Rezpektiva Vinyl & CDs

Review: In the mid-90s, Audio Science released two CD-only albums, Aural X-Perience and Hypnotic, both of which gained critical acclaim and have since achieved cult status. This new double album on the Rezpektiva label brings together standout tracks from those revered recordings. It begins with the slow motion and psyched-out prog of 'Tales Of The Unknown' and takes in highlights like the slick house punch of 'Strings In The Night' as well as an unreleased Chill mix of 'Tales Of The Unknown' which brings new cosmic energy to the lush original. A great reminder of one of the 90s' finest innovators.

Review: Border Patrol (Stu Adam) brings his talents to Rezpektiva, who gladly represent his first and only EP for the 29th edition of their EPs series. Originally recorded for Middlesboro's Tumblin' Records in the mid 90s and released only in small quantities, the EP displays a canny sense of variety in painting pictures of house music's many possible worlds. The hilariously named 'Mobius Trip' leads the way, trailblazing a fiery string of pitched-up synths and watery stabs in its wake; the more experimental of the bunch, 'D'ya Want Business', is our favourite, bringing pure lowpassed kicks, infectious two-tone electroclash-ish basslines, and what sound like computer keyboard and lasershot sound effects into one heady cyberspatial stew.

Review: CYAN85's PRZ 7SEVEN EP is a vibrant journey through the realms of tech house, filled with lively grooves and inventive beats that bring a fresh energy to the genre. Side-1 opens with 'Don't Phone Me', a track that effortlessly reintroduces fun into tech house. It's lively, energetic, and groovy, with positive vibes carried by infectious keys. 'Cocolint Dreams' follows, a melodic gem that leans into hi-tech jazz, offering a beautiful, dreamy soundscape that stands out with its lush textures. On Side-2, 'Thriller' takes a sleazier, more futuristic turn with a herky-jerky beat that's both catchy and unpredictable. It's a track that grabs attention with its off-kilter rhythm and edgy vibe. 'TST' then brings minimal tech with house elements, delivering a stylish and bouncy groove that's perfect for the dancefloor. Closing the EP, 'JD800 Nonstop' merges groovy tech with New Order-esque drum patterns, creating a balanced and dynamic finale that bridges classic and modern influences. PRZ 7SEVEN is a masterful blend of fun, groove, and innovation in tech house.

Review: Dreamlogic is the alias of Dan Handrabur, a Romanian-born, Canadian-based producer and DJ also known for his work as Dreamdoktor, HAN and Vuemorph. REZ 15FIFTEEN is a reissue of a 1997 EP first released on Interchill Records; it's a rare gem, especially for an artist who has only sporadically returned to the alias since the late 90s. With Handrabur's productions, one can always be sure of its quality and versatility. The A whacks us with glittering, flitting synth refractions, which sit nicely next to muted basses and impish acid lines. We're taken aback, though, by B-sider tracks like the downtempo 'Sun In My Eyes', cleansing the palette with a style much closer to Groove Armada than to Mark Broom. The closer 'K2' rounds things off with a frankly masterful dream-trance bent.

Review: As you will well know if you are reading this, prog house is back and it has been for ages. As always with any revival, there is good stuff and weak stuff. This EP is very much the corner from Forces of Nature, with authentic 90s soundscapes mixing up lush ambient synth designs, dreamy Italo drums and real musical depth. 'Jupiter' is super smooth and seductive as it cruises at high altitude, then 'Tripping' is a downbeat workout and 'The Bomb' takes you to the heavens on gorgeous melodies while the bass plunges low. 'In Your Mind' is perfectly comedown music to close the EP in style.

Review: For the latest missive on their reissue focused Rezpektiva imprint, Parisian label KMA60 takes us back to 1997 and the sole release from Bert Boon and Jaco Van Rijswijk as N.O.T, 'The Sound'. Flipping the order of the '97 12", this edition begins with the pair's original mix - a warm, colourful slab of purist, UK style early tech-house of the type most associated with Pantone-obsessed producers Circulation. On the flip-side opening 'Nice & Tide Mix', the Belgian duo opt for a chunkier and more bass-heavy late 90s deep house sound - all restless keyboard stabs, sampled house beats, effects-laden vocal snippets and winding acid lines - while the 'Dream Mix' is a bold, heavy and lightly psychedelic techno reinterpretation.

Review: Having appeared recently on a self-titled label with the blissed-out delights of the Travelling Without Moving 12", emergent artist Opik is back with a fresh dose of trance-licked house music which aligns neatly with the contemporary trippy crowd. This release appears on the KMA60 Rezpektiva label in the wake of releases from Denia and Cosmic Underground, and it easily fits into the label's interests around 90s-influenced club sounds. From dreamy roller 'Orson' to the ravey reverie of 'Serotonin', there is all kinds of sublime gear here to get a crowd moving in unison.

Review: Rezpektiva looks to Berlin and the considerable skills of the enigmatic Mario Panagiotis for REZ24twentyfour. Rather than offering up new cuts, the producer has dug back into his discography to unearth four previously released gems from two separate EPs that were originally put out back in the mid-90s. There is some pretty wild variation as a result with opener 'Step 2' being a twitchy and dense early French house cut and 'Autumn' being more dusty breakbeat groover. There is plenty of funk and swing to the kinetic 'Do It Again' then 'Lost' closes out with some more bristling tech house beats this time overlaid with eerie synth phrases.

Review: Rezpektiva welcome the elusive but impressive Phantom Power back to their roster for yet one more release - albeit consisting of formerly released tunes on Crib Records in 1994. These tracks are exemplary of the UK techno heyday and its weirder, madder crannies: 'Helter Skelter' opens with trilling mark tree caresses and riffing basses; 'Travelogue', meanwhile, indulges mouthy synths and cheesy crashes marking the on-beat. Both convey the redlining feel of driven movement on aero-arterial future freeways; despite the name, these guys are arguably the least in need of an outside energy source.

Review: With its next release, Rezpektiva's Prozpektiva series platforms an artist they think is a future star of the minimal and techno scene. Pi hails from Montevideo, Uruguay, which is where a few new school names have emerged in recent times. He has served up singles on labels such as Holistico Records, White Scar and Lutzifer but this is his first solo EP. It's an intriguing mix of techno, breakbeat and electro with heady melodic tones up top all making for a great mix of snappy low ends and captivating emotions that bring freshness to the floor.

Review: Ultra-slick but also jam-packed, sample-heavy deep house from elusive Italian production duo Rainforest here. Unfortunately, this talented pair dropped off the map after only two releases in the early 90s; this new slice of lightweight legitness now emerges after Rezpektiva got their mitts on the vaults of the Discomagic sublabel Out, for which the duo recorded this EP. Freer on the use of samples and less tethered to the grid than most contemporary producers could possibly be now, their star tune 'Lover' appears in three variant forms here, each flaunting a different side of said high-fashioned musical triangulation.

Review: The latest addition to the Rezpektiva catalogue, REZ17seventeen sees Chris Fielder (Incog-Needle and Razorblayd) in his Rhythm Workshop guise, offering a heady, wonderfully tripped-out five-track EP. Originally recorded for Canadian label Blast Records in 91, it's a time capsule taking us straight to the heart of an era where house and techno were changing the face of music. 'Don't Let Go', the second track on the A-side is a sizzling track steeped in an infectious groove with vocals that transport us right back to the hazy glamour of early rave culture. 'R U Ready', on the B-side, features a satisfying combination of woozy synths and a playful wonky bassline. While 'Aftershock', the final track, following the spliced sample of someone drawing breath, overlaid will chiming bells and deliciously breaksy rhythms is the ideal track for pulling things apart, for momentarily easing the intensity. A welcome return for this classic EP.

Review: Shimmon Woolfson is next up on Rezpektiva with some well crafted and highly emotive sounds for the heart of the dance floor. 'Hands In The Air Mix' is a full throttle progressive house adventure - the powerful drums journey onwards as passed bass and big trance chords add weight and drive. It's an emotional overload that harks back to the prime era Sasha & Digweed and we love it. 'Deep Deep Dub Mix' is more heady, with as the title suggests deep and dubby vibes sinking the tune into a different realm - a late night world of post-rush seriousness.

Review: Glaswegian label Beluga Records might not be known to many house heads but it should be: it remained low key but that's not because it lacked quality in what it put out. Lorne Walton was the founder and put plenty of its key tunes in the mid-90s under the Western Alliance Palais. It is to 1996's Atalanta EP that Rezpektiva now looks for this super reissue of some truly timeless sounds that must have been away ahead of their time. These are stripped-back house and tech fusion with depth, price, and compelling synth work that still sounds like the future.