Underground Resistance US

Review: After a break of four years in which he flirted with other labels - most notably Ekyspia - extended UR crew-member Mark Flash is back on long-time home Underground Resistance. As you'd expect, he hits the ground running with EP opener "Audiofluid", a suitably out there and intergalactic techno number high on sturdy, electro-influenced beats, foreboding riffs, tweaked acid motifs and some suitably sci-fi electronics. Flash next delivers a talbox-laden "Tuneup Beats" version for those who just want to revel in rhythm, before paying tribute to the warehouse-ready, late '80s KMS sound on retro-futurist EP highlight "Synthetic Bump". Rounding things off is "Liquid Drive", a fizzing and clattering affair that explores similar sonic territory as the fine title track.

Review: There's been little new of note from Underground Resistance house band Timeline for some time, something that's doubly frustrating given the quality of their previous material. That includes this fine EP, which was first released in 2014 and now appears in stores again courtesy of a much-needed re-press. The highlight for UR aficionados and tech-jazz enthusiasts is undoubtedly epic flipside "Next Step 4wrd", a delightful chunk of sci-fi house rich in warm riffs, rising jazz horns and mazy synth solos. That said, plenty of people will gravitate towards the dewy eyed deep house soul of opener "Light My Fire", whose electric piano solos are superb, and the hypnotic dancefloor drowsiness of deep jazz-house number "Moment In Marseille".