Back in stock: Minimal/Tech House

Review: If you ask us, Kalahari Oyster Cult is a label as unique in sound as it is in name. You can never quite be sure what they might serve up next, but you can be sure it is worth dialling into. Alfred Czital & Ayu step up for this one, which starts at high speed and has drums and hits skating along the surface at compelling pace as warped vocal fragments loop to trippy effect. 'Talk To Me' is another groove with real urgency but plenty of inventive sound designs and clipped, underlapping bass. It's hyper modern and dead good. The Sleep D remix is more zoned out and smooth for the afters and Roza Terenzi brings a signature sense of wonkiness.

Review: Sating minimal techno flows, Bondage Records preface their latest release with the phrase "next up". It's implied that, by sampling and cycling through many a novel artistic talent, their label becomes an unstoppable assembly line of feline sonics. Frankfurt producer and DJ Sascha Dive is next up, adding to an incredible daisy-wreath of 12"s put out since early 2005. 'I Was Deep In My Past Life' hears Dive dive back into one of his many pre-incarnate bygones via extra-mile sound synthesis and design, the resultant sound of which evokes an undulant, blobby time-tunnel. 'Dub Chronicles No7', meanwhile, has been thoroughly transient-maximised, with a snappy drum buss envelope uppercutting the technic beats like automations of an iron fist.

Review: DJs Concret and Inigo Vontier unite as a duo, The Diyeis: a crocodilian-simian fusion of primeval sound, uniting mammal and reptile. Their mission is to harness "the primal, tribal effect of ecstasy on the dancefloor" - this is, of course, a target which many producers shoot for, and yet whose tiny red bullseye few are actually able to hit. 'Ritmo' and 'Skat' opt for a different, rather minimal approach to achieve the same "primal" effect, contrasting the usual cliches of hide-taut hand drum and nighttime ghost-dance chants. The Diyeis don't need to abide such tritenesses; their claim is that the tendency towards primordial dancing always already exists in us, without requiring evocation in style. 'Muevelo', in fact, entirely upends anything we'd expect of a "primal, tribal" release, bringing digi-redux hats jacked to high, clipped heaven, and weird FX, which reach a similar, and yet more unconfined head on B2 'Lo Que Pasa'.

Review: The Space Trace label keeps quality high with this fourth outing on wax. Eric Os is on the button for this one with 'Underworld' first to lure you into its world with gently broken bets and moody pads setting an eerie tone. 'Stereophysical' is more jacked up with fizzing synth lines and warped pads over future house beats and 'Elusive' bringing some trance energy to its flashy, bright synths. 'Electrodreammachine' is a wonky electro workout with withering sci-fi motifs, puling synth sequences and raw hits. 'Feeling Real' and 'Cherry Red' complete the EP with more blends of house, electroclash and sleazy guitar riffs.

Review: The Spanish duo Veruh & Hummus Hernand deliver an electrifying four track packed with infectious grooves and dynamic textures. Side-1 kicks off with 'Luminus', a funky, techy roller driven by a crisp minimal grooveiaddictive, playful and effortlessly fun. Barac's remix takes it into deeper, atmospheric territory, refining the edges with a polished, spacey techno feel that adds a hypnotic touch. On Side-2, 'Fiutur' leans into an otherworldly, futuristic sound, blending techy elements with a sick, pulsating groove that keeps the energy high. Closing the release, 'Moscow' switches gears with an electro-funk influence, layering broken beats and punchy basslines for a raw, high-voltage finish. A forward-thinking release from an exciting duo, this EP bridges the gap between minimal, tech house and electro with undeniable style.

Review: Four new prangers from France's BOOOoo! crew, startling our ears with audio-apparitions by ghosts of the resident French sceno-system: Jamahr, Mooglee, Jucid and Odeon. 'Black Loops' and 'Flex (Booty Mix)' invade elastic terrains of bass and flicky synth, churn them back through meshes of gradated beats and rond-squelching stab notes. 'The Question Is' eliminates much of the A-side's establishing layers and overdubs, harking rubbery and slip-tastic FX design, countered by the equally sticky 'Jimbeldance'.

Review: Mehdi M's latest EP finds him expertly blending house, techno and bass-driven rhythms into one tight package. While the title might suggest a singular focus, each track on this release demonstrates the breadth of his sonic toolkit. The opener, 'Funky Mission,' kicks things off with a tight house groove, where punchy kicks and sharp snares form a solid foundation, while the high-pitched synth melody gradually builds to an energising peak. It's a fresh, feel-good start. On 'Sunday Service,' the vibe shiftsideep basslines rumble beneath a hypnotic rhythm, pulling the track into a more atmospheric space without losing energy. 'Funky Version' brings back a sense of playfulness, with bouncy bass and tight percussion, driving the track forward while keeping the mood light and funky. 'Tare Mode' stands out with its relentless grooveialmost hypnotic in its repetition, the bassline is starker, a steady pulse that forces the track into full-on motion. Closing things out, 'Ritmics' offers a complex, rhythmic journey, with intricate percussion and shifting textures that ensure the EP finishes as strong as it began.

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: RDS's latest for Jamming Is Life captures the essence of imperfection with raw, vintage machinery. The EP opens with 'Creek,' a deep acid-driven track that teases and builds, offering a mesmerizing, hypnotic rhythm. It's an immediate dancefloor mover, full of controlled chaos and shifting tension. Next, 'Chronicles' pulls us into darker, more mysterious territory. With tech-heavy beats and a tight, swirling atmosphere, it walks the line between groove and unpredictability. The driving rhythm never quite reveals its destination, keeping things fresh and engaging. On the B-side, 'Slappy Whappy Dub' stands out with its tribal, proggy undertones. The track builds slowly, adding layers of tension with each beat. Finally, 'Synergy-Lo' rounds things off with a subtle, trancy techno cut, bringing a satisfying, smooth close to a release built on unpredictability and rhythmic mastery.

Review: Luke Seager is a young, fresh and exciting new prouder from Paris who makes his debut on the French label Beau Mot Plage here having already made waves with his digital outing on Mari.Te's Tresydos. He kicks off with 'Cloud Surfing' which is a nice rigid tech warm up then 'About' Em' brings some silky space-tech vibes with nimbler drums and pads, 'Oystero' keeps the intergalactic feels flowing with more percussive, balmy beats and 'Mean Street' brings a darker, more heads down and back room sound. A Techline TM remix is the moody closer you need for the afters.

Review: Swayzak is a micro house, minimal and techno duo, aka James S Taylor and David Brown from the UK, whose name alone will get many older dancers hot under the collar. Their craft was second to none during their peak and here we get a reminder of that with a new outing on Rawax. 'Floyd' is a jazzy dancer with live claps, spinning hi-hats and louche grooves all topped with synthetic synths that never quit. 'Doobie' is a more deep sound with late-night headsy vibes. The drums are supple, the synths squeal and spoken word mutterings add a human touch. Two well-realised and effective cuts from Swayzak.