Back catalogue: House

Review: Mechanistic vector lines and cold, hard angles point acute on the latest V/A from Punchline, on which featuring artists don new guises and exchange blows with first-timers. Though our ears aren't trained well enough to be able to tell who is behind each of these smackers, we must say we're special fans of Jack U Late's analogue-jammed 'Stay', whose quickscoped FX and tenderised drums prove a surreal jaunt. King Wing's '4 Da Hunniez' is a comparatively heavy speed garage number garnishing the flip; the track could hardly prepare us for the dactylic 4-step closer 'Sea Circus', whose toothy lasers and julienned beats pack more umami than a packet of burnt crisps.

Review: Given that both producers are underground titans, traversing the blurred lines between disco, acid, deep house and wide-eyed dreaminess, you'd expect this two-track collaboration between Eddie C and Keita Sano to be pretty darn good. It is, of course, with the pair carving their own mind-mangling, breathlessly energetic niche on 'Disco Universal' - a certified throb-job in which trippy noises, exotic instrument samples and pulse-racing electronic motifs rise above a thumping beat and Italo-disco style sequenced bassline. It slows down midway through, 'French Kiss' style, before the duo brilliantly bring it back to a peak-time tempo. They explore sub-heavy, garage-influenced deep house and breakbeat pastures on the dreamy, weighty, impactful and acid-fired 'Joy Joy Joy', once more showcasing the diversity of their musical influences.

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: Planet Trip Records calls Millos Kasier one of their favourite DJs on earth so they are buzzing to have him next up. He is a Brazilian talent who brings plenty of the energy and style of his homeland to this EP. 'Te Quero Perto' has woody, knocking beats and an old-school Chicago bassline setting the tone before glistering and retro-future keys arrive to bring light and hope. A Latin vocal and Italo chords then take things to the next level and make this a real summer sizzler. A Paco Cabana is more percussive and Lipelis & Orion Agassi offer two different versions that rework it for the club.

Review: Who are the internet OGs, and who has a right to claim the internet as territory anyway? Present day acid house musician Rio Kawamoto queries us this in EP form, blasting us right on back to the era of static gif-laden webpages and firewall chinks, before platform-centric neoliberal whitewashing of the internet took hold. From 'Straight Outta GeoCities' to 'AOL' to 'Marathon 2', this is an extremely compelling time capsulate of the late nineties and noughts internet told through the lens of acid house. The EP makes deft use of noizy flat beats, farty cyberspatial sound design, and offbeat Kylie Minogue-ish organ hits for good measure (on Mogwaa Calle's version of 'Real Player'). The saying "you've got mail!" will never get old, not least when you find this one in package form on your doorstep.

Review: New to Mr. Banger Records comes the latest four-tracker from Ukrainian producer Roma Khropko. Kicking the year off with a bang after a whopping four EPs released in 2023, 'Time Frame' slows down time at the critical moment of now, in which a breather is perhaps most needed. Khropko's take on house and techno is organ-ic, hypnotic and sparse, preferring the interplay of different percussion, acid and FM synth parts. Terry F tribute 'Roll To Life' is the moment the EP finds its feet, drawing on thick gabber-esque kicks and muted pads-n-bloops, to counterpose the janky saws of 'She's Coming' to follow. Closer 'Rendal' flaunts the breadth of Khropko's palette with a chugging closing rabbit hole plunge.

Review: Luschn and Roman Khropko seamlessly blend their styles on 'Rozchyn', a bouncing, elastic groove that pulsates with energy, its hypnotic rhythms and infectious melodies drawing the listener into a world of sonic intrigue. 'High Hopes' takes a different approach, its smooth, tech-infused textures creating a hypnotic atmosphere, like a journey through a neon-lit cityscape at night. On the flipside, Luschn's 'Never Defeat Me' emerges as an anthem for the resilient, its driving rhythm and soaring melodies inspiring perseverance and determination.

Review:  A year on from Antoine losing what was going to be his debut album, he decided to reform his concept-based project Mise En Place into a vinyl-only label. This is the first outing on it and is a work inspired by the hit TV sitcom The Office (US). 'Australian Reds' is part progressive workout and part stripped back minimal rhythm, 'Colombian Whites' is a 90s-inspired house cut with sparkling synth arps and glitchy claps while 'Cafe Disco (AK's Rare Groove Dub)' takes the B-side into after-hours territory. 'Threat Level Midnight' is an atmospheric closer that take things deep.

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: Kitchen Plug is a Parisian trio that seeks to combine "the rebellious energy of punk and the synth-driven chaos of electro." This new EP on Chat Noir does bear that out with some playful and quirky cuts packed with fresh sound designs and charming vocals over some effective drum programming. 'A New Kind Of Peace' is a hooky opener with a carefree vibe, 'L'amante (feat Vica)' brings some disco licks and 'La Nuit' gets more raw and direct. 'Confusao' is a balmy and widescreen number that encourages you to daydream and 'Captain Nikouze' shuts down with some pixelated synth madness.

Review: For its ninth release, Gamine knocks it out of the park again with Konerytmi's new five-track EP. This release is a heartfelt tribute to the 80s, but it offers more than just nostalgia-it's an interpretation of the era's distinct musical style. The tunes capture the iconic timbres, drum sounds, melodies and harmonies of the 80s so take you back to that time on a wave of killer electro rhythms that are both vibrant and fresh but driving and club ready. If you're longing for the 80s but don't have a time machine, this 12" is the perfect way to relive the music of that decade.

Review: Transgender environmental activist Chris Korda founded the Church of Euthanasia (CoE) in 1992 and advocated for the end of humanity's destructive practices. Korda's work itself transcends activism by drawing on art, music and technology in groundbreaking ways. A retrospective of her oeuvre at Goswell Road unites her CoE actions with her personal creative practice and showcases original banners, archival materials and unseen paintings. Korda's music, meanwhile, is generated by kinetic virtual sculptures and collaborative algorithms that reflect her vision of machines as equals in the creative process. Her unique approach challenges traditional boundaries and results in some gorgeous groves that are powerful physically and emotionally.

Review: Moroccan favourite Kosh tops up a new trifecta of releases for his own Convergence label with this latest edition of 'Enslaved'. Melodic electro-acid tempered by vocoder lines (the 'Vox Mix'), speedy 4x4 trance ('Supernova') and deeper-down-the-rabbit-hole tabfests ('Above & Beyond'). Clearly, there's something here for everyone; even a delectable topping of bonus beats on the A2, which works just as well on its own as it does with its vocoded vocal centrepiece.

Review: Jorg Kuning channels the hyperactive energy and pixelated 8-bit sounds of games like Super Mario in the melodies that light up his opening cut here. 'Klarneto' as you might expect also has a clarinet lead and a Latin tech vibe that could well make it an Ibiza anthem this summer. 'Rodeo Romeo' is another Super Mario gem with all sorts of colourful effects and busy melodies, then 'Robotomy' gets a little more down and dirty but still has an array of charming and unusual sounds zipping through the mix. 'Quirl' shuts down with jazzy chord work, minimal broken beats and squelchy bass for after-party fun.

Review: Ukraine-born, New York-based Kurilo's latest release captures a period of deep personal reflection and movement. Drawing inspiration from his time in Berlin and his tours around Europe, the music balances the frenetic energy of big cities with moments of solitude. 'Clarify That' opens with a direct, no-nonsense groove, setting the tone for a release that doesn't linger on nostalgia but instead pushes forward. Tracks like 'Save Kit' work with subtler textures, allowing bass and percussion to breathe, while 'Hanging Around' and 'Slender Machine' explore more unconventional rhythms and sonic space. There's an honesty to the music that doesn't shy away from exploring different tempos and feels, capturing Kurilo's evolving sound and sense of placeiwithout falling into any easy or familiar narrative.

Review: The "Rhythms Of The Pacific" series hears Vancouver label Pacific Rhythms reimagine dance music to aid in vast ocean traversals. Returning with another 12" sampler of material - the tracks are slated for inclusion in a celebratory ten year anniversary comp later this year - we hear Lnrdcroy, Waterpark, Kennedy and Active Surplus bring upper-echelonic, chameleonic beats of the much-less-peggable variety. 'Galaxio Salaxio' moves between dark synth and watery dub, scarcely preparing us for the immersive chordal swims that ensue on 'Coastal Plus'. Finally, 'Blue Beam' incurs an underwater search for coves and water pockets, as jets of pressure escape through riser synths and pufferfish drums.

Review: Mindhelmet releases always tend to cover plenty of ground and offer something for all heads. This 15th such outing is no different and has six stylish sounds across one vital 12". Kesh Loi opens with the brightly coloured and neon tech house party starter 'Sunshine Riddim' then CESM gets more direct with 'Without Party There Is No Paradise.' Elsewhere Max Stedeford's 'Cutz' is an old school flavoured cut with bleeps and blips and breakbeat laced grooves. Lemonphase's 'Clutture Soft' ups the ante with more punchy tech drums and Katia Curie & Nizar Sarakbi shut down with the twitchy, percolating tech funk of 'Go & Get It.'

Review: Aman Umber and Krol strike out on a singular, little-trodden path with their newest, debut release for Telu. 001 not only inaugurates the label, but establishes the sounds and careers of two sure-to-be popular artists. They preface the release and launch with a verse, telling tall and fantastical tales of the "telluric vein". Telluric means earthly or terrestrial, but the music sounds ironically light-footed and astral, in command of a sprightly jigger's groove, as though we've overcome the "telluric" phase of history rather than stuck with it. 'All The Things' mixes filter-rasped vocal traces of Janet Jackson's 'If' into a telltale funk sharpshoot, while Umber's 'Meta Rave Society' aptly describes the character of today's ravegoer. The Krol collab, 'Rock It Out', moves things onto a wackier, more minimal tack, while the overall sonic mood gone for is decidedly reaffirmed on the radiophonic, sampletronic 'Business Generation' to close.

Review: Another killer reissue here from the unrivalled team at ZYX who look back to the early 2000s for Dirty Summer, an energetic electronic album by Joy Kitikonti. This one very much captures the essence of summer nightlife and dancefloor thrills while fusing house, trance and euro-dance influences with big shiny beats and catchy melodies. Its uplifting sound is as infectious as a virus and the melodies are more sugary than a mountain of Haribo, all of which are designed to keep you moving and fill your hart with the sort of carefree fun that euro-dane is all about. It's an electrifying soundtrack for any party.