slippery track to get a rhythmic handle on. "Future Beacon" has a more steady breakbeat roll to it, while the arpeggios twinkle effervescently. "Dowlais Wheelie Crew" marginally reins the raucous synths in with a more focused house burner, leaving it to "Rite Of Pant" to provide an oddly Balearic finishing move that flails in the distant haze of its production.

Review: Huge release on Border Community. Misstress Barbara continues her amazing run in the aftermath of her recent Bedrock release. This time out, she's back with another killer tech house/minimal workout, entitled 'Barcelona', so good in fact, that Border Com label boss James Holden contributes not 1 but 2 killer mixes here. Holden whips out his trusty hypnotic bell tones as he takes you on a stripped-back journey like no other.

Review: Hailed by James Holden as one of the best producers of the last 5 years, Petter returns to the Border Community camp with another essential release. Keeping in uniform with his last release on Border Community, Petter provides another diverse collection of very cool tracks. The main track "Some Polyphony" finds its home on the dancefloor and in every major DJs box. The other side is a blend of jacking rhythms, quirky sounds and lush pads. Border Community just goes from strength to strength, with a worldwide fan base that is ever increasing.

Review: There have been whispers and murmurs of a new album from Kate Wax surfacing on the ever excellent Border Community for a while now, so the recent announcement of Dust Collision has been greeted with applause, not least here at Juno HQ! Set for release in November, the Swiss artist's fifth album is preceded by this twelve inch, which sees album mixer and BC overseer James Holden re-edit two LP tracks in typically epic, expansive fashion. It's a canny way to promote a new album by Border Community, with both Holden revisions the sort of slow burning and heavily melodic techno jams that fit perfectly amidst his own DJ sets.