Perlon Germany Vinyl & CDs

Review: After the adventures in Meditations from Thomas Melchior, Perlon's latest release of an impressive 2015 so far finds the label turn to a lesser known artist in Bihn. The production alias of Berlin based Germann Nguyen, BIHN emerged last year with a pair of low key 12"s as well as working with Onur Ozer as Treatment. What Nguyen lacks in profile he makes up for in punchy Perlon-worthy productions skills on the basis of his two tracks here with opener "Visio" a quite haunting cut where stripped back drum programming allows a neat bassline and detailed synth work to shine. Complementing this, it feels like "Ruski" is Nguyen letting his more urgent desires reign free and is likely to become a B side many selectors cherish.

Review: Since debuting in 2016 Gaetano Caruan has only put out a handful of releases. While these EPs showed promise, there was always a feeling that the producer may be capable of hitting higher heights musically. Diaframma, Caruan's first outing on the mighty Perlon label, delivers on that early promise, offering up rhythmically interesting, off-kilter workouts that blend minimal techno chops with oddball electronics and plenty of smoky jazz influences. For proof, check 'Steps to Klapa', where wonky but weighty bass, fuzzy electronic stabs and chanted vocal snippets ride a killer rhythm, and the smooth, intergalactic micro-house hustle of 'Spalladium'. Elsewhere, 'Horns' is a sumptuous chunk of heady, morning-fresh electronic jazz and 'We Got The Swing' is an oddball, bass-heavy club workout full of hazy samples, bossa-influenced beats and creepy keys.

Review: After the 2022 release of 'Tamarindo' with his band Ottlix, German artist Felix HK (Felix Hornfeck) presents his first ever solo 12", continuing his forays in aerated minimal house and techno. Contrasting to 2022's leguminous debut EP, 'Flooss' is much twiggier and snappier. Only the title track blurs beats into ambiences, with soft-attacked, long-tailed drum transients effecting a notable dreaminess; all else is sticklike and sassy, with closer 'Salagratzos' especially charming with its difficult-to-comprehend, yet feistily childlike vocal lines.

Review: This is the thirrd release by the amazing Italian producer Ivan Iacobucci for the Perlon label. The previous two were so well received, this next one was destined to come out sooner than later. Perlon fans know what to expect from their label of choice and Ivan delivers the goods. Those addictively quirky and fonky jackin' minimal techno jams. The title track is that and then some! We especially like the sexy jam 'Waiting For My Love'. Expect the unexpected when you flip over the record as 'Close the Door' is a full-on acid banger that combines high energy techno into what sounds like a video game soundtrack theme song! Closing things out is the wild sounding 'Fear & Madness in the Desert'. We are smiling at the thought of someone playing out these corkers to audience. Expect to see WTF typefaces everywhere!

Review: And so the Perlon Meditations continue... Late last year German producer Thomas Melchior made his first appearance on Perlon in some three years with the exquisite Meditations 1-3, which naturally channelled the iconic label's vibe perfectly. The first Perlon release of 2015 presents a further three Melchior produced Meditations, 4-6, with the opening track something of an understated epic. At 12 minutes long, "Meditation 4" demonstrates Melchior's craft for slowly building a groove, adding elements in a fashion that sounds subtle on headphones and deadly on a soundsystem. Face down, the 5th Meditation is an infectious little house groover, with hi hats and vocal samples jousting playfully whilst the closing track is a sub heavy number rich in vocal abstraction.

Review: Here comes something new on the ever-essential Perlon. There's no exact information about who is behind Ottlix, although some scant information online points to the names Felix HK and Ottber, whoever they might be. Either way, mystery is always a part of the Perlon vibe and so it goes on this superlative trip into micro house territory, with lead track 'Tamarindo' pivoting around a relaxed broken beat formation and elegant slithers of deep techno synthesis. The snaking rhythmic style keeps up on 'Time Issues', which comes on like a Stasis joint with its fluttering, psychedelic machine soul tones. 'For' has a more pointed shift towards the dancefloor with a steady house beat, but it's still plenty weird as a good Perlon record should be.

Review: Japanese techno titan Fumiya Tanaka is no stranger to Perlon, having first appeared on the lauded label back in 2012. Even so, Ab still marks the veteran producer's first appearance on the Berlin-based imprint for the best part of five years. Tanaka hits the mark straight away on A-side "On A Bass", a perfectly crafted, low-slung tech-house roller that pits the rhythmic swing associated with Ricardo Villalobos against a locked-in bassline, creepy deep space chords and all manner of twisted, cut-up vocal samples. In comparison flipside "Dreaming Perfect Zebras" feels rather classic and old school, with Tanaka drawing on both his love of early UK tech-house, Motor City influenced deep house and the crunchy tech-house percussion of contemporary imprints such as YYY.