Melodize Vinyl & CDs

Review: Max Buchalik invites you to a Higher State with this new EP which builds on his love of 80s but with a new and sophisticated edge. He brings a great love of the dance floor to these cuts as well as mastery of his synths. 'Higher State' is perfectly hi-nrg and camp with its shiny arps and lush synths all brings to mind the likes of Bronski Beat. The Venice Arms remix brings much more edgy rhythm work and crisp snares and stabs. 'Midnight Passion' then gets back to hands in the air, rushes of E, synth laden retro nu-disco brilliance and a Fabrizio Mammarella remix then layers in some more ice-cold hits and Kraftwerikan synth flashes.

Review: German artist Martin Matiske's musical journey began under the mentorship of DJ Hell, who introduced him to the decks at Gigolo label nights in Munich in 1999. Inspired by pioneers like Kraftwerk and Jean Michel Jarre, Matiske started producing for International Deejay Gigolo Records and later for Frustrated Funk, Bordello A Parigi, and the Central Processing Unit. His new EP has already had support from Dave Clarke and Helena Hauff, including for the standout track 'Moments', which blends ice-cold snares with celestial pads and retro-future synths. Legowelt's remix of 'Moments' adds an astral electro vibe, while 'Dimensional Space Travel' and 'Analogue Being' explore cinematic electro with nostalgic, playful tones.

Review: Zobol - or Bristol-based electro producer and DJ Jon Chmielewski - makes his debut on the Melodize label with a pair of tracks fizzling, vibrant jams, each given a responding remix from a sizeable name in the genre's underground scene.

'Merdiain' toys with both electro and techno, using classic bass pressure, arpeggios and New Order-esque neo-classical harpsichords that all lend it an instantly classy sound. Sheffield's Carl Finlow turns in a more stripped down version that ties - again - that New Order grandeur to a hyperactive, bumping Kraftwerk-style bassine, arguably the most dancefloor-friendly of the four already pretty dancefloor-friendly efforts here.

'YCLK' ups the tempo noticeably, with pulsing percussion and snapping electronic snares, while Plant43's remix lays on gorgeously synthetic strings and a simple lead motif, all rising and falling throughout. All in all, an impressive package and a new name to keep a very beady eye on.