Back in stock: Minimal/Tech House

Review: A&A aka Anton Kubikov and Artem Rudakov, share a groovy, Detroit-influenced casualiser of an EP, bouncing between slipstreams of rubbery bass and slick, soulful chord voicings. Whatever said "blue transfer box" is, we're unsure whether it's wise to ask what exactly said box is transferring, or simply leave the mystery be. After all, it sounds great. And besides, we've also a 'Slow Disco Smoke Machine' to marvel at, one which wafts effortlessly between dreamboats of blue pad smoke and acidic stabs, facilitating the necessary headspace for 'Deep Thought'.

Review: Musek return for another V/A release, flaunting their artists' variegated hitmaking capacities. Fronting the release is a wonderful rework of Stockholm trio Art Fact's 'Rain In The South' from 1989, to which Francesco Farfa and Hamsa bring extra electronic-bodyweight to an originally dripping synth tune. A mystical mood is continually proferred across 'Mystic Perc' through to 'Blue Yes' by Roberto Manolio, traversing chime tinglings, acid breaks and dreamy vocals: "pretty blue eyes... you're mesmerised... don't look to hard... you may never come back from that..."

Review: Club Vision's tenth release celebrates a deep creative bond with Atimpuri who presents his standout new EP, Epic Wave. The A-side opens with 'Critical Moments,' a euphoric house cut radiating warmth and positivity that you cannot escape. The title track follows and delivers a hypnotic trance journey driven by energetic drums and an unforgettable lead riff. On the B-side, 'Morning Crying' channels classic 90s house with lush pads and a bold bassline, while 'Smw' offers a dreamy breakbeat closer rich with strings and immersive effects. Blending past and present, Atimpuri crafts a sound that's both nostalgic and forward-thinking here.

Review: Spain's Tensegrity Records makes its debut with a release that locks together rhythm and atmosphere like well-fitted joints in a wooden lattice. Founded by Babu, the label takes its name from the concept of tensegrityistructures held in equilibrium through tension and compression. That same principle underpins these five tracks, where restraint and release shape the groove. 'Tensegrity' sets the foundation, interlocking elements with a patient, tensile flow. 'Erase una vez' nods to electro and new wave, its synth lines tinged with nostalgia, while 'Meritocracia' stretches out into lush, contemplative territory. On the flip, 'Romi' leans into shadowy, percussive minimalism, its tribal pulse threading through negative space. 'Structural Stress' closes with a rawer energy, drawn from personal upheaval yet channelled into something direct and resolute. With only 200 copies pressed, this first transmission from Tensegrity Records feels not just meticulously crafted, but necessary.

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: Public Possession rolls out another of its Big Beat Manifestos here with Eden Burns once again at the buttons for volume 8. He is a master of inventive house grooves that have a little something extra which always stands them apart. The opener here is a case in point - it has car horns and Spanish vocal mutterings dropping in and out of a minimal grove to weird effect. There is some spraying acid energy to the more pumping 'Hopeless Beat' while the flips has a darker and more experimental cut in 'Xoh' which also comes as a dub, plus the icy deep house chills of '7 Loop.'

Review: Dark tech house's current Olympic torch-bearer, Inermu, present the seventh edition in their very own vari-prod vinyl series. A polysemous production outfit whose guises vary, this new one from Dexter James and Dominic Aquila presents a hard-nosed heater from the lockoff London crew. With most of their releases having been housed on black labels so far, this one is an exceptional whiteout, with lemni-skating delays and conga-happy tribal drives resounding across 'Tougher & Darker' and 'Music For Dark Rooms'. 'No Other' completes the record with a downtime B-side, with subtle pad swirls and taciturn talking drums working well as substitute basslines.

Review: Stefano Di Carlo' delivers a diverse mix of upbeat, energetic techno tracks perfect for the dancefloor. The first side kicks off with the Andy Perfetti Tribal City remix of Mad DJ, an uptempo burner with a catchy lead hook that immediately hooks the listener, setting the stage for high-energy vibes. The Alex Neri DJ Mad remix takes things in a more trance-like direction, with euphoric, psychedelic elements that create a distinct uplifting feel while maintaining a strong club rhythm. On Side-2, 'The Conversion' brings a vintage, rave-inspired melodic sound, with a nostalgic yet fresh feel. Finally, the original 'Mad DJ' track offers an otherworldly, alien vibe, with early 90s techno influences and a surprising house twist. Di Carlo's ability to blend different styles and eras offers something for both old-school techno lovers and those craving a more modern, experimental edge.

Review: Re-United nobly unveil their second release, 'Shock', a sharp, stylish repossession of the talents of one Paolo Driver and Alberto Bof. A perfectomundo blend of classic trance tranches and modern jam-house, the release also houses a remix by Niki B on 'The Spring', with profound implications to follow. Said closing remix is especially swarthy and down-under, evoking catlike slinks down alleys in the night with its slower-burning, electrostatic moves.

Review: OGE White has released plenty of great slabs of wax by the likes of Philipp Boss, Hollow Fraud and Natalie Gardiner, and this time out it is the returning Enzo Leep who impresses with four tunes in collaboration with Giralda. 'Beat Goes On' starts things off in jazzy fashion with some manic chords dancing drunkenly about the piano next to a jumble of percussion and weird samples. 'Aroa T Lo Miro' then kiss it fresh with more breakbeats, steamy vocal samples, high-speed beats and a funky mood, then 'Hell Or Heaven' has a dry, percussive rhythm that is marbled with characterful vocal stabs. 'Conscious Of My Conscience' is a surefire winner with its seductive 80s soul vocals sampled from a well-loved duo.

Review: Foehn & Jerome's Hermanngirl EP delivers four standout tracks perfect for house club sets. On Side-1, the title track 'Hermanngirl' offers a smooth blend of tech and minimal house, ideal for late-night or early-morning sessions. 'New Kontrol' follows with a techy, uptempo vibe and a wicked bassline that makes it a tech house bomb. Side-2 opens with 'Mrs Eleven' (Tell My Wife mix), which seamlessly blends techno and house with a catchy melody that will stay with you. The final track, 'He Was A Boy,' features an infectious acid line and a great bounce and bubble, making it a perfect dancefloor filler. This EP is excellent and ideal for fans of minimal and tech house. These underground tracks are what DJ's search for. Check these out!

Review: Alex Font follows up on a successful run of double pack drops on acme with a charming new 12" for Purple Print. As ever, the minimal tech house standard bearer straps his ideas to sleek, refined grooves, but it's the musicality which marks this record out as an essential purchase. 'Hablame De Ti' is cast in melancholic synth refrains and forlorn vocal murmurations which drip with pensive mood to take the dancefloor somewhere deeper than usual. 'El Instrumento Del Barrio' has its own sentimental story to tell, this time led by expressive piano work which glides over the steadfast rhythm section. Meanwhile scene stalwarts Arapu and Brawther are on hand to deliver on-point remixes which amp up the club-ready appeal of this standout EP.

Review: Tal Fussman's new EP 'Focus' is a dazzling experimental techno gem. Following up releases on the likes of Survival Tactics and Innervisions, Fussman this time crops up on Drumpoet Community's catalogue for a stylistically fragmentary, but still somehow unified, five-tracker. It's hard to put our fingers on the je ne sais qoui of this EP's charm, though one thing we can nod to is its overarching glassy feel, whether evoked by the brittle front cover or refractive synthwork throughout. The arc of the EP is dub techno-ish, then IDM and breaksy, and back again, reflecting a stylistic unpretentiousness despite the producer's clearly, unusually cogent talents.

Review: Uruguay has been a low-key hotspot for new school techno and house for sometime. Adding its own voice into the mix for the first time here is new label Ascendancy with a debut EP from Arturo Hernzama. 'Charamusca' is tough, industrial but also astral tech with stark hits and motorised bass. 'Pichikatero' is a little more loose with wonky basslines and shimmering sci-fi synths. There is a spaced-out and trance-inducing magic to the thumping beats of 'Chucaro' and 'Break Manada' closes on a fresh and crisp broken beat.

Review: Jooice, yet another sublabel of London-based proggy dance and electro label Lirica Archives, drop a swell new dark acid trance release collectively smithed by five sound-stokers: J6, Christian Sarde, Aline Umber, Krol and Otis. Each titans in their respective scenes (between which there is much crossover on this release), the overarching mood is one of renegade sci-fi escapism and revolution, with glitching, quivering robo-vocals and technic, sciencey sound-tunnellings aplenty.

Review: After a couple of hot and heavy drops from Nuclear Waster on Unusual Systems sub label Impakto, it's the turn of Jacky Meurisse Project to bring the energy with some muscular workouts which split the difference between house-spirited sass and ominous techno pressure. The MIDI brass weaving through 'Diskoteka' gives a little warmth to an otherwise imposing workout, while 'Crystal (Dub Mix)' leans in on crunchy synths with an industrial feel. 'In Da Place' revels in unabashed Goa trance lead lines which will go down a storm with any contemporary dance party, and 'Are You Real?' turns back towards that housey thump thanks to an addictive DX7 organ bassline primed for maximum satisfaction.

Review: The first release on the freshly minted MASS label is a smorgasbord of nostalgic, retri-futurist delights that showcases cuts from a quartet of artists old and new. Kelper kicks things off by adding warming chords, squelchy synth bass and far-sighted electronic motifs to a punchy electro beat, before Midge Thompson joins the dots between spacey, early '90s deep house and the sub-heavy sound of bleep techno. Nikol's 'Leon' is a fine tribute to early '90s UK techno full of clattering drum machine beats, moody motifs and stabbing 'LFO' bass, while Keefy G's 'Tools For Le Car' sounds like an unlikely collaboration between Kraftwerk, Sweet Excorcist, the Nathaniel X Project and a restless scratch DJ. As label debuts go, it's an impressive first outing.

Review: Portal Jams delivers a solid dose of progressive house with the '7th Day' EP on Open Channel For Dreamers records, offering three tracks that encapsulate the genre's best qualities. On Side-1, 'Brain Galaxy' stands out with its clever fusion of breakbeat and progressive house, anchored by a driving acid line that morphs into a deep, resonant bassline. The track's spacey, airy melody elevates the experience, giving it an irresistible old-school vibe with a modern twist. Side-2 opens with 'Reel Dominator,' a track that skillfully marries tech allure with a 90s progressive house feel. Its West Coast influence is unmistakable, blending creativity and nostalgia into a seamless whole. The EP closes with 'People Dancing,' a track that lives up to its name with a bouncy bassline that's impossible to resist. The futuristic elements intertwine with timeless drum patterns, making it both fun and forward-thinking. A well-crafted journey through the many facets of progressive house, with each track offering a unique yet cohesive experience.

Review: The brainchild of New York-based producer and Archivio Records founder Daniel Dutts, Risk/Reward talk a big label game: without risk, you cannot hope of a reward. On their latest EP, which affirms the label's now well-hedged reputations as risk managers, they welcome Philly duo Post Play (Sweater and John Raffaele) to the portfolio. A primal, basic lexicon is invoked in plain English track titles, from 'Go' to 'Danger', singling out the primacy of dance music over our critics' preferred mode of logorrhoea; they also serve, of course, to remotely insist on that basest of basic instincts: to dance. Bushwacka!'s remix of Danger delivers crisp percussion, deep bass, descendent lasers, and a "talking" synth reminiscent of the homonymous bush.

Review: Prince De Takicardie delivers a new four-track set of tachycardial heart-racers as reinforcements to his own Prince's Castle, which is both a label and a proverbial princely citadel. This is also the Barceloni producer's second edition to the powered 'Force Bleu' EP series, matched colourfully by the equally propulsive 'Force Rouge' counterpart, for which there have also been two records so far. Increasing in both pace and intensity, this raw and jammy follow-up reaches its crescendo at the rough 15-minute mark with the hypnotic 'EX-ecute (Execution Mix)', which conclusively yields to mesmeric acid and mystical three-tone entrainments, contrasting the first three track's relative utilitarian sense.

Review: Tifra ventures into uncharted territory with a four track EP that explores the hypnotic and ominous depths of the unknown. Channelling the spirit of 90s and 00s house and prog, Tifra crafts a sonic landscape of undulating grooves and mesmerizing rhythms. 'Invoke Hysteria' sets the tone with its pulsating energy, while 'Serpent' slithers through hypnotic textures and haunting melodies. The title track, 'Terra Incognita', delves deeper into the unknown, its hypnotic groove punctuated by unexpected twists and turns. Admo's masterful remix adds another dimension, transforming the track into a peak-time weapon. This EP is a journey into the depths of sound, a testament to Tifra's ability to craft captivating and immersive electronic music.

Review: The no-nonsense Holic Trax crew have got two superbly assured artists together on one fine 12" here. Ibiza based talent Tucillo and Fat East magician Took Tamura both have already long since proven their credentials and here they draw on their vast reserves of creativity for a varied EP that opens with the pulsing minimal house of 'Golden Ring' before 'Salvadanaio' gets deeper and more dubby, with mysterious chords slowly hypnotising you. 'Stella' picks up the pace with fatter, fleshier drums and modulated synth texture and last of all is a breezy, super cool and smooth deep house cut 'Joint Soft' (Japanese Napolitan edit).

Review: Harry Wills, known for his classy and distinctive house productions, returns with the 'Heads & Volleys' EP on Salty Nuts, offering four varied tracks perfect for different moods and times. With each track, Wills shows his unique ability to craft sophisticated yet groovy soundscapes. The title track, 'Heads & Volleys', sets the tone with a deep, minimal groove featuring a demented piano line and an ominous house vibe that builds tension. It's a late-night groover that'll keep dancers locked in. Next, 'Cruisin'' delivers a big, driving bassline paired with a mellow keyboard atmosphere, creating a smooth yet energetic track ideal for winding down or starting a set. On Side-2, 'Encounters' brings a catchy vocal loop that gets stuck in your head, riding atop a groovy, classic house foundationiperfect for peak-time moments. Closing out the EP, 'Gliderite' shifts gears with a wicked acid house influence, featuring a rolling bassline that's edgy, addictive, and full of attitude. Each track on Heads & Volleys delivers something different, proving once again that Harry Wills knows how to craft house music for any occasion with depth and style.