Back in stock: House

Review: Clock Poets returns with Surrealism, a three-track various artists exploration of minimal techno and micro-house. Dan Andrei's 'Si Un Ecou' is a stripped-back, bass-heavy roller that is simmering with tension before erupting into modulated synths. Root's 'Apophis' delivers swing-heavy micro-house with shuffling drums and growling synth textures which nod to the genre's golden era. Clock Poets' 'Galaxy' on the flip is a sprawling 14-minute live-recorded jam rich in intricate sound design to end with a classy touch. Surrealism masterfully balances moods and textures here and makes for another refined entry in the Clock Poets catalogue for lovers of thoughtful, hypnotic dance sounds.

Review: LEGRAM VG & Rubber Ducky Records have come together for this playful Game of Tunes series, and the third entry in it offers four more wafty tech house delights. Baldov's 'Dance Connection' is a balmy and breezy opener with some warm synth injections to soften the rickety tech beats. Sif B's 'Small World' is a bubbly cut with sci-fi motifs and Buenaguas's 'Music Or Noise?' Marries distant cosmic pads with sparky synth sequences that make for some nice colourful combinations. Alich's 'The Evidence' is the best of the lot - a pent-up, garage-tinged kicker with ass-wiggling beats and acid prickles. Pure heat.

Review: Call Super delivers a superb telecommunication in the form of 'Swallow Me'. We're not sure why Call Super wants us to ingest him, but we're not going to question it too much. The new track samples Kamala Sankaram's performance at the final Resonant Bodies festival in New York in 2019. "In Ancient Greek, ololyga is the ritual shriek of women, a sound so alarming to men that it could not be uttered within their earshot" - goes the liner text. Sonically, Mr. Super blends the ololyga with Hebden-esque shuffles and glossy dance schlop, building a deeply resonant tune sure to kill egos the world over.

Review: Sating minimal techno flows, Bondage Records preface their latest release with the phrase "next up". It's implied that, by sampling and cycling through many a novel artistic talent, their label becomes an unstoppable assembly line of feline sonics. Frankfurt producer and DJ Sascha Dive is next up, adding to an incredible daisy-wreath of 12"s put out since early 2005. 'I Was Deep In My Past Life' hears Dive dive back into one of his many pre-incarnate bygones via extra-mile sound synthesis and design, the resultant sound of which evokes an undulant, blobby time-tunnel. 'Dub Chronicles No7', meanwhile, has been thoroughly transient-maximised, with a snappy drum buss envelope uppercutting the technic beats like automations of an iron fist.

Review: DJs Concret and Inigo Vontier unite as a duo, The Diyeis: a crocodilian-simian fusion of primeval sound, uniting mammal and reptile. Their mission is to harness "the primal, tribal effect of ecstasy on the dancefloor" - this is, of course, a target which many producers shoot for, and yet whose tiny red bullseye few are actually able to hit. 'Ritmo' and 'Skat' opt for a different, rather minimal approach to achieve the same "primal" effect, contrasting the usual cliches of hide-taut hand drum and nighttime ghost-dance chants. The Diyeis don't need to abide such tritenesses; their claim is that the tendency towards primordial dancing always already exists in us, without requiring evocation in style. 'Muevelo', in fact, entirely upends anything we'd expect of a "primal, tribal" release, bringing digi-redux hats jacked to high, clipped heaven, and weird FX, which reach a similar, and yet more unconfined head on B2 'Lo Que Pasa'.

Review: Kommuna marks its tenth year of activity with this new dancefloor-focused record from various artists whose music "reflects the glimmer of hope that music provides during these dystopian times." Fabricio's 'Collateral Effect' opens with a strident nu-disco sound and retro-future chords that get you moving. Charleze's 'Rage Power' is another chunky disco stomper with some nice cosmic melody and Wooka's 'Tirty Dalk' hits harder with mechanical beats and churning bass. Mooglee's 'Things I Love' brings a more dreamy synth sound but still club-ready beats.

Review: The Spanish duo Veruh & Hummus Hernand deliver an electrifying four track packed with infectious grooves and dynamic textures. Side-1 kicks off with 'Luminus', a funky, techy roller driven by a crisp minimal grooveiaddictive, playful and effortlessly fun. Barac's remix takes it into deeper, atmospheric territory, refining the edges with a polished, spacey techno feel that adds a hypnotic touch. On Side-2, 'Fiutur' leans into an otherworldly, futuristic sound, blending techy elements with a sick, pulsating groove that keeps the energy high. Closing the release, 'Moscow' switches gears with an electro-funk influence, layering broken beats and punchy basslines for a raw, high-voltage finish. A forward-thinking release from an exciting duo, this EP bridges the gap between minimal, tech house and electro with undeniable style.

Review: Galcher Lustwerk is one of those artists who has a completely diehard fan base. And for good reason, he is an idiosyncratic producer who collides myriad different sounds. Rap, funk, blues, beatboxing, techno, electro and bass are all fair game to him. His fist ever mixtape was a stream of sonic consciousness that has never before been released on vinyl. But now Ghostly International step up and press it to two 12"s, with both black and coloured green versions as well as a CD version available. It was a fine announcement of his arrival back then and still stands apart today.

Review: Swedish pair Genius of Time know exactly how to craft perfectly characterful weapons that get dancefloors going. They famously did so many years ago with a smart Whitney Houston sample but here got for a more peak time vibe with 'Rave Breaks.' It's got summer anthem written all over it with the whispy, shimmering synths and ever-rising groove. Bassie Kay's voice adds some soulful intimacy to finish it in style. On the flip is the more muscular and dubby house rhythm of 'Endless' with its fat low ends and warm drums.

Review: Four new prangers from France's BOOOoo! crew, startling our ears with audio-apparitions by ghosts of the resident French sceno-system: Jamahr, Mooglee, Jucid and Odeon. 'Black Loops' and 'Flex (Booty Mix)' invade elastic terrains of bass and flicky synth, churn them back through meshes of gradated beats and rond-squelching stab notes. 'The Question Is' eliminates much of the A-side's establishing layers and overdubs, harking rubbery and slip-tastic FX design, countered by the equally sticky 'Jimbeldance'.

Review: Blending elements from disco, Italo, jazz and Balearic house, this release delivers a fresh take on techno and house while paying homage to dance music's rich history. 'Enjoy You So Much' starts things off with an electrifying mix of disco and Italo-inspired tech house. A driving beat and infectious piano hook make it an undeniable floor-filler, bursting with energy. 'Volero' follows with an effortlessly fun vibeiplayful yet groove-focused, designed to keep bodies moving without overcomplicating the rhythm. Flipping to Side-2, 'Work Harder' injects a jazzy, tribal-influenced groove, complete with an impressive horn section that adds a touch of live-band warmth to the dancefloor. It's a breezy, sun-soaked track with a balearic spirit that radiates positivity. Closing things out, 'You Can, You Will' takes a deeper, techier route. While it leans into a more hypnotic groove, it never loses its sense of fun, balancing depth with an upbeat momentum. This release helps bridge the evolution of house and techno with style, bringing classic influences with contemporary production. A creative and danceable ride through the spectrum of electronic music's past and future.

Review: LOCKLEAD's Kemickal Affairs EP delivers four tracks designed to ignite dancefloors with an electrifying blend of house vibes. Side-1 kicks off with 'Zero's Delight,' a spirited and slightly jackin' house anthem that sets a fun and sexy tone. Following up is 'State Of Peace,' delving into a more techy and minimal groove, perfect for those seeking a deeper, more introspective vibe. Flipping to Side-2, the title track 'Kemickal Affairs' takes the listener on a journey through a deeper groove, reminiscent of 90s era house sounds but infused with a contemporary energy. Closing out the EP is 'Morning Krew,' characterized by its pumping bassline and seamless fusion of house and tech elements. With its dynamic range and infectious rhythms, Kemickal Affairs is destined to work well on any club floor.

Review: Ninja Records looks to build on the success of its first outing with a new outing from Miroloja who are brothers and key players in the Parisian underground with great credits already to their name on Berg Audio, Tzinah Records and OLO RECORDS. Their stripped-back but tight sound is laid bare on opener 'Linkblow' with its warm house kicks and wet clicks soon to make you move. 'Morgan' is speedier with some space-tech vibes and a snappier low-end. Closer 'Krazyteora' then explores a creepy late-night urban landscape with some cyclical drums and synths moving things onwards.

Review: Four years on from the release of the label's second missive, a rather good joint EP from Camili Gil and Rodrigo Valdivia, Spanish imprint W3ird Ltd is finally ready to drop its' third release. It comes courtesy of collaboration-loving duo ONE+1 and newcomer Cheku Garcia. Unusually, the pair's two original tracks are nestled on side B. 'La 1' is immersive, deep and surprisingly loose-limbed, with the resulting blend of machine drums, squelchy bass, chiming melodies and atmospheric chords sat somewhere between deep house and tech-house, while 'La 2' is deeper, jazzier and lightly dubbed-out - think Smallville releases and you're close. Both tracks are presented in remixed form on side A, with Steve O'Sullivan's hybrid deep house/acid house re-wire of 'La 2' being followed by Maher Daniel's glitchy and fuzzy tech-house take on 'La 1'.

Review: Contemporary bass music up-and-comer Pîrvu returns to Meander with a clever take on breakstep, breakbeat and electro, the 'Skylark' EP. With the little brown job of a bird held firmly in mind - its avian grace matched well by the light, but also hot-winged determination of the title track - we find ourselves compelled to dance with both light and hot footing in equal measure. Following that up, there's 'Edge Of A Strange Euphoria', with its phat FMs and murky narration proving that some if not most states of ecstasy are mixed bags, provided they do the proper job of challenging our inner status quos. Finally 'Zuzu' ends things on a franker note of gaslamp-lit acid, with Dan Andrei also lending a hand to produce a neat 4/4 version.

Review: Upcoming UK talent Joe Rolet gets the nod for this third 12" from the new Synkroniq still nascent label. He does a superb job of introducing his signature tech house style which is designed for both body and head. 'Central Lines' has a lovely bobbling bassline that is loose and infectious. There is a little more grit and menace to the bass of 'Acton Digital' and the EP highlight might then be 'The Serpentine.' It's fleshy, warm, the sort of groove to pull you in then amaze you with its star gazing chords and smart vocal samples. 'Glassblowing' is a busy closers with layers of static, finger clicks and balmy pads.

Review: ?aru is a non-profit label from Romania that sits at the sharp edge of the minimal underground. This new double pack of striped back tech gems will see all proceeds donated to dog shelters and NGOs supporting stray pups. Sensek opens with a slithering and groaning groove, 'Machine Morality,' for shadowy afterparties and Gringow brings a haunting melody to 'Towards The Dark & Cold.' Broascka's 'Epitelius' is an abstract affair with microscopic details scattered over a deep, dubby grove and Dragomir closes with two cuts - 'Alone With You' is a woozy late-night roller and 'Illusions feat Adina Oros' is a blissed out downtempo sound for the post-club hours.

Review: Swayzak is a micro house, minimal and techno duo, aka James S Taylor and David Brown from the UK, whose name alone will get many older dancers hot under the collar. Their craft was second to none during their peak and here we get a reminder of that with a new outing on Rawax. 'Floyd' is a jazzy dancer with live claps, spinning hi-hats and louche grooves all topped with synthetic synths that never quit. 'Doobie' is a more deep sound with late-night headsy vibes. The drums are supple, the synths squeal and spoken word mutterings add a human touch. Two well-realised and effective cuts from Swayzak.

Review: Originally confined to CDia relic of a different timeiJorg Burger's early-2000s masterwork finally sees the vinyl treatment it deserves. Lush, transportive, and quietly radical, this is ambient techno at its most fluid, a body of work that drifts between nostalgia and movement, solitude and propulsion. 'Leuchtturm' remains untouched, its soft hand drums and hazy atmospheres still unfolding like a slow sunrise. Elsewhere, 'AG Penthouse' undergoes a transformation, its flute-like trills and glassy keys now fused to a churning rhythm that recalls Tangerine Dream's work on Thief, minus the guitar histrionics. Beat-driven yet deeply immersive, each track rises, crests and recedes in perfect sequence, a travelogue in the vein of Carl Craig's Landcruising or Model 500's Deep Space. What makes this release endure isn't just its shimmering detail but its refusal to conform. In a landscape where ambient techno so often leans on a specific nostalgia, Burger sidesteps the obvious, creating a listening experience that still feels singular, 21 years later.