RAND Muzik Germany Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Always a good week when some new RAND Muzik drops. The Leipzig imprint's brand of understated grooves are on fine display once again on this various artists EP. On RM 12015, feel the low-slung and funky dub of A2's 'Open Your Mind' which they follow up with some moody computer funk on the next track 'Entity'. Over on the B side, Andy Panayi serves up some dusty 303 shenanigans on 'Acidbend' in the vein of classic Cabinet Records and closing it out is Stopouts with the subterranean breaks of 'Pass Go'.

Review: R.A.N.D. Muzik Recordings brings back one of its old friends here as Basic Mind returns with more of his mind-expanding tech house trips. The Perth, Australia has always got grooves at the heart of his tunes and this offering is no different. 'Closed Gateway' kicks off with a sense of serene synth craft and crisp drum work before 'Exit Strategy' slows right down to leggy, slow-motion loops and dub swagger. 'Comm Cycle' has squelchy bass powering it along as widescreen and balmy pads soothe the soul up top then 'Meridian' closes out with another downtempo excursion.

Review: Sascha Funke and Niklas Wandt come together on R.A.N.D. Muzik Recordings here and explore the worlds where house, IDM and Balearic all combine. The sound design is remarkable throughout here right from the first moments of 'Scheunenfund', which is an elegant groove that slowly awakens with bird calls and sleek new age ambience. 'Seidenstreifen' is more drum lead, the broken beats percolating under an eco-system of shuffling synth motifs. 'Erntegold' then heads off to the cosmos on seven techno drums and widescreen astral synths that recall the early Detroit forefathers. The best of the bunch is the busted rhythm of 'Schemen' with its raw drum slaps, jittery percussion and bursts of synth making you jack.

Review: Olsvanger lays out his vision of tech house here on a superb EP for RAND Muzik that is a perfect mix of OG sounds and styles and new school thinking. It is a fat bassline that immediately gets your attention on 'Phantom Lady' - it brings real funk to the snappy drums and swirling cosmic pads. 'Lotusing' immediately flips the script with a mix of rough-assed broken beats and glistening pads full of optimism. The variety keeps on coming with lovely 90s house update 'Air Balunga' cruising along effortlessly and 'Rezo Mantra' offering far-sighted and elongated deep techno tripping. Brilliant EP with many great sounds.