Review: Sonder is a new London-based label dealing in sprightly tech house with plenty of wiggle. Cutting the ribbon is ADMNTi, who has been on superlative form via releases for Dansu Discs, 4Plae and Yamanu amongst others. His 'Liquor Locker' and 'BetaSpace' cuts are splashed with a little sunshine, some garage bump and subtle trance touches, all the better to grease up the dancefloor. Laidlaw takes up position on the flip, offering his own strain of shuffling funky stuff for the peak time crowd. 'Open To Receive' has a subtly spiritual slant to it, while 'Repeated Patterns' gets into a snaking house trip with cheeky hooks and snappy basslines for days.
Review: This new collection offers up a quartet of tracks that are all tailored for slightly different moments on the dance floor. On side A, Dani Casarano kicks off with deep, hypnotic grooves that make for an immersive atmosphere before transitioning to punchy, bass-driven energy with other cuts. Side B introduces a new alter ego from Felian and Bruno Schmidt and the pair explore a robotic, looping groove with incidental breaks and nostalgic synths in the euphoric third track. Closing the release in style, Omar Akrhif & Lucretio present a minimalist masterpiece that is aimed at heady after-hours sessions.
Andrea Bertoli & DJ Bogdan - "Extremely On Line" (5:36)
Review: Exxtra Beats Records backs up its commitment to pushing things on with a new four-tracker of minimal and tech cuts. Edo Ecker's 'Extraluxxo' has warped synth lines that encourage introspection while the snappy beats make you move physically. Leff's 'Future Problems' has hazy and positive arpeggios that toot away over sustained chords and move at a nice inviting pace. Little Sea offers the snappy drums and gurgling acid lines of 'How I Wanna Feel' while Andrea Bertoli & DJ Bogdan's 'Extremely On Line' is a snappy and upbeat cosmic tech cut with wonky lines adding the charm.
Review: The undeniably wonderfully named Chippy Chasers label return with a neat selection of four very playable, friendly-on-the-ear cuts from four undeniably wonderful artists. Fedo's 'Tunisian Rex' leads the chage, with a solid house shuffle liberally peppered with nicely trippy effects and bonkers vocal snippets that give it heaps of personality. Andrey Djackonda & Ovil's 'Lui Lui' is a little more stripped down and a little more soulful, with an old jazz hand muttering atmosphercially on top. Legit Trip's 'Skripi Daddy' is the most loop-laden of the quartet, but its ebbing and flowing brass samples and high frequency tweaks keep it interesting, before Firesc's 'Left Or Right' closes things down with the kind of polyrhythmic funkiness and space jazz trimmings that made Cheap Records so essential back in the day. Well worth Chasing down.
Review: Fidelio and Luca Piermattei hook up here to explore worlds where acid, techno and electro all happily coexist. Fidelio's A-side offers three cuts that fuse 90s acid rawness with baroque drama that results in a unique mix of classical organ melodies and razor-sharp basslines. Punchy kicks and sizzling hi-hats drive the energy as you're happily lost on a neon-lit techno odyssey. On the flip, Piermattei's 'Gas' features a fluid bassline and glitching robotic vocals that are eerie yet inviting and 'Third Rec' (with Tascam 122) rounds out the release with pulse-driven electro and intricate percussion, perfect for late-night explorations.
Review: Yay Recordings closes out another solid 12 months with a various artists' EP that showcases right where the label is at. Heavy Mental kicks off with 'Dabro', a colourful and loopy house jaunt for sunny days. Twowi's 'Metaverse' takes off to the cosmos on lithe electro rhythms with ice-cold beats and widescreen pads. Parchi Pubblici & Lucretio's 'Aladdin Sane' brings some wonky deep tech vibes with of-balance drums and muffled spoken words and Rinaldo Makaj closes down with a fresh party sound perfect for cosy floors. There's plenty of variety here, which makes this a great addition to your bag.
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: Chicago's Tied label rolls out a 17th release as good as all the previous ones, this time with a four-track various artists EP that showcases emerging talents from deep, spacey electronic realms. Just_Me's 'Laser Brane' launches the journey with electro-funk propulsion, while Lumieux's 'In Your Space... It's Me In Space' drifts into cosmic grooves and ambient textures. On the B-side, Constratti's meticulously crafted 'Bind' delivers intricate synth delays and solid rhythms that capture the feeling of interstellar motion. Label head Max Jacobson and 97 Till close with 'Orion,' a break-infused and celestial house cut built for late-night floors.
Review: More proper tacker makes it way to vinyl here courtesy of the blow label who enlist four more producers of this latest various artists EP. Kitchen Plug's 'Cheat Code' marries the best of tech, garage, dub and house into a kinetic bit of body music that oozes warm and lo-fi soul. CYMKA brings kaleidoscopic colour and squelchy acid to 'Sweet Peach' then it's all pout old school piano rave madness from Batenko on 'Inside Summer 21'. Last of all is the searing electro funk of Les Hauts with 'Passing Clouds', a blisteringly quick trip into another dimension with some rueful chord work. Sensational EP.
Review: Having set out his stall via an EP for Crosstown Rebels' Rebellion sub-label, Puerto Rican producer Cali Lanauze graduates to Damian Lazarus's main imprint. His love of South American and Caribbean percussion sounds comes to the fore on opener (and title track) 'Borderline', where Cari Golden's atmospheric lead vocals rise above a booming bassline, raw analogue electronics and punchy house beats. Lanauze once again doffs a cap to Latin rhythms and drum sounds on the deeper, creepier and even weightier 'Temple of My Confessions', before adding sinewy strings, deep space chords and trippy spoken word snippets to a sub-heavy tech-house groove on the gargantuan 'Talk To My People'.
Review: Definitive Recordings throws it back to 1994 for 'Do It' a house classic by Las Americas, which is a legendary project by David Alvarado. Newly remastered for 2024, this edition includes the original version as well as a refreshed Chuck Phulasole remix and two dynamic new takes from Italian producer St. David, who brings his vintage-inspired style in all its glory. He delivers a playful 'Big Tool Mix' with vocal flips and infectious grooves alongside a funkier 'Drum-Tool Dub' packed with sharp guitar licks. The original's hypnotic basslines and soulful vocal hook still shine, while Phulasole's deeper remix adds rich keys and Moog warmth. Lovely stuff.
Review: A Klang Elektronik Release on top of the pop charts? Heiko MSO and Michael Laven between Kanye West and Rihanna on MTV?
Well...I have to admit, this scenario would be realistic in a world a little more righteous than the one we have here. But to say the truth,
'Reach', the new Laven & MSO single has deserved it for sure. After all the two Producers from Frankfurt put so much pop-appeal into
the vocal-mix feat. Malte (Does anybody remember Tiefschwarz's 'Schmetterlings¬flügel' or Losoul's 'You know'?), that colleagues like
Fischerspooner should prepare themselves. But: Don't get me wrong! Vaporise it to four or five minutes and you'll get a fine (electro)pop
hit. But the whole gorgeous ten minutes of 'Reach' have enough power to atomise every nightclub into dust. Everybody who can take
another one after this should listen to the b-side, 'Reach' as 'Alte Schule Acid Instrumental' (old-school acid instrumental - pretty self-
explanatory, isn't it?)
Review: La Zic is an alias of Cristina Lazic and it also means 'music' in French slang. She is Italian-born, London-raised and blends minimal, deep tech and melodic house on labels including Crosstown Rebels, Moan, Bondage Music and TBX. Her own stable is a place for her finest work and is also a platform to champion fellow women in the scene. This EP is a great window into her world where supple drums and sublime synths all make for elastic, gooey, trance inducing rhythms underpinned by nice warm bass. The Nu Zau remix is a particularly fresh take on liquid tech house here.
Review: The Craft Music label is back after a one year break with some fresh new cuts by resident Marco Lazovic. It's an EP inspired by the sound of the English club scene in the nineties and noughties, labels like Good Looking Records and artists such as Mike Millrain. Opener 'Losin Control' sure is a compelling mix of electro and breaks that soars on cosmic lines with euphoric vocals in the distance. 'Come To London' has a distinctly garage feel to it with its crisp broken beats and there is more high energy but melody-rich breakbeat action in 'Dark Gravity' while 'Space Jazzy' is s super sweet and deep jungle cruiser.
Review: Having previously taken on trips to imaginary 'Lost Moons' and the 'Island of Being', Yaroslav Lensyak is now our tour guide through Trippy Land - an aural, club-ready soundscape that combines his love of undulating acid lines and glitchy tech-house beats with sun-splashed melodic motifs, enveloping pads and off-kilter basslines. The sonic sightseeing begins with the gorgeous-but-weighty 'Yupi', before taking in panoramic views and shuffling breakbeats on the alternately picturesque, raw and sleazy 'Flicker'. Title track 'Trippy Land' boasts motorik bleeps, jagged analogue bass and sharp TB-303 tweaks, while the excursion-ending 'Sirius' is a deep, low-slung, early morning jog that's as rhythmically driving as it is sonically mind-altering.
Review: Edmonton, Canada-based Nathaneal Orlesko's own Zbroyi Records label keeps it deep with its fourth outing brimming with minimal grooves courtesy of Yaroslav Lenzyak. After an intro comes '7th Floor' which is a metallic, hurried sound that urges you to move with its slightly wonky rhythm. 'Unison' brings more off-balanced good next with chopped and screwed chords and smeared pads. 'Klausel' then brings some nice bright and psychedelic colours to the party and 'Sphere' shuts down with some dubby, late night sounds complete with lovely wet hits and subtle ghoulish voices.
Review: The Full Circle label is building up a fine head of steam early on and this third EP is a throwback garage classic. It's a re-release of a cult gem from Danny J Lewis with the steamy vocals of Danielle Gaga. 'Spend the Night' has it all - the hooky and soulful vocal, the dry percussive drums, the infectious swing and the lush chords. As well as the H-Man dub, there are other versions including one from tech house tian Archie Hamilton, a super smooth VIP dub and a Disco Edit that layers in some cosmic arps and leaves the great original vocal intact.
Review: Belgian-based producer Ilario Liburni brings some great sophistication to this new blend of techno, acid and bass. 'Tivoli' has a polished aesthetic - an air of serenity exudes from the bouncy drums and sleek synth pules that bring to mind the crisp Alpine air of the European Alps. 'Agree' is another smooth but not overcooked sound with more sonar-like synth pulses, dusty hi-hat adding a counterpoint and rubbery drums propelling things on. 'Wonderful Transmission' has a grubbier acid line and wonky leads while 'Haunted' is dubby, fulsome house with techno futurism and daubs of molten melody.
Review: Christian Linder Essential Elements is a new label from Christian Linder that will serve up the essential elements needed for late-night dancing, so you can't fault its name. The first EP sets out its stall in fine style with two versions of the same cut. 'Circular Motion' (Emotional) is a mix of amped-up and slick drum loops that are detailed with some alien sound effects and a rising sense of synth warmth that brings a subtle sense of euphoria. 'Circular Motion' (Vivid) is a gentle tweak that has more bright pads and a more driving but still dubby and smooth groove. Two different sides to the same coin that will work in many different settings.
Review: Liro's sound is as creepy as minimal comes thanks to the combination of slight sounds, deft tones and ghostly vocals. 'Vias 19' blends all that with a rolling minimal tech groove that sounds like it is flapping in the wind. 'Transportation Base' has an even more otherworldly feel with balmy pads adding a cosmic scale to more raw but dusty drums. 'Whistling' continues to operate in an alien world with wispy sci-fi sounds off in the distance as the drums and hits roll onwards. Closing things out is 'Vias 19' (Cosmic Clap remix) which i amore quick and has a weird sense of dark and playful funk to it.
Review: Locklead has been laying down classy house music for the likes of Pleasure Zone, Rawax, Unknown To The Unknown and Hot Haus, so you know he means business. After this sterling run of singles he's stepping to Up The Stuss with his debut album Square One, which deals in eight richly rendered cuts of contemporary tackle that sum up everything he's achieved to date. There's a pervasive deepness at work on 'Light Of Day' which draws you in from the get-go, while 'Bumpin' Headz' revels in shimmering, bouncy chords and Detroit flavoured strings pads. 'Hunting' has a more inquisitive quality as it courses through minimal-tinted grooves and synth riffs, while 'Plants & Astronauts' takes a more cosmic approach to the tech house formula. We could go on but you get the idea - this is house music through and through, presented in pristine technicolour for maximum satisfaction.
Review: Two standout tracks from Priori's This But More get a stripped, emotional rework from Loidis, which is of course the introspective alias of Brian Leeds aka Huerco S. and Pendant who is known for his minimal, textured approach. Here, Loidis stretches the originals into hypnotic, slow-burning explorations. The rhythms remain intact but feel deeper, warmer, like echoes from a distant rave. It's dancefloor music in slow motion: eyes closed, head lost in the groove. These extended versions don't just remix, they reimagine while blurring lines between ambient and club, motion and stillness. It's a compelling fusion of restraint and rhythm, perfect for late nights and deep-listening sessions alike.
Review: Giuliano Lomonte is something of an Italian veteran. He shows off his deep-seated understanding of real house dynamics here with a new EP on Re.Face Limited that offers up some shimmering sounds. Drawing a delicate and refined distinction between house and tech, he kicks off with the bubbly synths and snappy drums of 'Glasshaus' which are run through with some muttered spoken words and will get an outdoor crowd going if laded through a nice festival sound system. 'Opportunity' is deeper, with striped back drums and molten ads making for a more heady experience.
Review: Loquace is back with his first release in four years, which is on Cesare vs Disorder's Serialism label. The Eternal Sunset EP sees the Frenchman remain centered in the minimal/tech house sound; whether it's the swing-fuelled shuffle of the title track on the sunny, minimal roller 'Side Effects' on the A side, to B side cuts going for UK vibe like 'Not Anymore' with its 2-step beat and, the new school nu-skool breaks of 'Bail Bresson'.
Review: Lo U returns with four club ready cuts that fuse the best of UK garage, breakbeats and deep electronic textures into contemporary killers. The EP opens with 'Transitus' where crisp UKG rhythms collide with a dark, neurofunk-inspired bassline then 'The Green Planet' follows with classic 2-step swing and a warped, heady breakdown. On the flip, Lo U revisits a label staple with a refined take on 'Platus Karma', injecting fresh style into the original while keeping its soul. Closing track 'Eresia' ventures into expansive, cinematic territory/. It was recorded live and sculpted in the studio so has a fresh feeling that blends broken beats with immersive soundscapes. All in all, a versatile release from a producer in peak form.
Review: Veteran Russian producer Andrey Loud is back with another exploration of dancefloor minimalism with these three deep outings on Afterme. Precise production defines his style with tight drum loops and a warped bassline drawing you in while alien effects add the detail. A standout is the Ki.Mi. remix of 'Humanity' which reimagines the original with an extra bump in the drums and dry, textured hits. 'Shadow Tree' is a shimmering melange of silvery snares and hits with loopy bassline phrases perfect for cosy club spaces. 'Illustration' is a more introverted close with pensive pads and a moody atmosphere for the wee small hours.
Kirill Matveev - "Never Losing That Track" (Genning remix) (7:00)
Tm Shuffle - "Artist" (6:00)
Nicolas Barnes - "Outro" (7:50)
Review: MixCult Records' latest release offers an atmospheric journey through deep and dub techno, featuring standout artists like Eric Louis, Kirill Matveev, Genning, TM Shuffle and Nicolas Barnes. Eric Louis's 'Voice Memo' opens the compilation with a haunting blend of soft bass pulses and ethereal vocals, setting a reflective tone. Kirill Matveev's 'Never Losing That Track (Genning Remix)' layers sweeping synths over a driving beat, creating a euphoric yet wistful energy that's perfect for early-morning dancefloors. On the B-side, TM Shuffle's 'Artist' dives into the dub techno world, its solid groove grounding listeners. Nicolas Barnes wraps things up with 'Outro', an ambient masterpiece that fades into introspective calm.
Review: REPRESS ALERT!: The Plastik People label kicks off its new year with a trio of top garage jams from Romeo Louisa. 'Challenges' is a perfect feel-good sound with silky smooth chords and nice dusty drums and hi-hats all topped off with a classic vocal packed with emotion. The irresistibly catchy vibes continue with 'Lost Bottle' which is another timeless US house sound of the sort the Dope Jams crew became so well associated with. Last but not least is 'Keep Me Deep', another perfect blend of US garage and house with horns, deep kicks and lush chords.
Review: One year after dropping back in 2023, Jennifer Loveless's bonafide anthem 'Pleasure' is back in the form of three thrilling reworks and a dub mix which expand its appeal into new realms. Parisian maestro Bambounou kicks things off with a jackin' remix bursting with energy while Lisbon-based veteran and Ibiza favourite tINI follows and offers up a bass-heavy electro-inspired rendition nodding to old-school vibes. Jennifer Loveless and label heads Sleep D close the EP with an 'Indubm-3ntal mix' which is a hypnotic, dubbed-out techno journey layered with deep and atmospheric textures. Together, these fresh interpretations are primed to ignite dancefloors once more.
Feel Young Again (Ricardo Villalobos remix) (16:24)
Don't Let The Light In (Ricardo Villalobos remix) (15:13)
Review: For fans of off-kilter, minimalistic dance music, there is little more exciting than seeing the words "Ricardo Villalobos remix" printed on to the label of a brand-new record. For all his faults, Villalobos rarely delivers a duff rework, and he's once again hot gold with these revisions of experimental art-rock ensemble Low Island. He first tackles 'Feel Low Again', reinventing the indie-rock cut as a low-slung chunk of woozy minimal techno full of drifting vocals, bubbly electro bass, distant cymbals and snare-heavy beats. On the flip Villalobos reworks 'Don't Let The Light In', offering a slightly less dense and undeniably energetic take full of oddly-tuned electro bass, glitchy sounds, hazy chords and layered vocal samples.
Review: The debut release on the all-new Theresipolis label comes with a cryptic note that "Obscurity is giving way to visibility. Amidst the human dissonance, those who hear will follow the beckoning sounds of Theresiopolis." Make of that what you will, or simply skip to the sounds. Lowres opens up with 'Otpusk' which is a mix of sharp, bright, futurist synth lines and dusty, low-key house drums. TipToes locks you into a nicely intertwined blend of congas, chords and drums on 'Same Old Sausage Chicken' and on the flip Swales keeps it dynamic but loose with the acid-laced space tech of 'Release. Armless Kid's 'Oui Oui La France' has jostling breaks urging you to get stuck in.
Review: The man, the machine, the legend! Anile makes his return with two utterly outrageous remixes of LSB's classic 'Potshot'. First up comes the d&b version that plunges you down to submarine levels before pull you up too quickly and giving you the bends. Need something a little slower with more swing but hits just as hard? Jump on that garage version. Holy moly. Welcome back Anile!
Review: Radio Slave's Rekids welcomes a Detroit house master in Monty Luke for what is a comprehensive excursion into deep house across nine exquisite new cuts. Dub, techno and more all help colour these soundwaves and first up is the shimmering electro rhythm of '40 Acres & A Terabyte' while 'Nightdubbing' gets more zoned out and smooth as it comes alive with shimmering synths over rolling beats. Elsewhere are more grinding groves like 'Starstorms' which recalls the early work of Carl Craig and 'Avant-Garde Dance Hall' is a deft dub workout.
Review: Romanian artist Lumieux joins Switzerland's Adam's Bite crew with the When I Think Of You EP. Hailing from Bucharest, Lumieux epitomises the region's style-stripped-back percussion, nuanced details. Known for releases on Subtil Records, Antrakt, and UVAR, and part of Sunrise Agency, Lumieux kicks off with 'Psycho' which spans nine minutes, blending murky dub chords, fluttering bass, and choppy vocals over a swinging groove. 'Tifosi' continues with choppy stabs and wandering bass, modulating percussion. 'What You Are To Me' on the B-side features twitchy synths, hypnotic vocals, evolving kicks. 'Nebula' closes with a plucked bass groove, delayed atmospherics, and saturated rhythm.
Review: Long-serving producers Lumieux (real name Preda Alin Razvan) and Alexis Cabrera (best-known for his solo releases on Atipic, Mulen and Raum...musik) join forces for the first time, collaboratively serving up a tidy tech-house four-tracker. They begin confidently, utilising plenty of analogue (and analogue-sounding) beats, bass and synth sounds on the swinging, low-slung box jam 'Celestial (Dub)', before opting for a trippy, hybrid dub techno/tech-house sound on the creepier 'Shifting Space'. Over on the flip, it's all about 'Subsonic Echo', a sparse chunk of tech-house wonkiness that comes backed by a more melodic, chord-heavy and spacey remix courtesy of Carbrera.
Review: Make Your Own Meaning continues to convey its unique techno message with a new statement of intent from label head Lurka. The artist has been busy of late and continues to be on a roll with another fascinating four tracker that genuinely serves up some original sounds and rhythms. 'Trip' gets things underway with organic percussive patterns stacked up over drilling bass to make for a prickly groove. 'Airlock' is similar but darker and heavier and 'Sick Flips' keeps the nimble feel going with dancing perc, rigid synths and scratchy sound effects all coalescing over broken drum patterns. Last of all is another dense, busy and multi-layered melange of tiny percussive sounds, synths and clipped rhythms that will make any floor move.
Review: You can never stop good music from making it out into the world and so it is that new label Secret Keeper from Ukraine makes its bow here despite what is going on back home. Luschn steps up for the first EP and sets a high standard with it from the off. 'Track 1' is tech with a menacing undercurrent and an undulating rhythm while 'Track 2' gets a little more loose in its loops. The mood switches on the b-side, where disco-tech comes to the fore and some deft melodies bring a cosmic feel to 'Track 3'. Last of all, 'Track 4' is nice and dry, stripped back and whacked out tech from another planet.
Review: Since delivering his vinyl debut on Tdsr in 2021, Lewis Williamson AKA LWS has established himself as one of UK techno's genuine rising stars. His dark and twisted trademark style comes to the fore on this Can You Feel The Sun label debut, starting with the dystopian brilliance of title track 'Palloon' - a polyrhythmic techno epic marked out by doom-laden, end-of-days motifs, twisted stabs, weighty sub-bass, trippy electronics and shards of fleeting sonic bliss. 'Steady On' is a more robust and forthright slab of distorted techno insanity - all stomping kick-drums, bouncy beats, rumbling low-end pressure, creepy melodic motifs and leaping one-note stabs. Elsewhere, 'Faster, Dryer' sounds like Autechre and Peverlist stuck in a lift, while 'Unstuck' is a bittersweet, end-of-days delight with added peak-time weight.
This Thing (feat Robert Owens - Mr Fingers Tribute mix) (5:00)
This Thing (feat Robert Owens - Chez Morning After mix) (6:32)
This Thing (feat Robert Owens - LL Smoov mix) (4:26)
Review: Some real house legends come together on this This Thing EP by Lukas Lyrestam & Simoncino, with the added bonus of the iconic Robert Owens bringing his signature smoky vocals. This package highlights the exceptional talents of Lyrestam and Italian Simoncino, while remixes by house legends Mr. Fingers and Chez Damier elevate the project even further. The original track is full of Owens' soulful vocals and sets the stage for a timeless house sound that is steeped in class and always going to make a mark.
Review: The latest from Burnski's Vivid label is a three way split, six track affair with Oldboy, Xander and Longeez each dispatching a pair of tunes in the label's trademark roughneck breakbeat style. - Oldboy kicks off proceedings with the speedy junglisms of 'Blackbird' before the chunkier, funkier and a little more traditionally paced breaks heft of 'Walrus Party'. Xander's 'If I Tell EM' and 'Get To The Point' both plays off two step rhythmic twists and menacing bass against dreamy synths and more breakbeaty flourishes, before Longeez closes proceedings with the slightly sparser 'Evermore' - super sharp hi hats and echoing rasta dialogue - and the appropriately spinback-peppered 'Wheel Up'.
Review: It has been a rather remarkable three years since Yuko dropped its first release, but finally, they are back with more. It is co-founder Emo Omar who features both solo and in collaboration with Luje from Club Pizza while two exciting new French talents Chud and Vivant also make their mark. 'Pollen' is a bright and hooky melodic electro sound then 'You & Me' gets more percussive, with old school cow bells staying busy next to all sorts of wonky synth work. 'Tomorrow's Made Of Breaks' is built on rigid funk and trippy synth bleeps and 'Zeus' shuts down with some retro-future vocoder vocals. This is a great return from a label we hope now pushes on.
Review: As you can tell from the title of this ongoing series, System Error likes to serve up only 100% party bombs. The third volume lives up to that once more with Parchi Pubblici kicking off with the acid-laced bumps of 'Perfect Vacuum2Disco' complete with zippy synths and snappy percussion. Lanzieri's 'Twisted Tango' hits just as hard with an electro-techno fusion that rides on psychedelic synth loops with jacked-up drums. Raku's 'Valle Dei Templi' has a more pared-back sound with a menacing and rubbery low end and creeping synths that keep you on edge. Phill Prince's 'Indigo' shuts down with something tripped out and retro with 90s techno vibes colouring the drums.
Review: Ukraine has a well-established and cultured underground scene that tends to operate on the minimal and tech-house end of the spectrum. This new label, Scarab, backs that up with four tracks of exactly that. They come from a pair of key local producers, starting with Rozquit's 'Battletoads' which is all fizzy synths and stiff, mechanical beats. Lisovskyi then offers 'Spoiled Glue' with a more rubbery low end and some eerie pads and alien vocals. Rozquit's second offering is 'Carolina Reaper', an abstract blend of rasping bass and deft sine waves with loopy, rolling beats. Lisovskyi shuts down with the bumpier tech and future stylings of 'Double Sided Saw.'
Review: The debut album from Ukrainian collective Noneside unites musicians and visual artists under the inspiring words of poet Taras Shevchenko, who said 'Make love, o dark-browed ones.' Framed by a painting from contemporary artist Iryna Maksymova, the music explores the trance and tech house that is destined to bring souls together on the dancefloor this summer and beyond. Shjva opens with fresh and mashed bass and sleek trance pads that are subtle but effective. Lostlojic layer sup deep, bubbly techno drums and bass with an angelic vocal tone and Saturated Color's 'Trancia' is a speedy, scuffed-up tech groove for late-night cruising. Peshka and Yevhenii Loi offer two more future-facing trance-techno fusions packed with feels.
Luc Ringeisen & Funk E - "Treinta Y Siempre" (7:33)
Polyfan Polyphenix - "Polymorph 2" (7:02)
Review: The cultured Movida label rolls out more of its tasteful tech and minimal jams with the Water Drop EP Part 1. Somfay opens up proceedings with 'Arborvitae' (A Voice Like Water) which is a zoned out roller with chords that encourage you to gaze off to the future. The b-side starts with Luc Ringeisen & Funk E's 'Treinta Y Siempre', a tender electronic lullaby with gently broken beats and then things get much more scuffed up and dubby with Polyfan Polyphenix's 'Polymorph 2' which is a languid rhythm that makes you want to move nice and loose.
Review: Riviera's early momentum continues here with a punchy four-tracker from six on-point artists. Lewis Taylor kicks off with 'Non Stop' which is a straight up and funky peak time then pumper with bright chords and plenty of fun in the atmosphere, Cult keeps the energy high with 'Total Kill' and X Coast & DJ RaDa then offer the acid-laced and turbocharged bass stomps of 'Come Together.' LIL NASSTY then flips the script with some sleazy trap beats with menacing bars and futuristic synth patterns on 'Get It Up So' and DJ Pacifier shuts down with some high-speed ghetto-tech in the form of the relentless 'Fried Again.'
Review: RECOMMENDED
The DJ Kicks series has managed to outlast the vast majority of other DJ mixes we can think of - the good, the bad, the populist, and the plain cash cow. Even the mighty fabric compilations have rebranded and rethought, bringing the original legacy, FABRICLIVE included, to a respectful end at 200 outings. Strange, then, to think, that !K7's mighty offering to the world of "What should we listen to at the afters?" has arguably managed to become more relevant as the years have flown by.
There was a time when the series existed at the lighter end of club fare, with some examples barely even matching that description. These days, though, there's often a dance floor heaviness central to the selections, with Jessy Lanza's broken, bass-driven set a case in point. Pointless attempts to describe the music, and lazy track list namedropping aside, this is energy-packed, heads down, futurist stuff packed with infectious percussion.
Review: Originally released in 1995, Metaphor is Detroit second wave icon Kenny Larkin's sophomore full length under his own name. This is a truly timeless release which really captures the zeitgeist of the most seminal period in techno's recent history. For those that know, we know we're preaching to the choir, but to those who don't - get familiar! From the classic hi-tech soul of the title track, to the moody future funk of 'Nocturnal' and the driving Motor City energy of 'Catatonic (First State)' and more - Metaphor has certainly held its own 26 years later. Essential.
Falling Down (feat Totally Enormous Estinct Dinosaurs & A-Trak) (3:49)
Y Don't U (8:11)
Alive (feat Bloom Twins) (3:31)
R U Dreaming? (feat Mathew Jonson) (7:44)
So Low (feat Zoe Kypri) (5:56)
La Hija De Juan Simon (feat Mestiza) (7:02)
Warrior Dance (feat Jojo Abot) (9:53)
Sunrise Generation (feat Fink) (7:27)
Force (feat Jojo Abot) (4:29)
Review: Damian Lazarus's fifth studio album is another left-of-centre exploration of house and tech, often with a spiritual twist and hints of voodoo magic. It is heavy on collaborations and finds the Crosstown Rebels boss hooking up with the likes of Hem Cooke for the spine-tingling downtempo opener 'Searchin' while 'R U Dreaming? (feat Mathew Jonson)' is a more deep and bubbly late-night tech sound. 'La Hija De Juan Simon (feat Mestiza)' is laden with percussion and warped bass, and 'Sunrise Generation (feat Fink)' is a deft and progressive melodic roller that is sure to be huge this summer and beyond.
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