DJs: Most Charted - Minimal / Tech - September 2011

Review: The pairing of Efdemin and RNDM has already borne some fruitful results for a scattered selection of EPs, and now the pair return with more of their austere minimal techno. The most surprising entry is opening track "Dirty Float" which staggers to life in a tangle of warm synth gurgles and micro-crackles with not a kick in sight. "Painting The Tape" is much more standard fare, plumbing the depths of looped hypnotism full of hushed synths and whispering beats, but "Sunrise Industry" lifts out of the murk with a greater presence and an engaging chime pitched perfectly for those early morning moments.

Review: Autoreply do the record buying public a favour and give Baby Ford's Tin Of Worms 12" another repress, this time on yellow wax. Baby Ford has been making electronic music since the late 1980s and is regarded by most as one of the key players in the nascent UK acid house scene. His entry into the Autoreply stable is a classy, versatile two tracker. The title track showcases crisp, tight linear drum programming - with ribcage shaking sub bass and supernatural synths which undulate over its eight minute cycle, displaying the original principles of minimal techno alongside forward thinking sound design. On the flip you'll find "Westway", originally recorded on Ford's now defunct hardware set up and mastered from DAT. This track conjours images of smoky late night jazz clubs with its smooth piano chords and strings that seem to float in an out of the mix- set starter, nightclub techno lesson, afterparty showpiece; the choice is yours...

Review: After the recent death of Kenny Hawkes, friend and studio partner David Parr resurrected a couple of tracks he and Kenny had worked on two summers ago. They unfortunately never made it to release before Kenny's death, but now, after work from David, "Green Grass" is available. This mesmerizing track flits between a jazzy vocal arrangement and deep house with ease - ripples of guitar and pulsing electronic pads create a beautiful and surreal soundscape as the vocals build into an ethereal string harmony. This is timeless house music just the way Kenny liked it. Everybody involved offered their services for free, so everything except the manufacturing costs can go to Kenny's nearest and dearest to help balance the books. Extra Paypal donations can be made to celebratekenny@gmail.com. Full support from the Juno team.

Review: Our favourite Swede, Sir Axel Boman makes his debut on Play It Down with the Nattsudd EP. In typical Boman style, the EP's upbeat pace and deliriously deep groove sing a rather sweet song when put to work together. A-Side "Nattsudd" plays its game well with punchy vocals and a bouncing bassline that fuels the groove nicely. Couple that with light jazzy keys though and it goes from a mere foot tapper into an eyes closed, hands in the air classic. "Paris 2006" featuring Studio Barnhus buddy Kornel Kovacs steals the show though, with its whispered and choppy cut vocals, vintage orchestral moments and expert arrangement that has had us all dancing at our desks here at Juno HQ this week. Highly recommended.

Review: Love Letters From Oslo have been going strong since 2008, supported by their parent label Oslo and its head honcho Nekes. It's rare that we see Nekes himself release on LLFO - his last output was back in 2009 - so this is cause for celebration. "Sleepless Nights" sparkles above all here, wispy and intriguing as its bassline ascends under warped vocal pockets and languid drum patterns. Hypnotic and blissfully sparse, it leaves room for imagination and groove. On the flip, "Soul Desert" compromises of a much funkier attitude with echoey tom drums and a rolling bass.