Review: Planet Orange Records' fifth release is a four-tracker from the legendary minds behind Alien Recordings, aka A2 and Stopouts, who take one side each. From the opening moments, the Beyonders EP weaves a thread between the halcyon days of tech and minimal from the 90s but with forward-thinking energy. A²'s 'Glider' is a happy, piano-laced celebration to start with ,then 'Let's Get It Together' cuts loose with lithe pads and more mid-tempo drums. Stopouts steep up for the flip and soon melts the mind with some tightly woven acid and cosmic tech on 'Sin City' and 'Kartwheel' then brings a more freewheeling and loopy groove with some neon colours dripping down its face.
Review: Phoenix man Eddie Amador is synonymous with one track more than any other artist in the game. He wrote 'House Music' in 1997 and it soon became a club anthem that has endured over the years. Now, decades on, he is back with a follow-up of sorts in the form of 'House Music Dos (Doin' It House Style.' The lyrics from the original, "not everyone understands house music, it's a spiritual thing, a body thing, a soul thing," still hold true and fragments of that tune appear here next to fresh funky drums and gritty chords. 'Househeads In Full Effect' has a darker vocal that infuses low-slung drums and a funny bassline with real menace.
Review: Superfriends is a new label project from German tech house duo Andhim. They take care of the first release and export outside the usual realms on opener 'Tosch (feat Piper Davis).' It has an air of DJ Koze's hazy nostalgia to it with gentle tumbling drums, broad bass notes and plenty of lo-fi texture. 'German Winter' is not as harsh and cold as the season it is named after, instead layering up subtly hopeful, sustained chords over a groove that's not too heavy, not too airy. 'Mond' brings smeared and smudged melodies, flutes and pianos together over a dubby, delightfully deep house low end. 'Horse Society' closes with the distant sound or bird tweets, a hooky percussive lead and plodding kicks for day-time open-air dancing.
Review: The fledgling WEorUS label rolls out more stylish, minimal and tech here from a trio of artists. Andrade goes first with 'Kubernetes,' a driving minimal house cut packed with hefty groove. It is followed by 'Content Security Policy' which is a slick, rhythm-forward roller that locks you into its flow. Flip to side-B and get swept into Dragosh's 'One Way,' a deep, hypnotic workout that's all tension and release and rounding off the trip is Fabrizio Siano's 'Control Your Emotions,' a poignant, late-night burner that delivers introspection through rhythm.
Review: LEGRAM VG & Rubber Ducky Records have come together for this playful Game of Tunes series, and the third entry in it offers four more wafty tech house delights. Baldov's 'Dance Connection' is a balmy and breezy opener with some warm synth injections to soften the rickety tech beats. Sif B's 'Small World' is a bubbly cut with sci-fi motifs and Buenaguas's 'Music Or Noise?' Marries distant cosmic pads with sparky synth sequences that make for some nice colourful combinations. Alich's 'The Evidence' is the best of the lot - a pent-up, garage-tinged kicker with ass-wiggling beats and acid prickles. Pure heat.
Review: Juuz out of Hungary continues to break new ground as it lays out its sonic identity with another tasteful various artists EP that roam free across the minimal world. Silat Beksi & Fedo get things underway with the heady but also playful and cheeky sounds of 'Porque Tu' before Minube's '909 Things' is a textural blend of found sounds, great sound designs and perfectly rubbery, dubby drum kicks. Daniel Broesecke's 'No Name' then gets more dark and down and dirty with a stripped-back mix of caps and bass that is pure backroom. Chris Llopis shut down its trippy sine waves and spinning hi-hats from the classic school of minimalism on his 'Manipulator.'
Review: Paris-based Gabriel Belabbas returns to Automatic Writing with his debut solo EP for the label, and a fine one it is too. Having first appeared on the imprint's 2020 various artists compilation, this outing marks a new chapter in a long-standing creative relationship and one that showcases Belabbas' versatility, weaving together influences from Perlon-style minimalism, 90s house and peak-time tech-house. Each track is crafted for a specific moment on the dancefloor-whether early morning grooves or late-night intensity-offering a mature and dynamic sound. It's a strong statement from an artist who captures the spirit of exploration that defines this label
Review: B2 Recordings is one of those labels that is deeply entrenched in proper house circles. Its latest comes from Begoa who keeps it nice and chill on 'I Won't Love You' (feat Mimi X FY). The drums are low-slung, the chords are breezy and warm. 'Bibi's Funk' then layers in some lively percussion that adds a nice texture to the swaggering, slo-mo grooves. 'Listen' picks up the pace with some electro-charged rhythms and corrugated bass funk and then 'Exiles' leaves you with another classy, spacious sound with persuasive claps and big splashy cymbals.
Review: This Biscuit release is a fierce four-track punch built dancefloor disruptors. Opening the A-side, France's BOOH (aka BOOOoo! Records co-founder) delivers 'Hidden Between Two Ferns,' a punishing blend of EBM and electro that morphs with dark energy. A2 sees Argentina's Micro.Tron bring pure electro muscle with 'Microclima Robot,' a rhythm-heavy cut that hits with precision. On the flip, JJ Fortune drops the epic and destructive 'Then I Dropped It' while Vloon closes with a snarling, high-voltage electro weapon. Raw, trippy and relentless, this one's built to shake basements and bend minds.
Review: Margate-based Braga Circuit showcases a refined signature style and knack for killer sampling with this standout debut on Air Miles. 'Fall' kicks off with amped-up chord stabs and brilliantly well-swung, rolling kicks that soon get those hips moving. 'Closer' oozes summer cool thanks to the balmy chords that soften the percussive, garage-flecked house drums. There is also plenty of Kerri Chandler soul in these here beats that makes them all the more essential. 'Filter Feed' layers up dusty perc and thudding kicks with sultry vocal whispers. It's steamy and irresistible and last but not least, Leod is another talent from the coastal town of Margate and remixes this one with a more direct and dubby style.
Review: Esente Records' young journey continues with a second offering that builds on the good work of the first. This one comes from Bucharest's BRYZ and is a masterclass in refined electronic minimalism. Opening up the trip is 'Slippery,' a fluid blend of supple rhythm and texture with plenty of characterful sound designs and details peeling off the beats. 'Self Definition' follows with introspective tones that invite personal exploration and on the B-side, 'She's Infinite Bliss' delivers an ethereal, almost otherworldly atmosphere while 'Eternal Sheevy' closes the journey with a timeless, lingering resonance. Each track reflects the deep, minimal aesthetic Esente is known for-subtle but not lacking power, and introspective yet dancefloor-ready.
Review: The Fruit Medley series has been hella juicy so far so we're glad another edition is ripe and ready for picking to kick off the label's 2025 season. This one features all newcomers starting with Cromie's 'Timereite', a chubby and clubby tech pumper with full throttle rhythms. Wilba's 'New Recipes' has lush synth smears over grinding low ends that echo early West Coast tech, and Darren Roach then gets a little deeper on the percolating 'Brettski Colectski'. Lazer Man's 'Time Of Ghosts' closes down with a mid-tempo, off-kilter house cut with steely drums and distant alien activity.
Review: Marvin Dash and Lowtec combine to serve up some house grooves here that perfectly embody the Workshop sound. They are lovably loose-limbed, dusty and ramshackle, and almost feel as if they may fall apart at any given moment, but that is the joy of them. Instead, they keep you locked amongst rickety drums, frayed pads and imperfect little vocal hooks that bring the soul. 'Track 1' does that with a hazy feel, 'Track 2' is more one out with a dubby undercurrent and sustained keys and 'Track 3' brings little more prickle and drive, like a super raw Omar-S track. 'Track 4' is all about the prying, bulbous bassline that unfurls with a mind of its own beneath DIY percussive sounds.
Review: Dashiell has been road testing these two tunes in his sets for a while, and they have always done a job. They finally arrive on wax courtesy of Foul Play and are sure to get dropped all over the place this summer. 'dfuse all the tension' is the right mix of driving tech but wonky minimal. The bassline is drunk and all over the place while the lead synth has a retro video game feel, and some crisp melodies and refracted vocals finish it well. On the flip, 'da nastiest' is faster and more direct with some turbocharged and bass-driven tech house characterised by another sleazy vocal and phased synth lines that bring a playful twist.
Review: REPRESS ALERT!: In case you didn't know, Reliance is yet another label from man like Burnski, the UK powerhouse who is almost single-handedly spearheading a sound that fuses garage, house and tech into something irresistible for the club. He invites Job de Jong to step up for the label's second outing and 'Dub House' is a great opener with just the right amount of bounce, melody and heart. Kepler remixes it into a percussive stomper with siren stabs and dusty perc. 'Emergency' is a trippy melodic workout that bends space and time and 'Don't Wanna Stop, Dub Stop' chucks a killer vocal into the mix over sleazy drums and garage drums that are always going to get big reactions.
Review: Chicago has many legendary figures, but one who stands proud among many is DJ Deeon, a low-end legend and widely considered to be the true Godfather of ghetto house. He dropped this EP originally back in 2013, and it is one of many that soon became classic, which is why it gets this remix from Chiwax. 'Happy' perfectly summarises Deeon's sound - booming and heavyweight kick and drums, smart samples looped perfectly and big hooks. 'The Truth' speeds things up and brings that Ghetto sleaze, and 'R U Sure' is a more minimal sound that still bangs like a heavyweight. 'Gigabytes' is full of caustic synths and blending melodies that bring sheer chaos to the club.
Review: He's the original (and maybe only self-proclaimed?) house gangster and he is back in 2025 and sounding as good as ever. Puerto Rico by way of Chicago's DJ Sneak makes beats as raw as the meat he likes to chuck on his BBQ grill and UK house legend Nail must be a fan cause it's his label he lands on now. This is a solid four-tracker that ticks all the boxes with its killer grooves and smart loops. 'All I Need In Life' is a playful opener, 'Das Gud!' gets more intense and trippy with its bleepy melodic refrains and 'Help Me Somebody' then sinks back into loose and dusty, disco-tinged drums with classic cowbell hits. 'What You Expecting From Me' is a sweaty and gritty warehouse banger to close with aplomb.
Review: Mutual Response first appeared with its inaugural release back in 2023, so this second one has been a long time in the making. It's the Brit-based Dockett Eddy who runs the Turnend Tapes label who steps up and brings some invention to four tracks of deeply atmospheric techno. 'Monofly' has modulated synth bleeps and squeaks and smeared pads, making it a trippy and futuristic sound, while 'Delayed Response' is slow, heavy and marbled with sombre, downcast chords that make it an introspective delight. '00:04' has a lithe, jittery rhythm with eerie pad swirls up top and 'Tapeline' brings a bit of late-night urban grit and cosmic eeriness. It's a moody EP, this, but one that is always intriguing and inviting.
Review: EEE keeps it simple, with the artist, label and EPs all given that simple naming convention. It means there is nothing to focus on but the music. Which is fine by us as this 18th such outing is another doozy that should slip into your record bag post-haste. 'Track 1' has 90s organ chords and a deep, rolling bassline working together to soon get you moving while sustained pads and dry per add detail as a tempting vocal lures you in. On the flip, things are a little less pared back with some widescreen synths adding cosmic scale to the potent tech house drums. Tidy tools.
Review: The mysterious EMI has been turning out cutting-edge minimal and tech weapons for a while on the likes of PlayedBy and Contur, and this one takes him to the fledgling Draganenii label for a pair of elongated, long-form workouts for mind and body. 'ElVis#1' is all snappy drums and rasping bass, watery pads and moody synth atmospherics that are constantly shifting. The flip side is another epic piece, but this time is more stripped back and deep, dubby and otherworldly with smeared pads and abstract designs all keeping the mind busy while the synthetic grooves roll on.
Review: Fratii ro Brazil finally serves up a fourth chapter, some two-plus years since we last heard from them. This one welcomes Ertmi, who appeared on the lashes seance VA back in 2022. His 'Vom Vom Vom' has got minimal classic potential: the synthetic drums and rubbery and funky with crisp hits defining their contours as muted, muffled, mutating synths marbled the groove, and a muttered vocal hook plays out of its own accord. It's playful after-party perfection to unite the whole floor. Two remixes rework it for different moments - Paul K brings a ghoulish energy, and Alex Font & Beckhauser rework it with more housey drums.
Review: Caleto Records's eighth outing takes the form of this various artists compilation featuring exclusively Polish producers. The Etat Cru duo of Olszewski and Pawlescu kick off with the wire and sinewy synths and tech house pomp of 'Jasmina' then Jerry M offers two cuts. 'Gutek' is a nice spaced-out tech cruiser with flashy astral pads and 'Gondin' rides on well-designed breakbeats with an old-school bassline. Robsessive's 'Look After You' is a deeper, dubber, grittier cut for late-night vibes and SIM ON's 'Brudas' is all glitchy and dystopian urban landscaping. Poland sure has plenty of talent based on this EP.
Review: For its tenth release, the label showcases Chilean producer Existencia Pasajera, an artist steadily rising in the electronic music scene. This release features five diverse tracks that highlight his signature style, blending deep textures with dynamic rhythms. A standout is the co-production with Dismal, adding a compelling layer to the project. Together, the tracks offer a well-rounded glimpse into Existencia Pasajera's evolving sound, balancing experimentation with dancefloor appeal. This release not only marks a milestone for the label but also solidifies Existencia Pasajera's position as a promising talent to watch.
Review: Fedo prides himself on exploring beyond the usual genre tropes you get in minimal and tech house worlds. Opener 'Sin Titulo' goes some way to proving that with its innovative take on club-ready tech and boiled-down minimal synths. 'Calisthenics & Coffee' is a trippy blend of smooth bass and undulating neon pads. Warped vocals also pepper the mix to keep the brain and body occupied. 'Film Noir' indeed brings a darker energy and 'My Weapon' shuts down with some razor shape precision.
Review: The good early work of the Third Stream label carries on with this seventh missive and it's a various artists affair featuring some top talent. Alex Font gets things underway with 'Keep Moving', which is aloof, rolling minimal tech defined by a billowing lead which does what it wants. Kyle&Sam's 'Chapter 36' is an ice-cold and deft, steel-plated tech cut a la Melchior's best and Altarf & Backhauser -keep the synthetic, abstract aesthetic going with their occult machine whirs and loopy drum funk on 'Yeah.' Dumi & Nopau's 'Time Measurements' is like a long-lost Ricardo Villalobos cut from his most famous album.
Ahnonghay (Kevin Saunderson original Reese mix) (7:04)
Review: Inner City's time on Network Records produced a run of timeless recordings that merged their signature vocal soul with the underground grooves of Detroit. This reissue of 'Ahnonghay' highlights that early golden era and finds the legendary Kevin Saunderson return to his techno roots in some style. The tune was originally released under his seminal Reese alias and marries that raw Motor City energy with sleek electronica that embodies the early techno blueprint. This 12" pressing includes the original mix alongside two standout remixes: Carl Craig's atmospheric reimagining and Dave Clarke's gritty UK techno take. All in all, a vital snapshot of techno's early evolution.
Review: Jori is Jori Hulkkonen, the long-time Finnish artist who has mastered dub techno depths many times over. Here he gets more minimal and tech-inclined with the seance outing on Gorin, but very much keeps his signature dubbed out low ends. 'Chroma' is masterfully smooth and silky, with deft hi hats and lithe synths making for sweet and seductive loops as some nice synth work layers in the narrative. 'Quelle' is another impossibly cool and breezy deep tech glider with hints of old school West Coast tech. 'Citrone' is the final original and another super stylish deep minimal tech fusion. The Track & Trace New Friends mix reworks the drums to land with extra pillowy softness.
Review: Chicago's Tied label rolls out a 17th release as good as all the previous ones, this time with a four-track various artists EP that showcases emerging talents from deep, spacey electronic realms. Just_Me's 'Laser Brane' launches the journey with electro-funk propulsion, while Lumieux's 'In Your Space... It's Me In Space' drifts into cosmic grooves and ambient textures. On the B-side, Constratti's meticulously crafted 'Bind' delivers intricate synth delays and solid rhythms that capture the feeling of interstellar motion. Label head Max Jacobson and 97 Till close with 'Orion,' a break-infused and celestial house cut built for late-night floors.
Review: REPRESS ALERT!: Burnski's Constant Sound is very nearly at 50 releases and not one of them has ever dipped below essential levels of quality. Kepler has been a regular contributor to this fine catalogue and returns with more of his shuffling, playful and charming garage cuts. 'Recall' manages to be both deep and driving, with cute chord stabs and a smart vocal sample that adds the r&b gloss. 'Flavour' has those old school stabs and filthy basslines and 'Loft Groove' is a bouncy, low-slung number with organic percussion. Closing out another high-grade offering is 'Don't Stop' which brings some dubby chords to a slick, punchy house rhythm. Pure class.
Review: Frankfurt's Kuyateh beams into the Minibarian universe with a playful but impactful new EP that brims with cosmic charm. The tunes here are all rooted in wobbly basslines and mischievous minimal grooves and come with a humid late-night funk that is equal parts interstellar and intimate. This welcome debut on Minibar fits in with the label's off-kilter, soulful minimal sound and starts with the chunky, marching drums of 'Crosstown' then takes in the mode bubbly 'Cloudwalking' which is underpinned with a meaning low end and 'Consistency' then brings more celestial melody and 'Terazza' works up a nice shuffling groove with plenty of swagger.
Comik Sans - "Brainfreezer" (Natural Goofy mix) (6:05)
Natural Goofy - "Ensename A Mentir" (6:41)
Kurilo & Mili - "Tu M'en Veux" (6:07)
Review: Planka Records continues to lay out its musical agenda with a fourth EP that takes the form of a forward-thinking compilation that blends fresh talent with trusted names. Hypnotic rhythms, shimmering textures, and fearless experimentation define this release, creating a soundscape that's equally suited for deep club immersion or solitary reflection. House, electro, and techno influences blur seamlessly, crafting tracks that transcend time and genre. Each cut pulses with enigmatic energy, pulling the listener deeper into Planka's evolving sonic universe. With PLNK004, the label reaffirms its role as a tastemaker-consistently championing innovation while staying true to its raw, underground roots. An essential, boundary-pushing listen.
Review: Definitive Recordings throws it back to 1994 for 'Do It' a house classic by Las Americas, which is a legendary project by David Alvarado. Newly remastered for 2024, this edition includes the original version as well as a refreshed Chuck Phulasole remix and two dynamic new takes from Italian producer St. David, who brings his vintage-inspired style in all its glory. He delivers a playful 'Big Tool Mix' with vocal flips and infectious grooves alongside a funkier 'Drum-Tool Dub' packed with sharp guitar licks. The original's hypnotic basslines and soulful vocal hook still shine, while Phulasole's deeper remix adds rich keys and Moog warmth. Lovely stuff.
Review: Big up to northern powerhouse Burnski for steering his Constant Sound label to the not-so-insignificant feat of release number 50. More importantly, the sounds remain as vital as ever and always evolve into subtle new sound worlds. The mantle for this one is taken by Locklead who brings some fine drum patterns to 'Backup' and pairs them with sliding hi-hats and bubbly synth motifs. It's garage-infused but utterly fresh. 'Wizzord' is a darker tech house with searching lead synths and plenty of pent-up energy, and 'Motherland' brings nice jazzy chord work and atmospheric samples. 'Pink Skies' is a bright closer with contrasting synths - some farting, some smooth - and more high-speed, catchy drums that span house and tech.
Review: Two standout tracks from Priori's This But More get a stripped, emotional rework from Loidis, which is of course the introspective alias of Brian Leeds aka Huerco S. and Pendant who is known for his minimal, textured approach. Here, Loidis stretches the originals into hypnotic, slow-burning explorations. The rhythms remain intact but feel deeper, warmer, like echoes from a distant rave. It's dancefloor music in slow motion: eyes closed, head lost in the groove. These extended versions don't just remix, they reimagine while blurring lines between ambient and club, motion and stillness. It's a compelling fusion of restraint and rhythm, perfect for late nights and deep-listening sessions alike.
Review: Lo U returns with four club ready cuts that fuse the best of UK garage, breakbeats and deep electronic textures into contemporary killers. The EP opens with 'Transitus' where crisp UKG rhythms collide with a dark, neurofunk-inspired bassline then 'The Green Planet' follows with classic 2-step swing and a warped, heady breakdown. On the flip, Lo U revisits a label staple with a refined take on 'Platus Karma', injecting fresh style into the original while keeping its soul. Closing track 'Eresia' ventures into expansive, cinematic territory/. It was recorded live and sculpted in the studio so has a fresh feeling that blends broken beats with immersive soundscapes. All in all, a versatile release from a producer in peak form.
Review: Veteran Russian producer Andrey Loud is back with another exploration of dancefloor minimalism with these three deep outings on Afterme. Precise production defines his style with tight drum loops and a warped bassline drawing you in while alien effects add the detail. A standout is the Ki.Mi. remix of 'Humanity' which reimagines the original with an extra bump in the drums and dry, textured hits. 'Shadow Tree' is a shimmering melange of silvery snares and hits with loopy bassline phrases perfect for cosy club spaces. 'Illustration' is a more introverted close with pensive pads and a moody atmosphere for the wee small hours.
Review: Burnski's agenda-setting garage label Instinct is back with killer new beats from Mance. 'Atmos101' gets things underway with sparking melodies zipping about the stereo field over chunky drums and with a filthy bassline. There is more of a throwback feel to the dusty drum loops of 'Stone Cold, Baby' complete with great vocal samples and spiralling pads. 'All Night' shows another look again with dry, stripped-back beats and big hits under warped synth stabs and more brain-melting bass. 'I Can't Help It' shuts down with silky pads work and soulful vocals.
Mariche & Gutt - "Phone Call" (Guile remix) (6:59)
Review: KUNST is a new series from Spanish crew Spherart Wax that looks to serve up nostalgic progressive and tech from the 90s and designed for packed dance floors. To kick things off, up step Mariche and Gutt for a mix of solo cuts and collabs. 'Autogroove' gets things underway with tight and turbo-powered tech, which ADR remixes into a deeper sound. Gutt's 'Your Mind' is taught and bouncy tech with wispy cosmic synths and then the pair come together for 'Phone Call', which is a standout cut with playful dial tones and rugged low ends all packed up in club-ready beats.
Review: Silias Records welcomes Marko Nastic, a venerated DJ and producer from Serbia who could rightly claim to be one of his country's biggest underground electronic music exports. He brings peak time renegers here with tracks rooted in techno and tech such as 'Sour Pie' with its mechanical drum loops and rickety rhythms run through with blasts of electricity. 'Circuits' is smoother, deeper, more rounded in design and jazzy in melody. 'Que Rico Enrigo' is packed with well-designed sounds and a hint of Latin flair in the vocal sample and 'Clockworksx' shuts down with a thudding, persuasive and chunky tech sound with clattering percussion adding some texture.
Review: AF1268 turns to the new talents of Nikol, a rising underground soundscaper from Manchester who makes a solid impression with this, his debut solo EP. Already somewhat known for singles on with MASS, his own label, and O.C.D., here he delivers a more fulsome four-track journey that blends modern minimal and electro. The EP features eerie, hallucinatory sounds with ghostly whistlings, acid stabs and hypnotic basslines perfect for more heady floors. It evokes a spectral atmosphere where Halloween meets tech-house while conjuring images of a damp, decaying club beneath a full moon. These evocative and unhinged grooves make bodies sway in slow motion, caught between dreamlike introspection and the rawness of the moment.
Review: A Beautiful Place label founder Noha (who is also head of Panick Panick) opens his new True Mirrors EP with its title track, which blends airy atmospheres, shimmering stabs and a buoyant bassline with crisp percussion into a vibrant, dancefloor-ready groove. Next, 'Royal Objects' dives deeper, layering ethereal pads, swung drums and processed spoken word into a richly textured composition. On the flip, 'Ghost Life' delivers warm, resonant synths, dubbed-out vocals, sweeping chords and saturated drums for a late-night feel. The EP closes with 'Over and Over' channelling early 2000s microhouse with raw, minimalist drums, deep sub-bass and warped synths. It's a pensive trip.
Acid Charlie - "Nuclear Era" (orchestral mix) (6:51)
Review: Plasticity Records launches with a bang on its debut release, which is a various artists offering with our fierce and floor-ready tracks. Nulek & Roto open with 'Eternal Space,' a shadowy techno-electro hybrid laced with eerie vocals, then Flhez follows with 'Study Nights' stylishly channelling Uruguay's deep-rooted rhythmic heritage through gritty analogue texture. On the B-side, Mar.C drops 'Not Normal,' a pounding EBM-inflected banger built for dark rooms and late hours. Closing things out, Acid Charlie brings warped percussion and twisted structure on 'Nuclear Era,' which makes for a fractured, futuristic workout. A bold first statement from a label with serious potential.
Review: You might think that Yassin Omidi is a newcomer, but in fact it is the new-coming of an already accomplished and respected head who now delves deep into the world of dub techno on Steve O'Sullivan's Mosaic. The beatless 'Sluder Dub' is coated in heavy fog and static with conscious vocal musings and the roomiest of chords landing with great drama and tons of echo. On the flip is another analogue sound that features buffed metal dub chords, classic effects and a shapeshifting ambient hiss. It's dramatic despite being such a minimal piece.
Review: UK electronic innovators Orbital have been revisiting their early roots with Orbital LEDs, a limited-edition series remastering their old greats. Now fully remastered and paired with striking new artwork by Julian House, the latest drop highlights the duo's groundbreaking early sound when tracks like 'Midnight' innovated with a blend of hypnotic house rhythms and minimalist influences from Philip Glass and Wim Mertens. Also included here is 'Choice' which stands out for its anarcho-punk edge and bold vocal sampling. Paul Hartnoll has often said he aimed to inject house music with a sense of rebellion and social commentary and these reissues reaffirm Orbital's ability to do that while pushing boundaries from the start.
Ulysses Horizons (Gerd Janson extended DJ version) (6:23)
Flowerdale Beach (4:31)
Are You In Heaven? (5:35)
Review: "Are You in Heaven?" Is a phrase immortalised by Roxy DJ Eddy de Clercq during one of Amsterdam's earliest house parties and it captures the spirit of what was a transformative era. Arnoud Winkler and Jochem Peteri (later known as Newworldaquarium) dropped this EP back in 1991, and it explored a then-new mix of euphoric energy with youthful, clever charm. Drawing inspiration from the booming European dance scene of the time, it's a passionate Dutch interpretation of American house music that very much stands up. Featuring blissed-out pads, dub textures and peak-time vibes, the reissue includes a new Gerd Janson edit of 'Ulysses Horizon' that brings it right up to date, plus the dreamy melodies of 'Flowerdale Beach' and the title track, and all three are timeless cuts that still radiate magic and meaning.
Review: As you can tell from the title of this ongoing series, System Error likes to serve up only 100% party bombs. The third volume lives up to that once more with Parchi Pubblici kicking off with the acid-laced bumps of 'Perfect Vacuum2Disco' complete with zippy synths and snappy percussion. Lanzieri's 'Twisted Tango' hits just as hard with an electro-techno fusion that rides on psychedelic synth loops with jacked-up drums. Raku's 'Valle Dei Templi' has a more pared-back sound with a menacing and rubbery low end and creeping synths that keep you on edge. Phill Prince's 'Indigo' shuts down with something tripped out and retro with 90s techno vibes colouring the drums.
Review: 'Let Me Go' is the debut EP from Italian duo Pathagonia, which is made up of Noha and Alex Tea. They are a pair of minimalists who craft sounds for the late-night hours, starting with the title cut. 'Let Me Go' has warm solar winds blowing over the kinetic, crispy drums so makes for a nice soulful sound while 'Swirl' is heavier. The dub quotient is upped, the chords rattle and there's a heads down feel to the way things move onwards. 'Atomic' takes another tack - it's more sparse, airy and shady with whimsical synths doing a nimble dance over tight, loopy drums. Last but not least, 'Boys Can Cry' is a turbocharged but serene tech house wafter. All four are well designed and sure to appeal to real heads.
Maybe It Was A Dream (Mihai Popoviciu remix) (7:07)
YEAH (6:11)
Review: The Montreal-based boutique label, Aissa Records, a vinyl-only sub-imprint of Suleiman Records, continues to carve out a niche for sophisticated, nuanced techno with this new one from Pheek. 'Maybe It Was A Dream' merges ambient textures with crisp minimal techno that is dreamy and hypnotic. 'Goldfish Memory' is a track that feels both meditative and kinetic so is perfect for deep listening or late-night sets. On the flip, Mihai Popoviciu delivers a tight, club-ready remix that adds punch without losing the original's subtlety and lastly, 'YEAH' is a dubbed out and reverb-rich roller with abstract sonic details keeping the mind as busy as the body.
Review: Marcellus Pittman is one of the Motor City's finest. The long-time house explorer has a singular sound that is built around brittle drum loops, hissing and dusty hi-hats and loose-limbed arrangements that are stark and dehumanised but somehow full of intriguing machine warmth and soul. Take this EP, 'Loneliness Leave Me Alone,' first dropped back in 2010: the title cut has bouncing, bulbous bass and jacked up drums that sound both menacing yet playful, which the fizzy, sugary chords spray across the mix like a mist of pixelated water. 'Razz 09' has that Omar-S style melancholy and trudging rhythm that's heightened by the curious melodies which unfurl with a mind of their own in the background. Superb.
Review: The Pittsburgh Tracks Authority crew prides itself on serving up fad-free, no-frills, authentic-only house music that will stand up to the tyranny of passing trends. For their next outing, they veer into tech territory with 'Tech 97', a tune that embodies just that, a bit like, a no doubt subtly named in reference to, Micke Huckaby's Bassline 87 tune. It might sound simple, but effective, but that's really not an easy trick to pull off. The manic mix allows the synth more room to roam and rumble with more raw percussion, and the Calm mix is a smooth, dubbed-out but still nice and pacey rework. Very useful tools.
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