DJs: Most Charted - Minimal / Tech - Most Charted In March 2012

Review: Leeds-based duo PBR Streetgang have put in quite a performance in 2012, having been released on both 20:20 Vision and Hot Creations - this latest slice of tech-funk promises to be killer! The title track is a chugging beast accompanied by lazy, summery vocals and some very effective percussion work from the pair. The Hot Creations crew have put in a little surprise by giving Deetron the remix duties for the original, and the man adds in some seriously luscious synth chords to the equation. Even "Vibos" is further proof of the funk these guys are capable of - that FX-filtered percussion is just downright brilliant!

Review: In the fine tradition of Border Community, Luke Abbott comes correct with this selection of winsome techno designed to tug at the heartstrings through heavy deployment of gently detuning synths. "Brazil" in both its incarnations here shimmers with the hazy charm you expect form Mr Abbott, while "Grumble" has a real edge to it thanks to some wilful distortion. The krautrock tendencies of Etienne Jaunet's remix makes it our pick of the two (admittedly sublime) tweaks, although the Gold Panda version is well worth checking too.

Review: If you'd had US producer Brendon Moeller down as a dub techno artist, then you're in for a surprise! The title track does feature Moeller's robust beats and heavy rhythms, but it's the melancholic synth musings and tearing bass that remove it from the echo chamber cliches. "In A Trance In France" also pushes Moeller into a different direction; there, rolling drums and muffled vocals combine with swirling, ethereal melodies to create a deep techno/house hybrid. Moeller has more surprises: on "Hootin & Tootin", he combines jazzy sax squalls with waves of moody synths, while "Comet" sees him effortlessly fuse clipped beats with sensuous strings. Another quality drop from the under-appreciated Throne Of Blood!

Review: Japanese-born Fumiya Tanaka has been around for donkey's years, having released some timeless techno explosions on Tresor, Sundance and his very own Torema Records. It's time for his shot at the Perlon catalogue and "337" quickly sets the tone what what develops into a lo-fi, glitched-out frenzy of aqueous melodies, distant bass riffs and crunchy percussion - a subtle masterpiece. On the flip, things turn more raucous thanks to the nervous bundle of cowbells and snares spewing from all angles. Another great EP for Perlon's best year in a while!

Review: Romania's Vlad Caia has engineered his own personal take on minimal house and techno, with his last effort on Amphia being one of the years highlights! Romanian cousins All Inn Records invite him for a 2-tracker on the black label offshoot, where Caia kicks things off with "Routed", an enchanting journey into organic drums, subtle noise improvs and dreamy synth keys. "Morethenyourself" is Caia's housier personality, where his minimalitic approach is merged with a funky bundle of exotic vocals and subtle strings - Recommended to say the least!

Review: The suitably mysterious Anonym returns to D'Julz's esteemed Bass Culture imprint with the excellent Changing Cities EP which swiftly lays down the gauntlet via opening track "If Everyday Was A Sunny Day". A much more refined vision of the somewhat simplistic "preacher house" endeavours of Oliver $, Anonym deftly uses some sampled sermonolgy amidst a relentlessly driving house refrain that pays his dues to Detroit. David Duriez's self proclaimed Going Rogue dub is naturally darker in tone, introducing a nicely subaqueous thrust to proceedings. On the flip, the title track conveys a nice sense of bubbling, dubby calm with emotive chords gradually pulling at your heart strings over the nicely placed rhythms, which contrasts nicely with the slightly unhinged and spectrally charged "West Side Jack".