New releases last four weeks: All genres

Review: UK mainstay Subb-An makes a welcome return with this fresh new EP on Aesthetic. It finds him in great form with opener 'Seeing Colours' heading off down a nice liquid minimal route with crisp tech drums and twinkling synths up top to bring the magic. On the flip side is 'Plants', a rather serene and sublime cut with more rolling drums and plenty of deft synth designs that bring a certain celestial charm to the fizzing leads. Snad's remix then shuts things down with a more driving sense of tech house rhythm to complete a tasteful EP of heady sounds.

Review: This is a special purple version of a new 12" from Danish label Tech-Nology, and when you spot that Prince is the face not he label and the EP is called House of Prince there are no prizes for guessing why they went with that colour. This tech house offering draws inspiration from the legendary funk innovator and comes with expertly crafted beats, Prince vocal and trumpet sounds, and more. Seamlessly blended into the mix, these elements create a dynamic and lively atmosphere that is both playful and energising, without ever crossing into kitsch territory.

Review: The EP is called House of Prince and the Purple One's face is peering back at us from the centre of this new 12" on Tech-Nology which means only one thing - it's tech house music inspired by the legendary funkster. And it is well executed tracker too with vocal samples, trumpet sounds and much more all chuckle into the mix over a range of betas that are playful and party starting but also effective and never kitsch. 'Grindhouz' is our favourite for just how warped and weird it sounds.

Review: The creative partnership between Tiga & Hudson Mohawke expresses a mutual love of "hardcore romance," a liminal state where the bounds between euphoria, melancholy and the raw power of friendship disintegrate completely. Recorded in Los Angeles from 2019-2023, these commonalities ebbed and flowed through various recording sessions, culminating in their debut album - L'Ecstacy - the sounds in which "all come from the same place, the same musical universe," in Hudson Mohawke's own words. Referencing the album's locus of bouncy elasticity and cinematic gloss - "we're building a particular kind of zone where it all fits together. A place lost in time." With guest appearances by luminaries like Abra, Channel Tres, and Jesse Boykins III, as well as album artwork by Wolfgang Tillmans, the result is delivered with "no apology, no cynicism, no irony, no winking."

Review: tINI has always been at the forefront of tech house, often with her own party brand, as well as killer productions and engaging sets at some of the scene's most tasteful parties. Here she steps up to the fledgling Mood Waves label for The View, and EP that finds her stretching herself into all new territory once more. 'Welcome Luz' is crunchy, stomping cosmic tech with sci-fi motifs. 'EX-PECT' has whimsical pads paired with more silvery and metallic drum sounds and after the more mechanical grace of the a-side, 'What's Her Name?' gets loose with rubbery bass and bendy synth leads while '2020' shuts down with some downtempo post club trippiness.

Review: The Off Grid label outta Germany serves up its third 12" here and opts for a four-tracker from various artists. TINI's 'WHAT WHAT' kicks off with a bumping house cut that's wired up with some spaced-out pads and warped synths. Rickie then gets all wonky and loose with his off-balance 'Explosion' which has blurts of bass and snappy low ends and GNMR's 'Controlled By Mefistofele' gets more wonky and textural with smeared and smudged sounds and a nice acid bassline. Session 4000 shuts down a high-impact and fresh EP with the astral and speed-out tech with 'C'est Wild'.

Review: The latest Discotech release finds tech house stalwart Jay Tripwire stepping up for a batch of potent party starters. 'Jaybee Loves Old Shit' is precision-tooled workout for those who need a driving beat track laden with bouncy congas and a throbbing bassline. 'For Nathan' lets a little more synth work into the mix with some distant, dubby chords and analogue bleeps, but they're managed carefully. 'The Omen' is where things widen out more with cascading pads and strafing, low-end monosynth action creating a haunting, late-night mood which Alex Arnout jumps on to cast off into swirling, funked up after hours territory.

Review: Take Me For A Ride is the latest from Luuk Van Dijk on his own label Dark Side Of The Sun. The title track is a peak time tech house workout that is lively and energetic. Reminiscent of house at raves during the mid 90s, the combination of the vocals and rhythm makes this a fun track to listen to. The remix adds a New York house sound to it for a nice alternate version depending on how your set is trending. For the B-side, 'Doin' It' is a more mellow, dreamy and laid back affair while 'Sexy Motherf*cker' is a mid-set groover, all making for a versatile 12" that house music heads should get plenty of plays out of.

Review: Accomplished Turkish label ISOLATE is marking five years in existence and over 30 odd releases with a new and bumper collection of sounds from all of its main players in remix mode. Isolate: Five Years unfolds over six, yes six, sides of wax and traverses all manner of fresh techno sound worlds. There are drawn-out synth and deep techno adventures from Aera, floating and dubby dream-house offerings from DJ Counselling, pulsating future tech from Hardt Anoine and roaming melodic tech house kickers from Gunce Aci amongst many more highlights.

Review: The Milano Undiscovered series has been expertly overseen by Fred Ventura and now clocks up a third installment. It again delves into Milan's dynamic techno and house scene between the years of 1988 and 1992. Unveiling a trove of unreleased demos, it highlights the city's burgeoning underground culture during this period. Influenced by the pioneering sounds of Chicago, Detroit, London, and Sheffield, Milanese producers embarked on a creative journey, crafting their own distinct interpretations of electronic dance music. These demos offer a glimpse into the innovative spirit and diverse sonic landscape that defined Milan's contribution to the global dance music scene during this transformative era.

Review: Joe Babylon's cultured US label Roundabout Sounds has never rushed music out but when it does serve up new material it is always timeless and top quality. This latest EP is the first installment in the new All Hands series and it features some real house heavyweights. Frits Wentink kicks off with the mystic and lo-fi depths of 'Jellyfish, then DJ Aakmael layers up his soft edge chords and cuddly kicks drums with some muted horn motifs that bring the romance. The label head brings some upright drums and spoken word lyrics for a beautifully warm sound and last of all Detroit royalty Rick Wilhite links with Jon Easley for a final blissed-out and breezy deep house day dream.

Review: Kiria Records is back here with the fifth release by Zenk, which is a melodic but sci-fi tech house EP that starts with the jittery beats of 'Oniromantic'. Rigid synth sequences and slivery metal hits give it a future feel while 'Khubaba' gets more tight and kinetic and abstract. The more tough and pumping 'Nefertiti' is another carefully interwoven mix of sinewy synths, hiccuping effects and warped bass that is topped with a sensuous female vocal and 'Nefertiti' (Costin RP remix) then gets zoned out and trippy with a more balmy sense of synth soul.