Review: Planka Records continues to solidify its underground credibility with its third release which offers up a group of international producers. The EP dives into electro grooves and stripped-back, hypnotic rhythms designed for the raw, gritty corners of the club and Aka Juanjo kicks off with the neck-snapping pressure of 'Modo Electro.' Jesse You brings some proto-trance synth work then Stefano Andriezzi gets freaky with ice-cold drum machines and --burrowing basslines on 'Teknica'.
Review: Brooklyn is not often somewhere you think of when it comes to minimal, a sound more usually associated with European artists these days, unless of course, you're talking about early US originators like Dan Bell and Robert Hood. This release suggests that view is wrong with a trio of classy cuts. Mike Berardi's 'Helicopter Ride' is lively and jazzy and rides a nice broken beat. Samuel Padden's 'String Theory' is more icy and paired back to a minimal cosmic trip and Jay Tripwire's 'Floorboards' a wonky late-night charmer.
Review: "Right, OK!" Worm Records offer up their second various artists release for 2024, coming just a neat two months after September's inaugural release featuring Ruf Dug, Wallace, The Mole and Gallegos. Now the label turn their hand to a completely different league of artists, convoking Boulderhead, Wooka, DMX Krew and Jorg Kuning for yet another star-studded audio-strudel, spanning both chilled and heated ends of the spectrum. Boulderhead's A1 is the ludic highlight among the four, a charming Valley Girl voice peppering the vocal track with exceptional backhandedness; we hear talk of floating on clouds and an affect of casual acceptance behind the glitch-science, suggesting vibes of bounciness and breeze. Wooka goes sillier speed garage on 'Make Yourself Comfortable', a challenging charge given the track's otherwise rather jagged jam; Krew and Koenig close things off on a comparatively calm note, the former's B1 opting for a set of bruk-en beats and wet synth yaps, and the latter's 'Imbolc' quiescing with clement Rhodeses and homely drum machines.
Review: After a blistering first 'Hot Creations Sampler' EP heard an inaugural black-gold palm tree get blown down, with everyone to hear it, now comes a gratifyingly quick follow-up, this time with Steve Bug, Denney, Joshwa, Vintage Culture, Vinter and Hot Since 82 all in tow. No-one misses a kick, with Bug & Denney's opening gambit 'That Beat' locking down a morse bassline against stereo planed beat axis; Hot Since 82 contrasts with the incredibo 'Sonedo', which relays pop dance saxophony a-la Alexandra Stan through a believably ecstatic deep house filter. Second's the best!
Review: Makin Moves pull another funny on us; their multi-volume exclusives series is called "Unreleased", despite each release in the series, by taut definition, constituting a release. But to call a track "unreleased", when it decidedly now isn't, does, we admit, help mythologise it to the extent that it makes it more desirable; the proviso here being, of course, that the tracks in this series are relegated to vinyl first, with no promises made as to a potential future digitisation. So do New Yorker Conway Kasey and fellow artist Johnny Melek deck out the final-vinyl front side with 'Jazz Fest' and 'Myrrr', the latter especially thrilling us with a formant-shifted Juliet Mendosa on vocals. On the other hand, Reggie Steele and David Harness enter into a nice remix interplay with 'Vulnerable', piggybacking on the original 2024 release's establishing anodynes.
Review: After years spent serving up tasty, digital-only singles, Polish imprint That's Right Dawg Music finally makes its vinyl bow via a six-track mini-album featuring some of their most-checked catalogue cuts. Demarkus Lewis kicks things off via the carefully crafted disco-house release of 'TGIF', before Federfunk slams down the jazz-sampling peak-time punchiness of 'We Keep It Groovin' and Jazzmik offers up the funky deep house bounce of 'Get Him Outta Here'. Over on the reverse, Oggie B cannily combines mind-mangling electronic stabs, pumping beats and orgasmic vocal samples ('Steady Old Foot'), Makson makes great use of vintage rap and disco guitar samples on the energy-packed house thump of 'Last Man Standing', and Casserta and Jonny C join forces on the bass-heavy garage-house bump of 'Party #1'.
Review: Mark Grusane presence on Disctechno brings with it a compilation of five unique house tracks from Chicago and Detroit-based producers, as you will probably have guessed from the title. The A-side features DJ Slush's synth-driven 'Memory Blank' and Deon Jamar's bass-heavy 'AYYYO' which offer different but both killer sounds. The B-side opens with Jordan Zawideh's reverb-drenched 'Axolotls' followed by Grusane's intense, atonal 'The Recoil' and concludes with Thomas Xu's groovy 'School Street.' All of these are the sort of off-kilter sounds you would expect of these revered and enduring electric hotbeds. Raw, stripped-down and authentic, this is the contemporary Midwest underground.
Review: Ira James continues the fine curation of his excellent Vessel Recordings label here with a pair of legends taking care of a new three-track EP. Doc Martin and Joeski are long-time house royalty and they open up here with 'Join Hands' which is low-slung tech with rolling drums and some majestic piano chords that light up things with real emotion next to a passionate vocal. 'It's Time' pairs things back and allows a nice live-sounding and funky bassline to shine under percussive drums and 'Roots' has more swing to it as organic sound effects and crunchy snares all add detail.
Review: Part one of Refuge's new La Decima V/A 12" series hears select tunes from select artists, all of whom have made significant contributions to the label's catalogue over the years. Spanning everything from firmly driven nu-disco to scratch n' sniff garage house to Chi-style stompers, we're more than enthralled by this well-rounded resonator. The best of the bunch has to be Demuir's 'Vibez High', which moves unabashed and stringy, its clawing claps, freeze-locked funk licks and scraping open hats painting a vivid street scene set outside the house.
Review: Caleto Records's eighth outing takes the form of this various artists compilation featuring exclusively Polish producers. The Etat Cru duo of Olszewski and Pawlescu kick off with the wire and sinewy synths and tech house pomp of 'Jasmina' then Jerry M offers two cuts. 'Gutek' is a nice spaced-out tech cruiser with flashy astral pads and 'Gondin' rides on well-designed breakbeats with an old-school bassline. Robsessive's 'Look After You' is a deeper, dubber, grittier cut for late-night vibes and SIM ON's 'Brudas' is all glitchy and dystopian urban landscaping. Poland sure has plenty of talent based on this EP.
Gettoblaster & Terry Mullan - "Armando's Ghost" (5:09)
Gettoblaster - "Is's Bangin'" (feat Joe Smooth) (5:03)
Gettoblaster & Chip E - "Time To Jack" (edit) (5:15)
Review: This new 12" on Aliens On Wax declares that Chicago Jack Is Back and we are fine with that. The raw, early, street wise sounds of the Windy City are still some of the best house has ever given rise to and that is encapsulated across four new cuts from Gettoblaster and two collaborators. First it's Baggi on 'Throwin' Down' (feat Chip E) then it's Terry Mullan on 'Armando's Ghost'. The flipside has the solo cuts though both feature house legends Chip E and Joe Smooth making this the most authentic package of jack you will have heard in some time.
Review: It's worth noting this is a pretty impressive 125th EP from the Bristol label Shall Not Fade. The shine has not come off this always eclectic label in that time and next up to move things on is the dream team pairing of Lawrence J and J Peacock. 'Too Far To Come Back' opens up with some celebratory Daft Punk-style, hands-in-the-air and festival-sized house. 'Everything I've Got' keeps it a little deeper but filter synths still take centre stage with a balmy twist and 'Brother John' slows to heavy beatdown house with rapturous chords and vocals all swirling around to great and uplifting effect.
Review: Toolroom's Fool's Paradise offshoot has done a good job in offering up fresh, disco-inspired material, but it also acts as an outlet for key crew member Michael Gray's 21st century reworks of classic disco cuts. On this 12", the long-serving Essex producer puts his slant on Inner Life's boogie-era gem 'I Like It Like That', a 1982 Salsoul single fronted by a then young Jocelyn Brown and produced by Leroy Burgess and Patrick Adams associate Stan Lucas. Gray begins with a lightly housed-up - but suitably reverential - full vocal remix, ensuring plenty of space for the studio band's squiggly synths, bold pianos and dextrous bass guitar. Arguably even better is the B-side 'Dub', which alternates between heavy groove sections, extended breakdowns and effects-laden showcases of Inner Life's piano, bass and synths.
Review: Berlin's Exit Strategy began their 12"s game releasing EPs in browned sleeves, shortly before branching out into digital-vinyl combo releases with original artwork in the 2020s. Now with over ten years of experience under their belts, they welcome five new artists for a playful bricolage in deep and minimal techno, privileging elite, razor-sharp additive sound design and future-soulful vocal tasters. Ivory's opener 'Rain' epitomises this, while Jimi Jules squelchifies the same formula, and Aera's 'Future Holdings' rolls out the same logic to its ultimate conclusion, veering towards complex, 3D-graphic melodic techno composed entirely of climbing saws.
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: Gideon Jackson and Eddie Richards are bona fide tech house titans who have more than helped to shape the genre since day dot and the All Rise EP sees three of their finer past glories gathered together and remastered and pressed on lovely red wax. The excellent 'Biscuit Barrel Blues' opens with exactly the sort of compelling drum work you would expect and it is imbued with some prying synths and sultry vocals. There is an irresistible glitch and dryness to 'Pull Tab 2 Open' and its smeared pads that make it perfect body music then 'Crying' (Gideon Jackson remix) brings a more heavy tech house sound with extra dub weight. Perfection.
Review: 'Ski Jacket 87' is a compelling slice of watery warmth and womblike wonder from Edinburgh's Jacksonville, the latest signee of the city's equally esteemed fast-riser imprint Chateau Chapere. A two-decade fixture of the Scottish scene now, the Hizou and Innershift affiliate evidences his production abilities inasmuch as he does a concern for the dancefloor also. Something between a funky French touch and Mr Fingers-esque dream house is built and or felt here, though this isn't the kind of dream house that can really be achieved or constructed in reality, rather more so accessed only through the sublimity of the sonic daydream.
Review: Max Jacobson's 'Green Mill' EP on Tied channels the raw, immersive vibe of Chicago's underground, weaving minimal, deep, and tech house into a cohesive journey. Opening with 'Green Mill,' the EP sets a deep groove with atmospheric layers and subtle melodies. Sepp's remix on the flip strips things back, adding his signature minimal touch and fresh textures to shift the track into new terrain. Side B brings 'Automatic,' a punchy, rhythm-driven piece, while 'Mortal' closes with introspective soundscapes and fluid grooves. This EP is a late-night essential for fans of intricate house rhythms.
Review: Last year, Home of House Records founder - and the producer responsible for the first release on the admired Kalahari Oyster Cult imprint - delivered his first new EP of music in over five years. The creative juices now flowing again, he's landed on another admired imprint: Hamburg stable Smallville. He begins in confident mood via the new age house-meets-vintage-Italian house hustle of 'Move Your Body', where Enigma style synth-flutes and elongated chords flutter around a squelchy bassline, before opting for a dreamier and more thickset classic deep garage-house sound on 'Feel The G'. The Italian producer reaches for more sublime ambient house chords, jazzy bass and eyes-closed melodies on flip-side opener 'One Kiss One', while 'Isola 89' sounds like his tribute to the 'paradise house' of Don Carlos and Sueno Latino.
Contemporary Outdoors (A Vision Of Panorama remix) (4:37)
Contemporary Outdoors (Byron The Aquarius Midnight instrumental remix) (5:29)
Review: Igor Jadranin returns with another interstellar EP that redefines genre boundaries. Blending boogie basslines, futuristic synths, vintage drum machines and lush flute, piano and vibraphone melodies, the producer delivers cosmic electro-boogie with a playful edge. Tracks like 'Gangster Electro' bring hard-hitting beats, while remixes from Byron The Aquarius and A Vision of Panorama expand the palette. Byron's haunting 'Midnight' mixes crunch with eerie vibes while Panorama's Nu-Balearic twist adds sunrise warmth to the original. It all adds up to a bold 12" from the much-loved Chicago label.
Review: The idea of the 'Dreamworld' has pervaded all dance music since its beginnings, and 2024 proves no exception to this rule, with the latest astral projection of its kind coming by way of producer Jalil. Debuting 'Dreamworld' for his local label Stillwell, this is an acid house EP of carefully lucid exploratory proportions. Jalil builds a jocose yet driven palette from found samples against sombre backings, working a seemingly endless spate of transitional hits and impacts about a central acid line on 'Oberheimer'. He then dashes this intro's sense of withdrawal with an audacious pinch-point in the form of 'Moods Of Madness', a favourite of ours, adding aqueous chord-data to an already osmotic pulse.
Review: He may come from noted house stock (his dad being one of the residents at Glasgow's Sub-Club for decades), but Jasper James' continued success has been built on his undoubted qualities as a DJ and producer. The latter is clearly evident on the Glaswegian's first EP for ChiWax, which follows earlier lauded releases for the likes of Steel City Dance Discs and Optimo Trax. He goes for the jugular on opener 'Factor 50', peppering a raw, analogue bassline and sweaty acid house beats with sparkling piano riffs and occasional hands-in-the-air moments, before opting for a more Kerri Chandler-influenced sound on 'NY Fuzz'. 'Lost Trax' is a riff-sporting jack-track that sounds like it could have been made in Chicago in 1988, while 'Webster' is a gorgeous, analogue-rich deep house workout.
Review: Veteran Aussie artist Kaz James returns with a dynamic double A-side that finds him laying down some slick tech-house vibes underpinned with catchy grooves. 'Rocker In The Disco' has a fleshy low end that rumbles with real weight as spiralling chords add scale. It's a moody cut that keeps you on edge then on the flip side, 'Dance Her Right' maintains the energy with punchy basslines and catchy hooks. It's a more buoyant sound designed to lock in dancers and take them to the next level. Both tracks have become key features in his sets at events like Art Basel, Burning Man, and Pacha Ibiza and following the success of his hit 'Sun is Shining' he shows he still has plenty more to say.
Review: Jamie 3:26, the Chicago house luminary, returns with the second instalment of his Danacefloor Damage series, a collection of re-rubbed disco cuts crafted with the dancefloor in mind, but possessing a depth that transcends the club. This time around, he's unearthed three gems, each an ode to his impeccable taste and his uncanny ability to breathe new life into forgotten classics. 'Flyin'' takes flight with a dizzying array of soaring strings and a groove that's as infectious as it is propulsive. 'Funkin' (Hardy Tribute Version)' pays homage to late disco/early house legend Ron Hardy, its driving bassline and soulful vocals a fitting tribute to his enduring influence. 'Jungle DJ Tool' injects a tribal energy into the mix, its percussive rhythms and hypnotic chants guaranteed to induce a state of dancefloor abandon. Jamie 3:26's edits are a masterclass in dancefloor manipulation, expertly balancing euphoric highs with moments of introspective restraint. A potent reminder that the classics never truly die when preserved in the right hands.
Space Cowboy (Michael Gray's Good Vibe Zone extended) (6:23)
Space Cowboy (Michael Gray's Good Vibe Zone dub) (5:50)
Review: Jamiroquai always had a unique sound that sat somewhere between pop, house, disco, funk and cosmic delight. His great singles were always ripe for remixing and few do it better than house man Michael Gray. Here he tackles the evergreen 'Space Cowboy' with a Good Vibe Zone - extended mix that layers in some nice funky, soulful drums and lavish cosmic melodies that make it perfect for cultured clubs. On the flip of this new 12" from Sultra is a dub mix that is a little more playful and party starting. Both tunes are sure to raise the roof.
Review: Expoz by JanaretT & Miroloja marks another successful collaboration between the two camps, delivering four tracks of beautiful spacey melodic techno and tech house. The A-side opens with the title track, 'Expoz,' a club-focused tech house anthem that balances techy elements with pulsating melodies, setting the tone for the EP. Following is 'Fraistival,' offering a slightly progressive house vibe with a captivating melody that flows seamlessly. On Side 2, 'Anomisk' emerges as a catchy builder, drawing listeners in with its infectious rhythm and evolving layers. Closing the EP is 'Vertu,' a chill deep house gem perfect for late-night sessions, exuding class and elegance while maintaining a melodic allure. The resulting collaboration continues to give us tracks that are both hypnotic and immersive.
Review: Makin' Moves ushers in 2025 with a fiery four-tracker from Detroit's Javonntte, a producer whose journey through the city's vibrant musical landscape is etched into every groove. A veteran of the early 90s house scene, Javonntte honed his craft alongside luminaries like Blake Baxter and Amp Fiddler, his experience evident in the sheer breadth and depth of this collection. 'Chicago' is a pulsating homage to his hometown, its jacking rhythms and soulful chords imbued with the spirit of the city's dance music legacy. 'Good Vibration' exudes a radiant energy, its infectious melodies and uplifting vocals a testament to the joyous side of house music. 'What' takes a darker turn, its hypnotic groove and yearning vocals conjuring images of late-night introspection and soul-searching on the dancefloor. 'White Wing Dove' is a glorious ascent, its gospel-tinged chords and soaring vocals are exemplary of Javonntte's ability to weave spirituality and dancefloor energy into a cohesive whole. A great reminder that Javonntte's deep roots in house music continue to nourish his creativity
Review: 'Decide' was the third single from Jay-J's debut artist album, Love Alive. It comes on 7" via Anorak and has the wonderful vocal brilliance of Big Brooklyn Red adding some soul to J's sophisticated r&b production, all remixed byTortured Soul's Ethan White two different ways. 'Decide' (Ethan White Easy Trax mix) is as lush and soulful as house music gets with swirling pads and organic drum hits over the rolling bassline all working to seduce any floor. On the flip is his Lazy Boy dub which has more skip in the drums and the chords are brighter and more central, but the deepness remains.
Review: Soul Quest proudly present their latest release from Berlin DJ and producer Jean Jez, who lays down an abstemious, soulful exercise in sound here. Brought forward by 'Did You Want To Dance' and 'Take Me To The Moon' on the A, Jez riffs on the outstanding feelings of his recent Kedi Bounce parties thrown in eastern Berlin with a perfect pair of warming soulful deep house numbers. The vibe maintains itself on the B, which starts out percussive and yet prefers a more gradual incline into depth and profundity; 'What Is It Tell Me' is our prowler of choice.
Zopelar - "Move This Way" (feat Antonio Dal Bo) (6:28)
Retromigration - "Fret" (6:15)
Cem Mo - "Rushmore" (5:41)
Monty DJ - "Sat15" (5:25)
Review: To keep it in the family is to imply things stay pure and untainted, but the irony with the Keep It In The Family 12" series is that every record sounds raw and unsheltered. So, although 'Feel' and 'Move This Way' cycle through unperturbed and dreamatic sounds, their finish is rough, suggesting a well-wrought processing chain, the music having seen through many a prodigal battle. Retromigration's 'Fret' and Cem Mo's 'Rushmore' continue the mood of vintage deep raspiness, with one-up arpeggios closing out the final track with special glee.
Review: French producer Jehan is next up on Blur Records with a new EP, TV Screen, that shows that he has a sophisticated approach when it comes to bending free jazz with electronic music and a love of hip-hop. The latter of those is evident in the title of the opener, '92 Till Infinity', which pairs lazy keys with lazier beats and soul drenched vocals. 'Montre Suisse' (feat Donnie Moustaki) has dusty beats that sound like they might fall over themselves topped with warm organ chords and 'You Win' (feat Scruscru & Meowsn) then brings a sweet and swaggering deep house vibe. The flip keeps the slow burning and late night feelings alive with a trio of loved up, well sampled, blissed out beats.
Review: Kito Jempere delivers a fiery four-track package that will electrify dance floors with his first outing of 2025. A bold departure from today's mainstream dance sounds, his New Life EP blends adventurous beats with a rebellious spirit and the lead track channels New Order's Technique era but is infused with early hip-hop breaks and a mix of acid, happy hardcore and ghetto tech. 'LoveFilter' takes a dreamy, chilled trip across electronic landscapes while 'Killer Line De-Part' combines trance, grunge and '80s analogue vibes for a thrilling climax. Closing with 'Put Love Into Your Heart (Club Mix),' Jempere leaves us with uplifting, feel-good energy.
Review: Bad Timin's next drop is a sort of greatest hits collection that brings plenty of its previous releases by Jex Opolis to vinyl for the first time. It kicks off with the perma-fan-favourite 'Music' which is high on unbridled piano joy and hard house beats that bang. 'Lizard (feat Precious Okome)' is another one with surges of big chord magic, 'If You Wanna' has silky liquid synths and cosmic arps ensuring maximum take-off while 'Wide Awake (dub)' brings a kaleidoscopic intergalactic trip. This serves as both a perfect introduction for anyone who hasn't been paying close enough attention, or a fine collection of greats from the always on form Mr. Opolis.
Sharam Jey presents Stressman - "House The Party" (5:27)
Cle Acklin - "No Need To See" (main mix) (8:02)
Review: The ninth addition to Mineral Cuts' two-sider 12"s series comes courtesy of producers Cle Acklin, Sharam Jey and Stressman, offering a tritonic trance tranche of geologic audio wonders. Jey's 'House To The Party' moves glassy and vocal, its central vocal sample resounding again and again to the point of semantic satiation, as refractively syncopated synth sevenths burst atop the mix. The crystalline moods continue, with FX resembling dial-up tones trilling away on Acklin's 'No Need To See'. Both tracks proffer a polished torso-tucking sound, perfect for the lightfooted dancefloor.
Review: Mole Music branches out for the first time to vinyl here and shows it has a great wealth of talent to call on with a various artists' EP that is presumably the start of a new series. Holy Guacamole Vol 1 kicks off with JHNS keeping it deep and lively with 'Nevermind' while Steve End and Colau hook up for 'Back Spin' and lay down some magnificent drum loops that are silky and infectious. El Funkador's 'Shame' brings some 90s New York vibes with lovely snare sounds and warm bursts of chords. On the flipside, Alben & Laje & Errat, Hot DLVRY and Craftsmanship all cook up more fresh fusions of old and new school house.
Review: UK house producer Jhobei steps up for Bizarre Trax's sixth release with a five-track journey that perfectly encapsulates his dynamic and ever-inventive approach to groove. From the outset, the EP leans into hypnotic, off-kilter rhythms and fluid basslines, expertly balancing heads-down sophistication with a playful, club-ready energy. The A-side pulls into deeper, more cerebral territory, while the flip side loosens up, embracing warmer tones and funk-infused melodies. 'Synthesize Hypnotize' kicks things off with rolling low-end pressure and tripped-out textures, setting the tone for an EP that thrives on movement and subtle intricacy. By the time 'Fuchsia Funk' arrives to close things out, Jhobei has shifted gears into pure dancefloor mischiefielastic bass, crisp drum programming and an undeniable bounce that nods towards sunlit festival moments. As ever with Bizarre Trax, it's forward-thinking yet undeniably fun, a balance Jhobei strikes with effortless flair.
Review: JKriv returns to Razor-N-Tape after two years away and in that time it is clear to say he has further fine tuned his sound. This latest offering kicks off with 'Blueprint' which is a nice loose sound with elastic acid lines and bright chord stabs. 'Intuition' (feat Megatronic) slows down to sun-kissed and lazy swagger with soulful spoken words and cuddly pads and soft shakers all soothing you to your core. 'Zone 1' then kicks on with a nice bright blend of nu-disco colours and soft acid undulations and 'Paula's Dance' (feat Pauha) closes with some steamy and timeless house that is perfect for sunset sessions.
Review: Paul Johnson's 'In The Kitchen 95'' reissue brings back one of his most beloved works, originally crafted in 1992 and reimagined in 1995. This red vinyl 12" captures the energy of Chicago house in its purest form. The first side kicks off with 'Come On Children (Remix)', a high-energy funk-driven house track that gets the feet moving. 'Buzz Buzz (Remix)' follows with its warehouse-style house beats, perfectly capturing the raw, underground vibe of the era. 'It's House (Remix)' wraps up the side with addictive minimal techno grooves that emphasise Paul Johnson's signature sound, mixing deep house with elements of techno. The second side continues the momentum with 'Movin Baby', offering a funk-fueled techno journey, while 'I'm A Freak (& Your Girl Is Too)' adds a playful touch with its minimal grooves and vocal samples, reinforcing the sense of fun and freedom inherent to the house music culture. This reissue is a nostalgic reminder of Paul Johnson's influence, blending deep house, funk and minimal techno into a timeless dancefloor experience. Paul sadly passed away in 2021 but it's great to see and hear his legacy live on forever.
Review: Joolmad, an emerging name in the ever-fertile UK techno scene, offers up a potent four-tracker with the 'Perspective' EP. Having recently turned heads with his release on TSOL, this young producer displays a keen understanding of the shadowy nuances that propel a club into a frenzy. 'Cactus Lover' sets the bar with a relentless groove and eerie melodies, hinting at a darker, industrial-tinged aesthetic. 'Dpa' delves into more introspective territory, its atmospheric textures and haunting melodies conjuring a sense of mystery and intrigue. 'Perspective', the title track, shifts the focus back to the dance floor, its insistent bassline and intricate percussion a surefire recipe for peak-time mayhem. 'Mind Ur Trip' closes the EP with a psychedelic flourish, its swirling synths and mind-bending rhythms pushing the boundaries of techno's outer limits. Joolmad's music stems from the UK's thriving underground techno scene, a breeding ground for innovative artists who refuse to be confined by genre conventions, allowing those seeking the cutting edge a glimpse into the future of techno from a producer with a bright future ahead.
Review: Freerange's City To City series returns with its second edition, this time spotlighting Lisbon. Known for its stunning views, beautiful beaches and vibrant nightlife, perhaps one of the city's best-known hotspots is the iconic Lux Fragile, which has shaped the city's sound since the late 90s. Longtime resident DJs from Lisbon are now gaining global traction; to butterfly-net the essence of the coastal metropolis, this new mix LP hears six original tracks from local talents, chief among whom are Megatronic, progressor and ambassador for the city, and Yen Sung & Photonz, two names closely tied to the circuit's deeper-underground corners.A
Milk & Sugar & James Hurr - "I Love Music" (extended mix)
Crusy - "Hey Girls, B-Boys" (extended mix)
Illyus & Barrientos - "DANCE" (extended mix)
Review: Top table house label Toolroom is back with another window into its current sounds. This 17th sampler is one that will likely get hammered at the annual parties in Miami for this year's conference. KC Lights & Welt open up with 'Fly' which is catchy dance pop with summery vocals. Milk & Sugar & James Hurr keep it on a similarly light and airy tip and Crusy's 'Hey Girls, B-Boys; reimagines a classic with extra rawness. Illyus & Barrientos shut down with more synth laced peak time house sounds on 'DANCE.'
Mark Knight, Darius Syrossian,James Hurr - "I Got All This" (5:56)
Low Steppa, Jewel Kid - "Big Busta" (5:05)
CASSIMM, Mahalia Fontaine - "Say Yeah" (5:48)
Wh0 - "Sunglasses" (6:58)
Review: Toolroom is a house label for big moments big tracks, big rooms, big DJs and main stages. This 15th sampler offering gives a snapshot of where the label is at right now with some new cuts from its biggest players. The boss himself, Mark Knight, kicks off alongside Darius Syrossian and James Hurt n 'I Got All This' which is bouncy and full of energy. Low Steppa, Jewel Kid offers the deeper, low sung and bass heavy menace of 'Big Busta' and CASSIMM, Mahalia Fontaine then come through with 'Say Yeah' (extended mix) which is a a passionate vocal anthem which throws it back to the early days of house. Wh0's 'Sunglasses' shuts down with a blaze of melodic stabs and filtered sweeps to lift you off your feet.
Mark Knight & James Hurr - "You Take Me Higher" (6:12)
Friend Within - "Chain" (5:43)
Martin Ikin & Winnie Ama - "Control It" (4:51)
Flashmob & Raumakustik - "Club Talk" (5:45)
Review: Toolroom's 'sampler' series, which rounds up previously digital-only releases and sticks them out on action-packed 12" EPs, reaches its sixteenth instalment. Given the format, you'll be unsurprised to discover that there's plenty of bona-fide peak-time heat on show, starting with Mark Knight and James Hurr's excitable, filter-heavy, string-laden disco-house bomb 'You Take Me Higher'. Friend Within offers a scintillating blend of heavy acid bass, glassy-eyed female vocal samples, weighty beats and subtle disco samples on the superb 'Chain', while Martin Ikin and Winnie Ama opt for even heavier drums, warped bass, creepy electronics and dead-eyed spoken word vocals on the sweat-soaked 'Control It'. To round things off, we're treated to the tech-tinged funky house bounce of Flashmob and Raumakustik's percussion -rich 'Club Talk'.
Review: Damian Lazarus and JOJO ABOT's work here is a powerful collaboration that pushes the boundaries of what we expect from the Crosstown Rebels label. On the surface, it's a pulsating dancefloor track, but there's so much more lurking beneath the surface. Built on a foundation of driving rhythms and intricate textures, the track weaves JOJO ABOT's bewitching vocals with hypnotic grooves and subtle amapiano influences, creating something that's both immersive and unpredictable. The Major League Djz remix elevates the energy, turning up the intensity with a deep, groovy progression that feels like it could keep the party going for hours. Meanwhile, Raxon's rework introduces a darker, more atmospheric edge with his signature off-kilter bassline and sharp, rolling percussioniadding depth while still maintaining the track's core essence. Warrior Dance shows Lazarus' unerring ear for talent and his ability to curate soundscapes that speak to both the mind and the feet.
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