MICHELLE Schallplatten & CDs

Review: The Cabaret label is one of those buy-on-sight outlets such is the consistency of the output it puts out. Michelle steps up for this latest EP and immediately hooks us in with a raw, mysterious tech sound filled with rugged bass and curious melodies over sharp metallic drums. 'Glowforge' ups the ante with razor-sharp spinning hi-hats and edgy sustained chords that keep you very much on the edge of your seat. 'Fake Trance' is a punchy one with skittish perc and dramatic oversized hits before the urgent synth stabs come in and closer 'My Sweet Universe' pairs wild and zippy synths with marching drums for that 5AM magic.

Review: Needs' commendable charity drive continues to bring forth the goods, both in terms of good causes and world class club music. Rallying round in support of World Mental Health Day 2020, Shanti Celeste kicks the record off in style with the rapid fire, deep-diving workout 'Fantasma'. OCB keeps the pressure up with the psychotropic techno of 'RS3', while Michelle works up some delightfully freaky synths on playful jacker 'Aesthetic'. Bobby's 'Free Your Mind' is a 90s-tinged, full fat techno production indebted to Detroit, Peder Mannerfelt keeps things stripped and raw on 'Our Levels' and Yu Su weaves a beautiful tapestry of interweaving rhythms on 'Brittney'. Adam Pits' trippy techno sounds resplendent on 'Wind Tunnel' and DJ Sports completes the set with the inventive, dembow slanted funk of 'Needs Dub'.

Review: Organ-filled ambient house courtesy of a four-way collab between AP, DJ Tjizza, Eversines and Michelle, who all form parts of the UK dance music collective Picnic. Refractive acid, dreamatic plastics, stoic echoics... every possible corner of trance-inducing dance heaven is scoured on this all-encompassing EP, the highlights of which, in our humble opinions, are 'Nyxation' and 'Panther'.