Review: The fledgling WEorUS label rolls out more stylish, minimal and tech here from a trio of artists. Andrade goes first with 'Kubernetes,' a driving minimal house cut packed with hefty groove. It is followed by 'Content Security Policy' which is a slick, rhythm-forward roller that locks you into its flow. Flip to side-B and get swept into Dragosh's 'One Way,' a deep, hypnotic workout that's all tension and release and rounding off the trip is Fabrizio Siano's 'Control Your Emotions,' a poignant, late-night burner that delivers introspection through rhythm.
Review: Juuz out of Hungary continues to break new ground as it lays out its sonic identity with another tasteful various artists EP that roam free across the minimal world. Silat Beksi & Fedo get things underway with the heady but also playful and cheeky sounds of 'Porque Tu' before Minube's '909 Things' is a textural blend of found sounds, great sound designs and perfectly rubbery, dubby drum kicks. Daniel Broesecke's 'No Name' then gets more dark and down and dirty with a stripped-back mix of caps and bass that is pure backroom. Chris Llopis shut down its trippy sine waves and spinning hi-hats from the classic school of minimalism on his 'Manipulator.'
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.
Manuel De Lorenzi & Freddie Wall - "Sun-Rise" (6:15)
Fichs - "Find Yourself" (6:35)
Manuel De Lorenzi - "You Already Know It" (7:08)
Manuel De Lorenzi & Giacomo Silvestri - "The Big Apple Community" (7:09)
Review: Monday Morning is back to roll out some more lush house depths with a second EP, this one featuring founder Manuel De Lorenzi in the company of his pals Giacomo Silvestri, Freddie Wall and Fichs. 'Sun-Rise' is a nice gritty but vibey opener with percussive skip and dry hits. Fichs's solo cut is a loopy workout with nice bulbous synths and a pared-back rhythm that gets ever more inescapable while De Lorenzi then offers up the radiant synth warmth and dubby undercurrents of minimal house shuffler 'You Already Know It.' With Giacomo Silvestri he then closes on the more percussive loops of soft house soother 'The Big Apple Community.'
Review: Arpanet is a new imprint focused on reissuing far-sighted club cuts and electronic curiosities from the dim and distant past, helmed by French veteran DJ Speep. Fittingly, the label's first release is a reissue of Speep's 2001 collaboration with friend Fab, Sensitive. The title track, which resides on side A, is a classic example of moody, turn-of-the-century tech-house, where metallic electronic motifs, foreboding chords and layered percussion rides a dark bassline and swinging, non-stop drums. 'Space Road' offers a more intergalactic, acid-flecked take on early morning, early noughties tech-house, while 'Ladiescope' is warm, tactile, rolling and quietly postive: dreamy tech-house for wannabe astronauts and sun worshippers of all ages.
Review: Fabio Caria launches his new label, Hoops, as a means to explore the intersection of house and techno through a minimalist lens. The debut release is a collaboration with Hubble under the moniker Fabble and it's a fine one with three meticulously crafted tracks that manage to perfectly balance compelling rhythms with plenty of synth-based introspection. 'Catharsis' introduces a three-note Rhodes piano sequence with flowing pads and psychedelic synths and 'Donald' offers a steady 4/4 beat with sombre pads and powerful sub-bass. 'Persignis' with Italian legend Claudio PRC is the most dancefloor-driven with processed pianos creating an emotional mood and in all, this EP sets a nice high watermark for the Hoops label.
Review: German beat maker Fabe has emerged over recent years as one of tech house's most skilled groove smiths. His drums and bass are always seductive no matter their style. Here he links up with Burnski aka Instinct's Constant Sound label for four more irresistible nuggets. 'The Greater Good' is super quick as it glides over rippling bass with silky chords, then 'Newbie Bounce' has a more weighty groove. There is elastic funk and US swing in the shuffling goodness of 'Flow Groover' then 'On Edge' closes out with bulky deep house beats and late-night synth work of the highest order.
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 latest Pampa twelve sees label boss DJ Koze share the vinyl with Border Community don Nathan Fake and as you'd expect from two such esteemed knob twiddlers it's a very good look. Fake takes the A Side with the festive sounds of "Xmas Rush" which is perhaps the first Christmas themed descent into brilliantly twisted techno freakout in history. Inherently psychedelic and filled with plenty of acid reflux mind f*ck potential, there's also a warmth to the track that makes it quite special. On the flip DJ Koze presents an equally twisted but totally different dedication to Jamaican left anarchist dub poet Michael Smith, tragically beaten to death by political opponents in 1983. Covering Smith's signature track "Mi Cyaan Believe It" Koze drops a highly pressurized rough minimalist techno beat with added throb potential via the droney melody which presents itself as the perfect backdrop to Smith's distinctive tones (check the track at 33RPM for added freakout potential).
Review: Nation of Jak offshoot Dirty Blends was established by label chief Melvin Oliphant as a vehicle for "interpretations" and "homages" - in plain-speak hush-hush reworks, tribute tracks and those that sample liberally. The label's latest release is a compilation of sorts, featuring as it does cuts from a trio of artists. The Falcon steps up first with title track 'Sound The Alarm', a raw, jacking, bouncy and positive mind-melding blend of lo-fi synth stabs, sweat-soaked beats, fire alarm noises and restless drum machine fills. Over on side B, Grizzly Knuckles' 'Mad Bell' - a breathless, house tempo techno workout built around a nagging synth-bell loop - is followed by label regular The Jak's 'Aftermath', which sits somewhere between jacking lo-fi techno, UK funky and stab-happy Soca-house.
Review: Sardinian duo Enrica Falqui and Claudio PRC bring their respective signature sounds to this new collaborative EP on the Swiss label Adam's Bite. The two experienced studio hands kick off with 'Synapse', which has an enthuse, throbbing low end that forms the foundation for expressive synth craft. 'Amygdala' is named after the mass of grey matter in our brains which is involved in the experiencing of emotions and pairs deft, curious melodic waifs with chunky tech drums. 'Receptor' sinks back down into a moody, heads down and dub tech roller and 'Lucid Dreams' brings the sort of synth colours and low-end tension that will keep you awake all night.
Review: Fango lives in Venice in the middle of nowhere and works in a home studio when not practicing with his live band of the same name. He has been serving up his own take on techno for over a decade now and that vast majority of it has come on Degustibus Music.This is his first EP for a while and as ever it is well designed and atmospheric. All three cuts will work their magic on floors filled with serious techno heads and once more this is Fango in fine form.
Review: Blackinstock Records is a new branch of Mixcult Records and it debuts with the Reel Phase EP which is a showcase of the purest essence of dub techno. This most timeless release features the legendary Federsen alongside the innovative talents of Yagya and Ohm who are in remix mode. Each track on this 12" delves into minimalism and sonic depth to make for rather profound grooves that sweep you up and never let you go. The spacious, intricate soundscapes crafted by these artists explore every facet if dub techno with a slightly different personality which makes it a must-have for those who like their sounds deep, cuddly, and propulsive.
Review: Fedo prides himself on exploring beyond the usual genre tropes you get in minimal and tech house worlds. Opener 'Sin Titulo' goes some way to proving that with its innovative take on club-ready tech and boiled-down minimal synths. 'Calisthenics & Coffee' is a trippy blend of smooth bass and undulating neon pads. Warped vocals also pepper the mix to keep the brain and body occupied. 'Film Noir' indeed brings a darker energy and 'My Weapon' shuts down with some razor shape precision.
Review: The undeniably wonderfully named Chippy Chasers label return with a neat selection of four very playable, friendly-on-the-ear cuts from four undeniably wonderful artists. Fedo's 'Tunisian Rex' leads the chage, with a solid house shuffle liberally peppered with nicely trippy effects and bonkers vocal snippets that give it heaps of personality. Andrey Djackonda & Ovil's 'Lui Lui' is a little more stripped down and a little more soulful, with an old jazz hand muttering atmosphercially on top. Legit Trip's 'Skripi Daddy' is the most loop-laden of the quartet, but its ebbing and flowing brass samples and high frequency tweaks keep it interesting, before Firesc's 'Left Or Right' closes things down with the kind of polyrhythmic funkiness and space jazz trimmings that made Cheap Records so essential back in the day. Well worth Chasing down.
Review: Andrea Ferlin is the Italian DJ and producer who heads up the Sleep Is Commercial label. His latest release however comes courtesy of Germany's Pleasure Zone, featuring two advanced and breakbeat-driven minimal cuts. On the first side of Crepuscular Beats Part 2 is the lean and subtle groove business of 'Thai' featuring enough atonal blips and clipped rhythms to soundtrack Sunday morning mischief, while the equally reduxed B-side cut 'Varia' is another hypnotic affair benefiting from a sparse and experimental arrangement.
Review: Andrea Ferlin presents four stunning tracks that dive into deep house depths on this sick new HAZE release. 'OPIA' is first and features modulated stabs, rumbling pads and a sliding bassline that makes it an ideal choice for peak hours. In contrast, 'ORGO' shines in after-hours sets with its intricate percussion polyrhythms and layered sounds. The B-side shifts the mood with 'DORF,' while 'Morning Sunshine' evokes the anticipation of a classic orchestral interlude. This one is full of goodness for all sorts of settings.
Review: Fi-Lo returns with his fourth release on Alphaville Records and it might be his best yet. Drawing from 90s tech house influences, the artist adds his own signature spin to a set of four dynamic tracks designed for the dancefloor. The cheekily named 'Shaggin' Wagon' is a fluid blend of light and shadow, with acid and breaks setting the tone. 'Toro Bravo' on the A-side offers deep, expansive rhythms and a robust groove and over n the flip is 'All Work, No Play (Pressure Mix)' which unfolds as a relentless, evolving proggy weapon with a playful edge. Closing the EP, 'LA-Z BOY' introduces a laid-back vibe enriched with eclectic samples and a nice smooth flow.
Review: Fidelio and Luca Piermattei hook up here to explore worlds where acid, techno and electro all happily coexist. Fidelio's A-side offers three cuts that fuse 90s acid rawness with baroque drama that results in a unique mix of classical organ melodies and razor-sharp basslines. Punchy kicks and sizzling hi-hats drive the energy as you're happily lost on a neon-lit techno odyssey. On the flip, Piermattei's 'Gas' features a fluid bassline and glitching robotic vocals that are eerie yet inviting and 'Third Rec' (with Tascam 122) rounds out the release with pulse-driven electro and intricate percussion, perfect for late-night explorations.
Review: Montreal outfit Flabbergast tap into something brilliantly leftfield on this new EP for Adams Bite. Opener 'Peppermint Poodle' is a grubby and bubbly minimal tech house cut that is defined by a characterful Northern voice speaking about a love interest and various other things. It's wonderfully weird and sure to get anthem status soon. 'Manger Du Bon Manger' is more languid and late night, 'Mou D'Etat' is a deep and zoned out cut with odd samples and trippy sound designs and 'Dans L'Oeil' rounds out with a synth laced cruiser for 5am wig outs.
Review: Flabbergast's latest offering is a meditative exploration of house and techno, perfectly capturing the sensation of drifting between states of consciousness. '11:15 in your dream' begins with a haunting, ambient intro that gradually pulls you deeper into its rhythm. The track's driving bassline is complemented by delicate, atmospheric synths that flutter like thoughts half-remembered. The interplay between the deep groove and swirling textures gives the track a sense of floating, evoking both serenity and unease. It's the kind of hypnotic journey that blurs the lines between reality and reverie, a late-night moment to lose yourself in.
Review: Fletcher's arrival on Ausblick brings another fine selection of techno sounds that tend towards the more deep, heady and minimal end of the spectrum. 'Blurred Lines' kicks off and is a sublime fusion of rubbery drum loops and shuffling percussive sounds that lock you into a mindful state that's eventually heightened by some dreamy little synth sequences and lovely dry hits. On the flip, 'What's It All About' is more abstract and sparse, a late-night sound full of intriguing little details to trip out the after-party crew.
Review: Sometimes a tune comes along that is so good it stands up on its own on a single bit of wax. Flipsight's 'The Lizard King' is one such tune. It's got everything needed to both appeal to the heads but also hook in those who like a characterful and accessible tune to get them going. The drums are Paradise Garage-style house grooves with a great sense of shuffle and swing. Keys up top are jazzy and echo Herbie Hancock, with chord stabs, scratching and odd vocals all meaning this one has huge anthem potential. Move fast!
Review: New label klaxon! Jus De Rose mergers form the ever-fertile Romanian scene with a first EP from George Gavanescu aka Floog, a minimalist who has put out some 24-odd EPs in less than a decade. His very firm grasp of dacenfloro dynamics is laid bare here with 'Not A SOS' kicking off with a soot-black post-punk energy, rugged bassline and slapping drum funk. 'Talo Bisco' twists cold wave and synth energy from 80s Eastern Europe into a slapping tech house workout and 'Intamplarea Din' is a more stripped-back thumper with a warped bassline and hurried drums that will lead to plenty of weirded-out moments. 'OMB 3' is another proto-techno experiment with cold analogue drums, 80s synths and dehumanised vocals.
Review: Romania's Floog is already well known for his impactful presence in the micro house scene with releases on Visionquest, Enfasi, and Atipic. Here he teams up with Brizman, the minimal alias of techno veteran Gel Abril, on Adam's Bite. The EP kicks off with the title track 'Lose Connection' featuring a bouncy sub-bass line, saturated drums, twitchy synths, and glitchy vocals. 'That Hook' takes a more dynamic approach with layered synths, modulating flutters, and whispered vocals and the 12" then closes with 'True Believer' featuring Linn Stern and blending cinematic atmospheres, robotic voices, fluttering arpeggios with skippy, raw drums for an anthemic finish.
Review: An innovative EP emerges from the collaborative work of two accomplished music producers in Stockholm's Weirdvin, founder of the thriving Maraton label and here making a debut on Lyssna with the label's own Flord King. Their music finds a perfect common ground between electronic minimal funk and atmospheric textures, with overtones of ocean-faring trips on a voyage to the depths of the Baltic Sea. From the snappy percussion of 'Navigation' to the ambient synths of 'Oyster' via the nice and delicate drum loops of 'Telefunken' the more warped lines and turbulent bass of 'Bende' this is an EP with a unique sonic aesthetic.
Review: Florence is another white label series that marries '80s pop vocals with heady minimal house grooves. With previous titles such as 'Born Trippy' and more blatantly 'Rihanna', 'Chaka' or 'Bonobo' - you can kinda see where this lot are coming from. For their tenth edition though, they've put a twist on a modern microhouse classic (guess which one) on "Easy". Whoever churned out this one certainly had some audacity, but respect to them! Over on the flip, we have some boompty swing-fuelled deepness on 'Resist' followed by a dope hip-hop joint in the form of 'Game' which provides a welcome change in tempo.
Review: Svogue's third vinyl-only outing delivers a brilliantly trippy and dreamy exploration of house and breaks with a hint of characterful old-school flair. Produced and mixed by Matteo Floris, his well crafted tracks feature solid analogue drum patterns paired with energetic rave synths that are all perfect for peak-time underground clubbing but never forgo a bit of nuance for the heads. It makes this a 12" that offers a rich, immersive listening experience with colourful pads, innovative rhythmic patterns and plenty of future ideas.
Review: The intriguingly named Perfumed Freedom makes its debut here with a seductive new minimal EP from Foehn & Jerome. The Frisbee of No Return is the sort of well-designed outing that lovers of those intimate yet zoned out 4 am moments will love: opener 'T-Dive' layers up synths that convey an unsettling sense of mystery and malevolent energy over flappy drums. 'Happy M'June' pumps the drums a bit harder while wonky synth details unfurl up top and last of all is the most raw of the lot - 'New Soul Interruption' has rasping bass and more cluttered arrangements.
Review: The endlessly fertile scenes that are minimal and tech house yield more essential DJ goodness here as Bread & Butter assembles a selection of talents for this ninth various artists' release. Alex Font & Aron open up with 'Walking On Clouds' which is not as airy and dreamy as it might sound, but does lay down a nice deft minimal groove. Beiger has a more sunny outlook with the mellifluous synth clouds of his 'Audible Illusions' and Mihai Pol then brings ouse late night jazz house cool to his 'Bip Bip.' Iuly B completes a varied package with the heady loops and wispy cosmic synth motifs of 'Bouncing Lights.'
Alex Font - "El Velorio De Pedrito Navajas" (10:06)
Crihan - "Dark Times" (6:24)
Paul K - "Electro Fantomas" (6:48)
Review: It has been seven long years since Acme Music introduced the first part of this series but now Mis Hermanos Rumanos is back with a third instalment. The three-track various artists' affair kicks off with Alex Font and his lean minimal tech house groove 'El Velorio De Pedrito Navajas" complete with wavy bass, twanging strings and an exotic vibe. Crihan's 'Dark Times' is dubby and unhurried, and again heads into steamy jungle worlds with watery droplets and organic percussion. Paul K's 'Electro Fantomas' is a final tripped-out closer with snappy snares and wavy drums.
Review: The good early work of the Third Stream label carries on with this seventh missive and it's a various artists affair featuring some top talent. Alex Font gets things underway with 'Keep Moving', which is aloof, rolling minimal tech defined by a billowing lead which does what it wants. Kyle&Sam's 'Chapter 36' is an ice-cold and deft, steel-plated tech cut a la Melchior's best and Altarf & Backhauser -keep the synthetic, abstract aesthetic going with their occult machine whirs and loopy drum funk on 'Yeah.' Dumi & Nopau's 'Time Measurements' is like a long-lost Ricardo Villalobos cut from his most famous album.
Review: Yukihiro Fukutomi is perhaps the most lauded Japanese electronic artist and has been gaining plaudits since the mid 90s for his own particular brand of house music. Ewan Pearson was so moved by Fukutomi's 2009 cover version of Marshall Jefferson's "Open Our Eyes" that it featured on his heavyweight mix for Kompakt. That cover version should not be confused with "Open Your Eyes", the A Side on this classy excursion into vintage Chicago sounds from Fukutomi under his Foog alias. It's a brilliantly acid tinged retro jacker that builds and dips in all the right places, with the mid section roll of crashing hi-hats a particular delight."Grey Matters" adopts a similarly future retro sound on the B Side with KiNK-esque 808s aplenty.
Review: Youandewan's Small Hours label is indeed small but beautifully formed so far. This fifth transmission is another doozy that collects four different artists who all operate on the spaced out end of the electronic house and minimal spectrum. The Former Landlords kick off with breezy and balmy 90s tech house style sounds on 'Council Pop' then Session 4000 go 'Off' with plenty of sci-fi pads and clipped, kinetic drum programming as well as some playful vocal samples. Mop Py' 'Beskar' is a more psychedelic late night wonder with gurgling bass and lovely neon synth trails. Jad & The complete this essential slab of wax.
Review: Detroit legend Eddie 'Flashin' Fowlkes has had a truly massive month with a couple of releases on his esteemed Detroit Wax imprint (which he runs with Niko Marks) and this week he kickstarts his City Boy imprint back into action. This is its first release in 11 years, presenting part one of the Knucklehead Series featuring a fine selection of moods and grooves. First up is the deep down and dirty tech-funk of '1-2-3', followed by the dusty twilight mood music of 'Hold Me Down' and over on the flip is the double 12's most energetic cut in the form of 'Test Unknown' - a sincere expression in proper Motor city style 'hi-tech soul'.
Review: In the write-up for this admirable label debut by newcomer Framboisier, Gestalt has promised "a new kind of club sound" based on the foundations of "tech and hardgroove". So what does that mean in practice? Well, title track 'Buffout Trax' is a brilliantly bouncy and breathless affair, where rave-igniting riffs, bassline house style organ bass motifs and UK garage samples ride a beefed-up house groove. 'Orbit Reflex' sees the producer lean more into glassy-eyed rave-era nostalgia - all stabbing bleep techno style bass, hybrid techno-house beats and fizzing melodic motifs - while 'Flex-o-matic' is a more rolling concoction that puts retro-futurist fun at the top of the agenda. Closing cut 'Holodisk Data', meanwhile, is an all-action fusion of past and present dancefloor tropes with extra lashings of TB-303 psychdelia and nods to early progressive house.
Review: Now here's a classic. Originally released at the turn of the millennium, Music For Freaks reissue the Methods In Madness EP by the label honchos themselves - Freaks aka Justin Harris and Luke Solomon. Featuring the boompty Chi-town shuffle of "Look Behind You" dub by local heroes Tim Shumaker and Tim Kvasnosky aka Home & Garden - who've been fairly quiet in recent years. The slo-mo acid trip that is the title track rounds up the A side. On the flip, we have two versions of "Instrument" by master minimalists Soul Capsule aka Baby Ford and Thomas Melchior. The On It version is a bumpy form of cyclical hypnotism that you could only expect from the respected pairing. The Off It version strips things down even more, left with a simple breakbeat and bass pulsations.
Review: Two minimal heavyweights pair up for this new 12" on Exhibition and offer up a trio of expertly crafted tracks for late-night sessions. Turn kicks off with warped vocals and organic, wooden-sounding percussive details while the lurching beat rolls below. 'Turnapella' strips away everything to leave the filtered vocal as a tool for adventurous DJs, then 'Grow' is a nice minute trip into sombre chords and downbeat minimal drums that are perfect for cosy back rooms in the wee small hours of the night.
Review: After a break of two long years, tech-house scene stalwart Sascha Funke has finally delivered a new EP of typically atmospheric, on-point music. It's his first outing for Running Back after years spent flitting between BPitch Control, Multi-Culti and Endless Flight. Interestingly, what's on offer is more retro-futurist in tone than much of his work, with audible nods to vintage electronic disco, early 2000s nu-disco (think Morgan Geist) and tactile '90s deep house. Our picks of a very strong bunch are rubbery, morse code-sporting nu-disco-goes-bleep house number 'QAM', moody analogue deep house treat 'SEZ', whose creepy chords and spacey sonics are undeniably alluring, and ultra-melodious, Italo-disco-influenced opener 'FEZ'.
Review: Romanian artists Funky Trip dropped the fourth EP on the Bohrium Records label back in January and despite promises it would not be repressed, it has in fact been repressed just a few months later, but given the timeframe we don't blame the label for wanting more people to have this one. This artist stands out in the Romanian new wave for navigating a vast universe on releases with Rawax, Nazca and Stamp Records. 'Alpha' features a passionate vocal cry thing brings emotional urgency to the dub, percolating beats and synth phrases that loop tightly. 'Dreams' has a more melodic, light and airy feel for the quiet moments. Barac of Moment Records adds his signature touch to the title track, with a smooth rhythm layered with subtle psychedelic influences.
Review: The SEVEN label has an 'in-between house and techno' ethos and next to tap into that is Berlin-based Tal Fussmann with some 90s-tinged prog house that radiates feel-good energy. Blending genre fluidity from the off, 'No Disco' is percussive and freewheeling but with a rebounding low-end and a clear dancefloor focus. 'Release' taps into driving techno territory and is infused with shimmering machine soul warmth, 'Sunset Falling Down' is a clubby broken beat with real poppy intensity and 'Is It Real?' Is a buoyant, arms-in-the-air house closer. The 12" is elevated by a standout remix from Swiss maestro Deetron, who brings some trademark depth.
Acid Charlie - "Nuclear Era" (orchestral mix) (6:51)
Review: Plasticity Records launches with a bang on its debut release, which is a various artists offering with our fierce and floor-ready tracks. Nulek & Roto open with 'Eternal Space,' a shadowy techno-electro hybrid laced with eerie vocals, then Flhez follows with 'Study Nights' stylishly channelling Uruguay's deep-rooted rhythmic heritage through gritty analogue texture. On the B-side, Mar.C drops 'Not Normal,' a pounding EBM-inflected banger built for dark rooms and late hours. Closing things out, Acid Charlie brings warped percussion and twisted structure on 'Nuclear Era,' which makes for a fractured, futuristic workout. A bold first statement from a label with serious potential.
Review: REPRESS ALERT!: Fletcher and Steve O'Sullivan have often worked or appeared together in the past so it makes sense that the former now invites the latter to be the first person to release on his newly minted and always sure to be worth checking Social Currency imprint. They take the reins together across floor-focussed cuts that are marbled with deep pads and introspective sounds. 'Cold Calling Blues' is warm and airy with smoky vocal sounds and precision dub techno drum loops, 'Midnight At 1:30' hits a little harder but is still zoned out and serene and 'Shatner's Groove' takes on subtle deep space moods with deft pads and spoken word additions.
Review: Belgian label Music Man Records has assembled Boccaccio Life 1987-1993, a 40-track compilation honouring the legendary Destelbergen club that helped shape Europe's electronic underground. Far more than just the birthplace of New Beat, Boccaccio championed raw, futuristic house and techno long before the genres went mainstream. Curated by resident DJ Olivier Pieters and regular Stefaan Vandenberghe, the collection features classy cuts that are also being served up on a series of VA EPs. This one hits hard with jams from QX-1, Fred Brown, Mr. Fingers and Laurent X all going dark, deep and moody.
Luc Ringeisen & Funk E - "Treinta Y Siempre" (7:33)
Polyfan Polyphenix - "Polymorph 2" (7:02)
Review: The cultured Movida label rolls out more of its tasteful tech and minimal jams with the Water Drop EP Part 1. Somfay opens up proceedings with 'Arborvitae' (A Voice Like Water) which is a zoned out roller with chords that encourage you to gaze off to the future. The b-side starts with Luc Ringeisen & Funk E's 'Treinta Y Siempre', a tender electronic lullaby with gently broken beats and then things get much more scuffed up and dubby with Polyfan Polyphenix's 'Polymorph 2' which is a languid rhythm that makes you want to move nice and loose.
Review: Steve O'Sullivan's Mosaic label is back with a second volume of its dubs series, this time on nice yellow vinyl with Sub Basics and Fletcher given one side each to shine. Sub Basics goes first with 'Mediterranean', a lovely liquid dub with bottomless depths and perfectly smooth, frictionless drums. Lovely soft melodies drift in and out as the echoing hits and icy hi-hats help oil this most heady of grooves. On the flip, Fletcher offers up 'Sludge' which is a little more tense and menacing, with darker bass and more texture as well as distant groaning pads that keep you guessing and on edge.
Review: After a couple of quiet years Ferro's VBX label returns with a bang, as the esteemed Dutch minimal producer links up with none other than Ricardo Villalobos for a run of 'Ferric' jams. Enlightened souls should have some idea of what to expect here, as Ferro's snappy grooves collide with Villalobos' meandering sound collages to create psychoactive termites geared towards twisting out the dancefloor good and proper. This is proper minimal, with the percussion chiselled into fine clicks and pops to leave more space for the trippy elements to weave their magic. The quality comes assured from this new pairing, hopefully paving the way for more collaborations in the future.
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