Back catalogue: House

Review: There's something unavoidably magnetic about the intersection between ambition and self-awareness and this release, by Charonne, Nemo Vachez, Umberto and T Oceans, knows exactly how to tap into that tension. With each track, there's an undeniable undercurrent of both vulnerability and swaggeriproducers twisting minimal beats into something far deeper, dragging you through shadows with a mix of melancholy and movement. You feel the weight of their collective sound but also their defiant lightness, straddling the line between introspective and dancefloor-driven music. It's a textured, driving release with an ever-present air of mystery.

Review: Gaston Cabrera, an Argentinian producer on the rise, delivers a captivating four-tracker for Exarde. 'Romance Electro' sets the tone with pulsating synths and driving percussion, conjuring a dark and hypnotic atmosphere. Cabrera's sound blends house and techno with a touch of Italo-disco, creating a unique sonic tapestry. 'Baile Y Drama' picks up the pace, its infectious groove and swirling melodies leading the listener on an exhilarating journey. On the flip, 'Atmosfera Yonki' is a masterclass in sonic manipulation, its haunting textures and disorienting soundscapes evoking a descent into the depths of a Buenos Aires nightclub. The EP closes with '7AM', a melancholic yet uplifting exploration of intricate rhythms and introspective melodies. With its diverse sounds and undeniable dancefloor appeal, this EP is a testament to Cabrera's talent.

Review: Tom Carruthers returns with a fresh drop on Syncrophone Records, comprising the fresh analogue jams 'From Within', 'Zone', 'No Frequency' and 'Malfunction'. All hitting hard with an old-school, sequencer-happy flavour, one which requires no second-guessing, our faves here have to be the basal FM roller 'Zone' and the brash, trashyard B-fronter 'No Frequency', both of which make deft use of the same bassline, yet each to drastically different effec.

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.

Review: Darwin Chamber is an alias of Mark Greenfield, an artist who has very much shaped the Bay Area sound across his career. He has done it all from ambient and trip-hop to breakbeats as far back as the 90s. This EP distils all those many years of sound into some sophisticated cuts that go deep. 'Hush' is a quiet downtempo opener, 'Cat Daddy' (Meow mix) brings some funky beats and 'Subway (M Train mix)' has more unsettling texture and languid percussive drums that lock you into a groove then 'Droptone' closes out with nods to a raw 90s rave sound and psyched out synths.

Review: The new four-tracker from Chicaiza through Kimchi Records is decidedly impressive, finding reams of emotive expression in a knowing, but well-wrought gaudy-trance rawness. We clock we're in for a trippy one from the off; 'Frgil Bodies' hears an opening vocal natter with the intonation of a leprechaun under the influence of some lab-bought compound; and not long before the crudest of crude yet rudest of rude drum flows ensues. Then 'Metaphorical Nihlusiions' follows with a continually janky, but frankly wicked still, tunnel-toss through noetic synth flicks and gurglingly good bass groundings, throwing shade on false nihilations in the process. The understory opens up considerably with 'Shinobi', with trophic psychic layers and bushwalking sproutings-forth, culminating in a canopied trance lead atop. Finally, 'No Way' flushes an excess of chitinous, skin-shedded beats and leftover bass nacres, depositing them on the forest floor like lap-up fruits ripe for the taking.

Review: Chicaiza, co-owner of Berlin's Kimchi Records, makes a confident solo debut on Off The Grid. These tracks strike a balance between warm, melodic textures and a subtle melancholy that feels both introspective and grounded. Each piece reveals a careful attention to detail, with rhythms and atmospheres that evolve naturally. Perfectly aligned with the label's aesthetic, this release captures the understated refinement of an artist exploring new creative spaces while staying deeply connected to his roots in Berlin's underground.

Review: Bristol's cultured Innate label is back with a first outing of the year and it returns to their various artists format with a mix of talents all making their mark. UK veteran Tom Churchill opens up with 'Unknown Unknowns (Edit)', which brings plenty of fuzzy and lo-fi aesthetic to jacked up drums and spaced-out pads. Rai Scott then shows her class with 'Suasion' that sinks down deep into immersive drums and is subtly lit up with simmering strings. Innate co-founders Owain K and Gilbert then hook-up under their brand new alias Curved Space and showcase their love of electro with 'Reverie,' a dreamy cut that glows with nice celestial melodies and will have dance floors in a zoned-out state. Last of all it's Lisbon mainstay Jorge Caiado who debuts with the chord-laced 'Floating Without Lifting,' a sophisticated and serene jazz-techno cut that takes you to the stars.

Review: For their tenth release, the Hanover-based label Malonian re-sign the now firmly established Andrei Ciubuc with the new 'Gotta Have House' EP. Since 2015, Ciubuc has helped bolster the Romanian spirit in minimal house and techno, releasing seven EPs for the likes of Cuplet, Tooloop, UVAR, and one other release for Malonian (their debut release), totting up to seven releases besides this one so far. Boasting a heavy rotation by many a major league DJ, 'Gotta Have House' is a synaptic sonic papier mache, the evident talent with which its beats and ambiences were compiled proving the reason for its becoming a favourite on the circuit. Echoes of deep Chicago house are firmly evident on the swelling chordisms heard on the A2, 'One Of A Kind', while the radiophonic jumps and jitters of 'Gotta Work It Out' prefer down-the-phone-line soul samples and sterling vocal science; 'Baba', finally, is the brukky closer of choice, and our future-facing favourite.

Review: Ooof. Sometimes there's nothing better than that in between vibe, beats and noises that speak to genuine rave, one white glove in techno, another rooted in house. 'Sirius D' certainly speaks to that need. Squelchy in the right places, oh-so-hypnotic but fundamentally punchy, it's halfway between sending you off on a blissful cloud and slapping you around the chops in an attempt to revive at 6AM. Nicola Cruz's Debug mix opts to make sure that blow lands, stomping and slamming but not so much of a groove to hold on to. No criticism, though. The roll returns later, though, 'Declination' looking to those sparse but precious dancefloors that make you realise this is still no a mainstream competition - equal parts eerie and warm. Throw in 'Right Ascension', which essentially captures all of the above and then hits 11 on the scale of whatever we're judging this on, and the deal is sealed.

Review: After more than four years without releasing any singles, Cosmjn returns with a killer solo EP for Radial. Sprinkling in notes of bassline and speed garage, 'Make Me Feel XTC' and 'Luvs & Dubs' hears a transition from filthy to brainy, the latter track especially likening the impulse responses of an impending, digital 303 to the kisses of a lover. B-siders 'Groover Killa Moves' and 'Aerosoul' mirror the A-side's movements whilst expanding their respective settings to cavernous proportions, the latter track especially wowing with its super-breathable, pipey sound design, making for a stirringly deep two-note hook.

Review: SQNC's debut release on Sequence Records delivers an electrifying clash of styles. Hearthug's playful energy opens the A-side with 'Beep Blump Beep (Sex Mix)', a bouncy track that effortlessly commands the dancefloor. 'Moonrush (Original Mix)' follows, taking a more acidic approach while maintaining that signature groove that's undeniably infectious. On the B-side, Cybercafe - Adam Dirk'heim's brainchild - establishes its cybernetic identity. 'Hyperdrive' is an immersive experience with deep kicks and distorted synths, creating a pulsating rhythm that draws listeners in. 'Katorza' takes things further with a retro-futuristic edge, adding a hypnotic energy that makes it perfect for late-night sets. It's a dynamic fusion of playfulness and intensity, showcasing the unique approaches of both artists while setting the tone for Sequence Records' future. This release is full of depth and dancefloor potential, marking the start of something exciting for the label.

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: As many freshly minted dance labels do, France-based Handwerk Sounds has decided to make its debut release a multi-artist EP. Fittingly, debutant artist Kiss The Future kicks things off, serving up the rising and falling new-age synth sounds, sequenced bass, buzzing nu-disco lead lines and unfussy retro-house beats of 'WhatUWant'. Casual Plaza takes over with the mid-80s NYC proto-house-meets-freestyle flex of 'FM Paradise', before Disset blurs the boundaries between spacey tech-house and intergalactic deep house ('Connection Loss'). To round off a rock-solid first Handwerk Sounds EP, Amlee delivers the bleeping, electro-goes-early house excellence of 'Come Close' (all sparse melodic motifs, squelchy bass, supernova chords and talkbox vocal samples).

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: Paris-based electronic music duo Charonne top up their very own Velvet Spirit label with the freshly released 'Chungking Mansions', an EP named after a real Hong Kong manor in which a labyrinth of ghosts are said to live. Alsoa a thematic tribute to the disputed Chinese enclave's hidden sonic heart - presumably made after a recent visit by the pair - this electro house hummer is said to aim for simplicity in its purest form, always keeping the groove firmly in mind. Though that's not the only goal here: the likes of 'Heavy Metal' and 'Lunatic Boogie' bring squeezy pulsewidth sound design and filtered tone-temptations to our electrified ears, as if to suggest the feel of an excitable Wan Chai night out.