ALSI Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Alsi are a DJ and producer duo from Bucharest, formed by Alex Florea and Silviu Tanase who are founders of the label Presence. They inaugurate the Elements label here with the Ritmatico EP, featuring three heady cuts that will no doubt find favour on afterhours dancefloors within their local circuit and beyond. The title track on the A side is a long and infectiously druggy microhouse affair, that perfectly encapsulates knackered Sunday morning paranoia. Over on the flip, you have got the tough rolling tech house of 'Function' that's very much in the tradition of the Rominimal sound, followed by one more lean and subtle affair on the deeper tip in the form of 'Down'.

Review: The land down under seems to be really embracing the Rominimal sounds in recent times. Joining the likes of Lokomotiv and Unic is another Sydney-based label called Thinc who are into their third release, courtesy of Bucharest duo Alsi who are the founders of Presence. On the first volume of Raw Duties, you have the hypnotic and meditative polyrhythms of the title track that's geared properly for getting weird at the afterhours, as is the paranoid microhouse of "Bold" up next - mind you this one's definitely more straight ahead. Over on side B, it's all about the evocative sunrise breaks of 'The Light'.