Review: Abdul Raeva's 'No Risk No Reward' EP captures the spirit of minimal and tech house with four dynamic, dance-ready tracks. Side-1 kicks off with 'Spazza', a lively, upbeat tech house track primed for the dancefloor with an infectious groove. It's followed by 'Eurotech', which brings in a high-tech, acid-tinged vibe, nodding to the ravey energy of the 90s with an irresistible, driving beat. Side-2 transitions to a more introspective energy with 'Phaselock', a melodic and flighty piece that leans into late-night techno territory, with a hypnotic, trance-adjacent sound perfect for deeper, immersive moments. Closing the EP, 'Crystal Palace' dives into heavy acid rhythms, blending elements of acid trance to create a powerful, pulsing finish.
Review: Alter Ego's world conquering "Why Not?!" is back, along with a typically brilliant Joakim remix to boot. Don't miss this Klang Electronik release.
Review: An enviously sick, fidget-dub-minimal-tech blastoff from Into The Woods, the London imprint whose efforts to push the genre, in a city where it may indeed need more force behind it, are admirable. The first V/A of a new series, ITW have hand-picked an impressing array of artists here; choose your fighter: Crihan, Jay Tripwire & Miller, Vlad Arapasu, and the fast-rising T.Na all feature. First up, it's Vlad, with 'Hidden In The Chaos', whose title invites us to decipher the message coiled about the technical scytale: the track's so-said "chaos" betrays its mad method, its impish persona portrayed through random-modded bass pitch bobs set against a fizzing backbeat. Tripwire and Miller add much texture to the proceedings, sweeping our ears unto a journey into what sounds like frayed cabling and clairaudient voices; then T.Na seriously impresses with truly, properly balanced beat and bass elements, with evil demonic gurgling and laughter aplenty, on 'Nicky'; and finally, Crihan rounds things off on a note of gruff, grit-laid wizardry with 'Hocus Pocus'.
Tides (feat Bajka - Toto Chiavetta edition 2022 remix) (8:18)
Tides (feat Bajka - Art Department Roxy Blue remix) (15:13)
Tides (feat Bajka - Ripperton remix) (10:03)
Tides (feat Bajka - C's Movement #1 - Carl Craig remix) (9:58)
Review: Classic deep house here by Beanfield, an outfit comprised of Compost Records chief Michael Reinboth with Jan Krause, Michael Mettke and Tobias Meggle, who released one of their biggest tracks 'Tides' with vocalist Bajka back in 2004, taken from the album Seek. Featured is the timeless Beanfield Chant Mix and of course Detroit icon Carl Craig's now legendary rework, as well as Swiss deep house hero Ripperton's impressive perspective. Providing newer reinterpretations is veteran of the Toronto scene Art Department, and Italy's Toto Chiavetta who injects the track with his signature brand of high tech soul.
Review: Rising Boorloo artist Beltrac shows why he is so well thought of here with five tracks that deliver a dynamic collision of sleek, dub-infused minimal rollers reminiscent of the late '90s and early 2000s tech-house but paired with high-energy drum-driven explorations. After the bubbly synths of 'Tek Code' comes the more direct and crisp 'VIP Section (Otherworld mix)', then Side B features a standout remix of 'Echo Response' by Eora's dub master Command D who transforms the wonky bassline of the original into a hazy, after-hours dub techno gem. The meticulous production really elevates these irresistible grooves.
Review: Bohm is next up to bring his own minimal and tech house perspective to X Masters and does so with a stripped back yet effective style across a quartet of real bumpers. 'Land Of Lost' kick off with a bobbling bassline and old school 90s house chords that bring some intrigue. 'Most Of It' is a little deeper and warmer with a hint of garage skip in the drums and 'Finest Touch' then rides on another nice old school house bassline with with a future cosmic twist in the synths. 'Operator Select' closes out with a nice jumble of percussion and diffuse chords a sublime deep house closer.
Review: Alta Ripa signifies a seismic shift in Ben Lukas Boysen's artistic journey. It revisits the foundational impulses of his youth, shaped amidst the serene beauty of rural Germany: a bucolic backdrop where his creative palette flourished. However, it was his move to Berlin in the early 2000s that electrified his sound, infusing it with the city's pulsating energy and diverse cultural influences. Playing on themes of transience and movement - of both of the locality of the individual and of history on a macroscopic level - this is Boysen's fourth album under the name, bringing magnanimous Latin to the continual plods and progressions of high-spec cinematic techno. Boysen specifically aims for controlled chaos: keeping to the progressive tech backbone whilst providing bays and nooks in which both harmonic and discordant blurts might nest themselves.
Review: Cult minimal label Cabinet is back with another vital two tracker, this time from Brudan. It kicks off with the glitchy beats and silky, warming, machine soul of 'Time 2 Play' with its silky grooves soon to lock you into a heady vibe. On the flip is the more stripped back 'Music Makers' which is a little more minimal and abstract in its designs but is just as much of a seductive sound that worms its way deep into your brain. Both of these are tasteful tools for discerning selectors.
Review: Fantastic Friends reaches out to welcome us into its inner circle once more with another tasteful tech house outing. this time a various artists affair with some tasty talent. Christian Burkhardt opens up with 'Rytm Mod' with its wide vocal sounds and chunky, funky low end. Chris Llopis's 'Dubster' us a bubbly number with fluid bass and liquid rhythms and Nils Twachtmann's 'Space Odyssey' get cosmic with a spaced-out and late-night ambient vibe. Filou shuts down with 'Sophe' which is a skittish number with dubbed out and rolling low ends.
Review: Melbourne's Eden Burns has been publishing their 'Big Beat Manifesto' in vinyl form for a good while now. We'd'n't've predicted a musical style popularised by Norman Cook warrants manifesto-penning on a level of the Dadaists, Futurists or Stuckists, but hey, we won't complain, cos the music is sick. And it hardly sounds like your typical 'big beat' either. Nah, this is more a tricksy, comical clubsploitation hat-trick, verging - if you must tease a genre name - dubby tech house, moving into locomotive techno. Andras and Eden Burns' 'Wrangler' begins on a recondite note, with a faint vocal sample suggesting ideas of wanting to be in on an impossible joke. Desire turns to 'Obsession' on the A2, pon which a central monotone resounds like the toot of a steam train, while the B1, 'Calvin Klein' blithely indulges the tech house underwear brand sponsorship deal through chuggy womps and further, sultry vox cutups.
The Emanations - "Rhythm Is Easy" (feat Janet Planet - Che Luca Lucid Rave mix)
Review: The fully mixed version of Confidence Man's debut Fabric mix record is here on CD. In contrast to the selectors' LP version - also sold by us - this full version is a seamless, singular slab of optical laser-read musical licence, espousing the central vibe-theme of Confidence Man's message: have confidence. Well, except for want of a receiving ear, we find ourselves tentatively able to confide in Confidence Man's Fabric mix ("better than therapy" joke happily dodged) as a substitution in the meantime; for it too shows us that real, authentic, and boundless confidence can, believably, indeed, be found in bouncy dance exclusives available on CD only. Among these are Patrick Prins' kitsch chipmunk banger 'Fiesta Conga' and Cygnus X's steezy-cheesy trance stutterer 'Positron'03'. With both many a throwback and a present promo in tow, Confidence Man dice up and dole out a small slice of their huge stash of their patented auricular confidence dust.
Review: YOIONWAX celebrates its tenth anniversary with a special record featuring stunning zoetrope artwork by Alex Mikheev. Guided by the talented Donnie Cosmo, this musical journey starts in a tropical forest with 'Jungle Juice' then 'The Man From Planet X' leads into another mystical experience with lithe and silvery tech house and trippy synth work. 'Mystical Journey' is another spaced-out tech sound with kinetic drums and a smorgasbord of sci-fi motifs, then 'Prepare Your Soul' serves up another transformative adventure with steely drums and watery droplets, otherworldly designs and a groove that never quits. Super artwork on this one, too.
Review: Dan Piu is a master of minimal sounds whether leaning more towards house or techno. For this latest one on Birds out of Chile, he opens up with some nice balmy pads and hip-swinging claps under tiny 80s keyboards. It's whimsical and dreamy then 'Late Night Beef' picks up things a little with some more driven drums but plenty of celestial synths and 'Ganas De Verte (feat Natalia)' is another balmy and spaced-out minimal house sound for hi-fidelity systems. 'Kammgarn' shuts down with the most direct sound of the lot and some nice dub undercurrents.
Review: Minimal heads will be chuffed to see that the third volume of the Dis Chronicles series has now arrived on Repeat. It is another stylish collection of Grant Dell beats starting with a cut as Chicago Transit Authority. 'Emotive' is a perfect blend of jazzy keys and skipping garage drums with deep house vibes and swirling pads to add extra heat. On the flipside, Dell links with Jay Tripwire for 'Cosmic Kebab' which leans more into tech house territory but as the title suggests has nice starry synth work and to close out, Dell goes it alone on 'Rhythmic Science' which looks you into his precise beat work and diffuse late night chords.
Review: Second-wave Chicago house mainstay DJ Sneak has been around for years but is currently at the top of his game after an almost decade long hiatus. He nods to that in the title of this new EP, 'Still Jackin'', on In The Future. It kicks off 'Going Back To My House' and with some underlapping bass and nice roughshod kicks while industrial metal hits up top bringing some balance. 'Still Jackin' has reverb-drenched drums and crispy hits that make for perfect mid-tempo body music and 'Can I Get Ahhh Feeling' brings some more diffuse, soul-infused vibes and late-night warmth. 'String Me Up' shuts down with a blend of textured stabs, winky beats and uneasy atmospheres.
Review: 'The Dome EP' by Dojo Zone is an exhilarating exploration of sound, featuring four tracks that transport listeners to another realm. On Side-1, 'Dome Addiction' stands out as a peak-time techno anthem, characterised by its addictive, bouncing bassline and atmospheric melodies that seamlessly bridge the dancefloor and introspective listening. The track's retro 90s vibe enhances its infectious energy, making it a sure-fire crowd-pleaser. Following this, 'Titanium Reality' dives into progressive house territory, layered with dark, sci-fi elements that create a mysterious and captivating atmosphere. Flipping to Side-2, 'Forcefield One' captivates with its otherworldly soundscapes, blending tribal rhythms with melodic undertones for a unique listening experience. The cool beat invites movement while maintaining an ethereal quality. Finally, 'Chop Chop' closes the EP with an unsettling, alien vibe that feels both disturbing and intriguing, challenging listeners to embrace the unexpected. Overall, 'The Dome EP' is a dynamic collection that showcases Dojo Zone's talent for creating immersive techno experiences, perfect for dark moments on the dancefloor.
Review: The sublime minimal sounds of Atipic are enough t melt the minds of anyone when heard on the right sound system at 5am. Dumitrescu is next up to take the baton for the label and his contribution is up there and is as good as any of the previous 18. '019 1' marries grinding grooves to smeared sci-fi pads and spoken words from a spacecraft's tannoy system. '019 2' is more balmy with some colourful synth motifs and gurgling basslines bring the snappy beats to life. '019 3' rides on deft and dusty breakbeats with sustained synth swirls adding plenty of cosmic energy and closer '019 4' has a more playful side but still plenty of zippy synth work.
Review: The Edge of Me series operates in the shadows, offering a mixture of sample-heavy cuts from a producer (or producers) who wish to remain nameless, and unauthorised (but often rather good) remixes of familiar and lesser-known cuts. Volume four in the series is, like its predecessors, another mysterious beast containing four untitled tracks. Opener 'Track 1' wraps a well-known hip-hop/r&b acapella around a deep, drowsy, bongo-rich tech-house-tinged groove, before 'Track 2' opts for a more druggy dancefloor take on an analogue-rich, synth-heavy cut of unknown origin. Over on the reverse, 'Track 3' is hypnotic, deep a d trippy with added r&b vocals, while 'Track 4' is dreamy, shuffling and pleasingly sunrise ready.
Review: Tom Ellis' Grounded EP seamlessly blends minimal house with soulful elements and a touch of tech, creating a collection of tracks that are sure to energise the dancefloor. Released on the Onysia label, this EP highlights Ellis's ability to craft sophisticated, danceable grooves. Side-1 opens with 'Moving Target,' a track that exudes classy deep house vibes, setting a refined yet rhythmic tone. Following this, 'Grounded' introduces intricate minimal sounds, showcasing Ellis's knack for subtle yet engaging production. On Side-2, 'Next Year' delves into a deeper minimal groove with tech influences, delivering a sick, immersive listening experience. The EP closes with 'Process Trust,' a soothing and peaceful track that incorporates minimal and glitch elements, offering a serene conclusion to the collection.
Review: The undeniably wonderfully named Chippy Chasers label return with a neat selection of four very playable, friendly-on-the-ear cuts from four undeniably wonderful artists. Fedo's 'Tunisian Rex' leads the chage, with a solid house shuffle liberally peppered with nicely trippy effects and bonkers vocal snippets that give it heaps of personality. Andrey Djackonda & Ovil's 'Lui Lui' is a little more stripped down and a little more soulful, with an old jazz hand muttering atmosphercially on top. Legit Trip's 'Skripi Daddy' is the most loop-laden of the quartet, but its ebbing and flowing brass samples and high frequency tweaks keep it interesting, before Firesc's 'Left Or Right' closes things down with the kind of polyrhythmic funkiness and space jazz trimmings that made Cheap Records so essential back in the day. Well worth Chasing down.
Review: An innovative EP emerges from the collaborative work of two accomplished music producers in Stockholm's Weirdvin, founder of the thriving Maraton label and here making a debut on Lyssna with the label's own Flord King. Their music finds a perfect common ground between electronic minimal funk and atmospheric textures, with overtones of ocean-faring trips on a voyage to the depths of the Baltic Sea. From the snappy percussion of 'Navigation' to the ambient synths of 'Oyster' via the nice and delicate drum loops of 'Telefunken' the more warped lines and turbulent bass of 'Bende' this is an EP with a unique sonic aesthetic.
Review: Suena Hermosa has been serving up house sounds for a decade now and to mark the occasion it now stars a new vinyl series. FOG is in charge of this installment and brings his minimal blueprint to four club-ready cuts. 'Savage Harmonics' rides on waves of synth that rush through you as the steely beats prickle along. 'Only If I Say No' has broken drum patterns that bring a sense of unease and edge until some lush ambient pads arrive. 'Friction' then has a loopy feel with rumbling dub chords and 'Walk In The Park' closes out with a gritty, more textured tech house sound.
Review: In the write-up for this admirable label debut by newcomer Framboisier, Gestalt has promised "a new kind of club sound" based on the foundations of "tech and hardgroove". So what does that mean in practice? Well, title track 'Buffout Trax' is a brilliantly bouncy and breathless affair, where rave-igniting riffs, bassline house style organ bass motifs and UK garage samples ride a beefed-up house groove. 'Orbit Reflex' sees the producer lean more into glassy-eyed rave-era nostalgia - all stabbing bleep techno style bass, hybrid techno-house beats and fizzing melodic motifs - while 'Flex-o-matic' is a more rolling concoction that puts retro-futurist fun at the top of the agenda. Closing cut 'Holodisk Data', meanwhile, is an all-action fusion of past and present dancefloor tropes with extra lashings of TB-303 psychdelia and nods to early progressive house.
Review: Fred P continues to be a prolific driving force in deep house, with his own Private Society label carrying a huge amount of his work these days. On this latest single he maintains one of his other close working relationships with Parisian institution Synchrophone, delivering three cuts of his refined, endlessly immersive music. 'Dance Of Rhythms' is a driving, sharply defined cut with a lot of action occurring in the lower register while the higher frequencies have acres of space to stretch out in, all the better to keep your head mellow while the hips sway. 'The Beauty In The Sound' is a more pattering affair and 'Vibe Science' favours a nagging drum pattern which nods towards jazz funk as much as techno. This is quintessential Fred P mastery, through and through.
Review: Chicago underground legend Mark Grusane drops new heat in the form of 'Take Me' on his label Disctechno and this one features DJ Saucy Lady, Boston's so-called 'Disco Queen.' The track drives a deep, groovy bassline with infectious synth fills, filtered arps and pads that all add up to a high-energy disco vibe. Saucy Lady's seductive, dubbed-out vocals echo the mantra "just take me" and are layered with mesmerising harmonies. On the B-side, disco maestro Rahaan crafts his own typically excellent 'Psychedelic Dub' rework with machine-funk synth sweeps and surreal tweaks. Dub Instrumental and Acapella versions complete this dancefloor-ready gem.
Review: Italian label Roof Club aims to raise both ceilings and roofs, and continue to do so with their latest EP from Guile. Mixing a contemporary minimal approach with classic 90s sounds, this one's a neat fusion of progressive house and trance, with sprinklings of cheesy freestyle and acid thrown in for good measure. The jokingly titled '90's Generator' is the real highlight, with its orchestral hits and licky leads.
Review: Numinous Records is a brand new label that makes an impressive bow here with a first release offering up five tracks from Halbert who hails from "the depths of Mallorca." 'I Miss You Baby' is a dark and twisted tech house opener with twanging guitars and sleazy bass. 'Sondido Canvas' is a freewheeling kaleidoscope of melodic colours and 'Special Quest' is splashy cymbals and woodpecker synths over broken beats. Two more cuts continue the leftfield theme and inventive rhythms and suggest this is going to be a rather special label.
Review: Priku is the acclaimed Romanian DJ and producer also known as Adrian Niculae and here he brings his signature deep, minimalistic soundscapes to the forefront with an exceptional remix of 'Mayon,' the first track of the first EP on the new Menikmati label. Homebase is behind the original which is a deft and intricately assembled minimal sound with thudding kicks and glitchy hits next to ghoulish vocal sounds. 'Layton' shuts down with a more airy mix of heady synths and dusty drum loops that get your head up and your ass moving.
Review: ICEBERG, MSM, PACH and Nature Boy team up for Ink Around & Find Out Vol 1, bringing four expertly crafted club tracks straight from the Squid US crew. This vinyl-only release delivers everything you need for the dancefloor, from deep grooves to high-energy rhythms, all wrapped in the unique Squid-verse vibe. Whether it's ICEBERG's icy precision, MSM's smooth flow, PACH's infectious energy, or Nature Boy's raw edge, this package offers a little something for every kind of set.
Review: Revered Japanese house producer and DJ Kaoru Inoue has been making his mark since the late 90s with releases music through his label Seeds and Ground and others like Mule Musiq and Groovement. Originally released in Japan in 2013, this newly reissued album blends world music, field recordings, ambient and electronic elements into an immersive and widescreen sound. It opens with the minimal gamelan ambient track 'Malam' followed by the Afro-Brazilian house of 'Selva' which is reminiscent of early Luciano and Villalobos. The album also features electric jazz fusion house, avant-garde tribal breakbeats and Balearic slow house. Closing with the melancholic new age piece 'Healing Force,' it's a timeless delight.
Review: Dias de Campo Records' fourth release comes in hot with 'Lucy' EP, a punchy three-tracker from Ibiza-based duo JNJS, with remixes from Liquid Earth. 'Lucy' sets the bar high: a pulsing minimal cut layered with laser-sharp synths, wobbling basslines, and hypnotic percussive patterns that feel alive with Ibizan energy. 'My Japanese Friend' shifts into spacier territory, a tight groove driven by crisp beats and playful, melodic touches. 'We Play In Blue' takes you deeper, balancing melancholy and rhythm. Liquid Earth adds his signature flair, with remixes that bring a trippy, acid-laden twist to the originals. Unmissable, high-octane minimalism.
Review: The first release on Johannes Kolter's (f.k.a. DJOKO new imprint, Koltrax, is a supremely funky mixture of tech house and funkstep helmed by the tongue-in-cheek 'Please Don't Call Me', that features multitudes of goofy vocal passages and telephone samples. The Cologne native has a unique blend of goofy late-noughties electrofunk sensibility combined with an undeniable German groove, somewhat reminiscent of Ryoji Yoshitomi and the ever-influential Hideki Naganuma with a sprinkle of Fatboy Slim. Tracks like 'Bust a Beat' are versatile jams to cut up on the dancefloor to - just as impactful on your home speaker system as it would be on a festival soundstage. This initial release has set an extremely high bar for Kolter to follow.
Review: Kompo is the man charged with taking care of the fifth EP from the Pachinko label and its a nice and colourful minimal and tech workout for sweaty floors. The opener 'My Mind Is Going' is a slapping bit of raw tech with twisted vocals and sheet metal synths, 'Case Of Sunday's' is a real head wrecker with acid pressure and crunchy drums then 'To The Four' is speedy industrial tech with tripped out lines and naughty bass. 'Eyes Closed' shuts down this most textured and in your faec EP of maximal minimal sounds with more coarse beats and sci-fi motifs.
Review: The debut release on the all-new Theresipolis label comes with a cryptic note that "Obscurity is giving way to visibility. Amidst the human dissonance, those who hear will follow the beckoning sounds of Theresiopolis." Make of that what you will, or simply skip to the sounds. Lowres opens up with 'Otpusk' which is a mix of sharp, bright, futurist synth lines and dusty, low-key house drums. TipToes locks you into a nicely intertwined blend of congas, chords and drums on 'Same Old Sausage Chicken' and on the flip Swales keeps it dynamic but loose with the acid-laced space tech of 'Release. Armless Kid's 'Oui Oui La France' has jostling breaks urging you to get stuck in.
Review: So far this year, Moscow-based Makebo has contributed tracks to two compilation-style EPs on All Day I Dream and Shanti Radio. Here the publicity shy artist returns to the latter label with a debut single that's well worth a few moments of your time. He first navigates the "Dense Forest", a dense thicket of foliage that wraps nature-fresh melodies, chink-of-light strings and photosynthesis pads around a rubbery tech-house groove, before inviting us to gaze upon the magic and mystery of hybrid deep house/tech-house workout "Wizard". He continues this combination of hazy warmth, melodious musical flourishes and rolling beats on B-side opener "Wanderer", while closing cut "Sentiment" is a richly orchestrated treat for those who like their club cuts to come complete with a sizable dose of emotion-rich musicality.
Review: Edition 8 from Bread & Butter Recordings is another sophisticated outing into the world of minimal and tech house from four fine artists. Modebaku's 'Kindred' is the kinetic, waify, wispy opener that gets deep under your skin and Primarie then gets more zoned out on curious and nebulous pads on 'Euforie.' Techu's 'Storytelling' then rides on super warm and smooth-cruising beats with supple synths laced throughout. It is the sort of tune you want to hear as the sun peaks through the blinds at the afters, while Ted Amber's 'Snozeer' is another colourful and diffuse tech house charmer.
Review: Micro Orbit is back with another trip around the cosmos almost exactly a year since they first launched into space with the first in their Pioneer Series. That was backed up with their Origins Series in January this year but it is to the Pioneers we return here with four finely crafted minimal and tech house cuts. Mtps's 'Moonrise' is a gritty, punchy opener with a stripped back sense of menace. Michaelis's 'Wax Off' is the sort of silky sound to spin you out at 5am and Mihai Pol's offers up deliciously deep and heady loops on his 'Zelot'. Fedo closes things down with the floating and suspensory dubbed out tech house delicacies of 'Anantkar Kaur.'
Review: Munir Nadir has been breaking through in the past few years with essential releases on 4Plae, Nuts On Board and Outcast Planet. Now he's minting a new label called Odd One Tape out of Italy, and bringing his playful, synth-rich sound with him. There's a nod to Italo and 80s electro in the sampling and throbbing, analogue groove of 'Rhythmistic', while 'Bass Jam' tips more towards the early 00s electro house boom a la Tiefschwarz and Tomas Andersson. 'Urban Whispers' has a more jackin' flavour with some low down sub freakiness thrown in for good measure, and 'Binary Technologies' brings the heat on the B2 with a powerful arpeggio and hard-slapping drums.
Review: Nae's four tracks don't necessarily conjure the chilly setting of an ice palace. Then again, we're never really been to an ice palace, so can't speak about what one would sound like translated into dance floor electronic music. What we can say, though, is this EP springs into bouncy, futurist-leaning minimal-style tech from the off and doesn't really look back. Some moments - 'Move', for example - are chuggier than others, while 'Seventy Springs' represents the deeper side of the package. Which is saying something, considering the whole thing feels rooted in the undergrowth of house-techno. Polished productions throughout, these are neither fillers nor bangers, and as such represent those difficult-to-locate tracks that keep mixes moving, ears attentive, and feet in motion. Simply put, it's Persona UK with another reason to invest.
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