Studio Barnhus Sweden Vinyl & CDs

Review: The icy techno sounds of Cologne's Barnt make their way across Europe here to Studio Barnhus's Swedish bunker. Across five fresh cuts, he brings plenty of experimental flair but also some playful rhythms to a forward-thinking EP that sounds like little else. 'Aqua Melopella' is an unsettling opener with glistening synths scurrying like ants over a sparse rhythm, 'Aqua Breeze' establishes a marching beat and 'Aqua Bass' brings twanging synths and frosted loops that keep you on your toes. 'Millennium Silver' is another tune blend of dystopian synth sounds and distorted lines that speak of human destruction and last of all 'Millennium Melopella' offers moments of ambient reflection.

Review: Experimental deep house superstar Bella Boo returns to Studio Barnhus for her latest album DreamySpaceyBlue, and expands outwards into a more varying tempo range in the process. If album titles are anything to go by, this one should give you an indication of the kind of sonics you'll hear when popping this 180g cream vinyl record on the belt-driven plate. Moving in more bittersweet, heartstring-tugging directions after a jankier set of EP movements years prior, the likes of 'Can't Stop' and 'Heartbeat/Into The Night' move through every influence from Jersey bounce to breaks, pitting deeply affected vocals and spacious synth bubblings against a thematic backdrop of "dark times (demanding) love, healing and forgiveness."

Review: A welcome return to action from Studio Barnhus boss man Axel Boman, who has been surprisingly quiet since the release of his excellent Luz/Quest For Fire double album in 2022. On the Space Drag EP, Boman showcases the depth, variety and imaginative eccentricity of his deep house productions to the full. For proof, check side A, where the ghostly, stab-happy hedonism of 'Acid Left and Right' - all bubbly TB-303 motifs, synth-strings, digital woodblock lines and repetitive bleeps - is followed by the druggy, dubby and percussively dense Latin house quirkiness of 'Forever Latino'. He throws in a fine curveball in the shape of 'Space Drag', where looped-effects laden Swedish vocal samples and woozy chords ride a tight kick-snare pattern and deep, warm bass, before closing things out via the picturesque breakbeat house deepness of 'Ohh Baby'.

Review: Get ready for two of the most heartfelt big room bangers aroundiStay Here and Writeriborn from a recent machine jam between Fort Romeau and Gold Panda, masters of emotional dance music. 'Stay Here' starts with simmering synths, slinky guitar licks, and gentle vocal touches. Over on the flip, 'Writer' delivers restrained euphoria, steady beats giving way to a fragile, beatless acoustic finish. A sprinkle of acid throughout keeps everything hypnotic. Wrapped in Eliot Axelsson's striking design, this is pure Studio Barnhus magic.

Review: Since delivering his debut album on PNN a decade ago, Matt Kent AKA Matt Karmil has proved adept at adapting the club-focused sound of his EPs to the long-playing format - as his inspired and wonderfully atmospheric sets for Idle Hands and Smalltown Supersound prove. He continues this notable run of form on this Studio Barnhus released set, crowding ultra-deep, dusty grooves in opaque chords, cut-up sample snippets, lo-fi crackle, hazy ambient textures and nods towards a myriad of ear-pleasing electronic styles and sounds. Highlights are plentiful, with our picks being the dubby, mind-altering late-night hypnotism of 'Still Something There' and the becalmed, meditative ambient deepness of superb closing cut '15 Mins' (which, confusingly, is just 13 minutes long).

Review: Said to be two decades in the making, this record features two tracks by Makode Linde, the visual artist and musician who has long been a friend and frequent cover designer for Sweden's most eccentric dance label, Studio Barnhus. 'Never Getting Over Me' features Makode's poignant vocals on a quirky, sun-drenched rhythm while 'Professional Help' delivers bossa nova brilliance with a graceful, flute-driven backdrop which reflects the protagonist's lament over his old flame's aversion to therapy. With exquisite songwriting and charming lo-fi appeal, these songs are brilliant dance-pop fusions with a great message and plenty of irresistible grooves.

Review: Swedish producer Martinou returns with his tenth single which is a double pack that cements his deft hand in sculpting deeply emotive and rhythmically rich electronic music. Spanning six tracks, this latest straddles techno, house and ambient techno with a balance of subtle innovation and classic sensibilities. 'You Took Me In' is an immediate hit with its broken beat structure which allows airy pads and a melancholy melodic line to float atop crisp, polished percussion. It's evocative, the kind of track that slips into your subconscious before you realize it. 'Blur' follows with an electro-tinged beat and a deep, rolling bassline that anchors its shimmering, crystalised melodies. Mid-tempo, it carries a quiet beauty that feels timeless. Other tracks worth mentioning are 'Somewhere', which pushes into ambient techno dub territory, rich in spatial textures and restrained pulse. It's both meditative and propulsive, inviting repeated listens. 'Light (From Within)' takes a more radiant path, channeling melody-forward trance motifs with a subtle emotional charged euphoria that is never overstated. Throughout the double pack, Martinou moves fluidly between rhythmic frameworks and emotional tones. Even at their most restrained, these tracks possess a clarity and purpose that make them idea and suitable for solitary listening. It's a release that reaffirms his position in the modern deep electronic scene, balancing precision and feeling with each track.

Review: Known in Tokyo's underground for filling her DJ sets with an enticing blend of house, new wave and disco, Mayurashka's Studio Barnhus debut is - as the label point out -full of sonic illusions: immediately accessible and enticing tracks which are nevertheless filled with quirky sonic details. There's plenty to admire throughout, from the breathlessly dark and driving peak-time jack of 'Cool Stop' and the lightly disco-infused peak-time tactility of 'Cosmic Rising', to the percussive, wildly pitched-down chug of 'Fatties' and the effects-laden, tribal house-on-the-moon insanity of 'Mountain Pads'. Throw in the low-slung dystopian dub disco madness of 'Appex' and you have a genuinely brilliant label debut.

Review: The dynamic duo MLiR, a creative force fuelled by a perfectly balanced blend of shared vision and contrasting styles, return with their debut album, Pulpo Fiction, on Stockholm's Studio Barnhus label. Building on the success of two highly regarded EPs, this 16-track offering showcases their vibrant and innovative approach to global dance music. MLiR's sound is a product of both relentless crate-digging and studio mastery, seamlessly blending past, present, and future influences. Pulpo Fiction boasts a diverse array of vocal collaborators, from Kenyan rapper Nah Eeto and American poet Oliver Grimball to Swedish soul singer Cosima Olu, adding another layer of texture to their already eclectic sound. Expect a sonic journey that traverses the spectrum of dance music, from nostalgic throwbacks to futuristic soundscapes, from deep grooves to infectious pop sensibilities, all underpinned by MLiR's signature high-energy, effortlessly cool dancefloor aesthetic.

Review: Studio Barhnus is one of the most playful and amusing labels out there. They are also one of th only labels we can think of who would release a whole album of acapella versions of previous album tracks. But that's what we have here from Off The Meds, whose late 2002 self titled debut sounds very different without the beats. His unique Zulu-Tsotsitaal-English flows all open with short and sweet musical passages and then get spright to it. They are great tools for jobbing DJs to work into their sets and add some wonderful weirdness.

Review: Phatness is new and so-far anonymous side project from two producers based in the Swedish capital and who have connections to soundsystem culture through Trensum Tribe, Soft Pace and Otonos. This is their debut outing and it's a fresh blend of original jungle infused with inspiration from a wide world of sounds. There are tropical but physical sounds like 'Diplomatico Dub' packed with smart effects, minimal head spiders like the sci-fi styled '$nkt Erik Jamboree' and experimental vignettes such as 'Olearie$ Dub' with well-worked vocals and snaking basslines. It's colourful, unusual, and perfect for late-night sessions.