Fragil Musique France Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Having spent the last 12 months ploughing their own furrow via a number of self-released EPs, techno misfits Nummer pop up on France's Fragil Musique imprint. Arguably, Life Shift III is a little less robust, ragged and intense than previous EPs, with the London-based duo wrapping their typically bombastic beats and long-slung grooves in all manner of attractive chords, pads and hazy synthesizer motifs. That's particularly evident on the dreamy, '90s ambient house revivalism of "To 4th Dimension", but can also be heard on the floor-friendly thump of deep techno outing "Earth Shift". Flip for the bouncy, out-there throb of "Cosmic Love", and the sweaty beats, swirling chords and heart-aching electronics of "Circulation".

Review: Raphael Fragil's Fragil Musique has never ceased to stop exploring and innovating through electronic sounds. Since 2011, the imprint has showcased an impressive array of previously unheard talents and, in the process, has given us access to names such as Jafar, Cedric Borghi and Kenny Lane. More recently, the likes of Nummer and Simo Cell have played their part in the label's development, and this latest collaborative EP has come at exactly the right moment to lock these past six years down to a varied and polished release. Nummer, who had first come to light through Going Good, lays down some slick, slow lounge house on his "Nummer's Tribute", followed by the equally wavy and Balearic-leaning "Simo Cell's Tribute". "Jafar's Tribute" is a different kind of affair; the house beats are out in full motion, charged by a glorious minimal-dub energy, which leaves "Bazarov's Tribute" to deliver the funk via some masterfully executed boogie vibes. A splendid EP - TIP!