Yoyaku France

Review: Following fine recent outings on Kaoz Theory and Constant Sound, Chris Stussy (real name Niels Steenbergen) brings his trademark brand of tech-house/deep house fusion to popular Parisian imprint yoyaku for the very first time. He starts cheerily and colourfully with 'Fessor of Dabz', a sonically inviting fusion of bouncy synth sounds, vibrant melodies, bubbly bass and snappy drums, before opting for a more turn-of-the-millennium UK tech-house sound (think Circulation and you're close) on 'Questions of Today'. The Dutch producer updates this sound further on the glitchier and slightly funkier 'Neutral Tones', before combining dreamy electronics with rubbery tech-house bass and drums on 'Angel in the Sky'.

Review: Roger Gerressen's previous album, 2017's Sushitech-released "Monoaware", did a fine job in delivering atmospheric slabs of dancefloor hypnotism that were variously inspired by tech-house, dub techno and the deeper end of the European techno sound. "Heading In A Backwards Direction" feels like a more open and expansive take on the same basic blueprint, with Gerressen quietly slipping between beat-free dub techno soundscapes (blissful opener "Fragil (Dub)"), sun-kissed tech-house/dub techno fusion (the ear-pleasing "Draxis"), deep house inspired dancefloor warmth ("Cerendipity"), heavier peak-time workouts (bass-heavy tech-house jack track "Don't Be Neutron"), crackling minimalism ("Continued Momentum") and hushed, sub-heavy goodness (closing cut "Holding Thoughts"). It all adds up to another impressively atmospheric excursion.

Notes: We Love Vinyl - 12" slipmat

Review: Over the last six years, Toulouse twosome Zendid has offered up a swathe of singles for the likes of Infuse, Elephant Moon and Discobar that cannily blur the boundaries between tech-house, minimal and intergalactic electronic deepness. They continue to develop this trademark sound on debut album "In the Shell", a set rich in fuzzy (and funky) analogue-sounding basslines, dusty and glitchy beats, spaced-out synthesizer sounds and darting, off-kilter electronic riffs. While some others would have used the opportunity given by an album to showcase their eclecticism, the French pair have instead stuck to their guns and merely subtly twisted their quirky tech-house template. Given the quality of material on show, it was a wise move.