Review: Planka Records continues to solidify its underground credibility with its third release which offers up a group of international producers. The EP dives into electro grooves and stripped-back, hypnotic rhythms designed for the raw, gritty corners of the club and Aka Juanjo kicks off with the neck-snapping pressure of 'Modo Electro.' Jesse You brings some proto-trance synth work then Stefano Andriezzi gets freaky with ice-cold drum machines and --burrowing basslines on 'Teknica'.
Review: Nail is one of UK house music's most vital contributors. His raw sound pioneered a new style of tech house in the 90s and here he reappears under a different alias, AM Vibe. 'Vibe With Me' kicks off with nice loose drums and perc and jazzy keys adding the warmth and soul. 'I'm So High' brings some loopy and filtered fun and phased vocals for a sleazy feel, then 'Dried Fruit' gets more upbeat with lush synth swirls and effortlessly cool drums and rich r&b vocal samples. 'Powder' closes out with some thumping kicks and more tender vocal stabs. As always, this is brilliantly heartfelt and effective tackle from Nail.
Review: ***B-STOCK: Warped, otherwise plays fine***
The second various artists EP from the Merkwurdig label is another tasteful collection of up front sounds from a clutch of inquisitive underground names. Body opens up with some nice cosmic tech powered by rasping bass and reverberating synths. Nate SU's 'Neutrino' is a busy jam with hooky synths and splashy cymbals that takes on a twisted sense of cyborg funk. OBG very much smooths things out with the heady house roller that is 'With The Wave' and Fabiano Jose shuts down with the rock solid kick patterns and subtly rising joy of his diffuse piano chords on 'Discotale.'
AudioChain - "Back To The Time" (Tm Shuffle Myotatuuli dub remix)
Celestial Sphere Aka Hirotaka - "Concept Depth"
Review: Swiss label Introspection Audio Limited hist 12" number five with some exceptional techno workouts from producers based in Switzerland, Finland and Japan. Each track delivers a distinct atmosphere and emotion, perfectly crafted for the dance floor. Alessandro Crimi's 'Always' keeps it deep, dubby and minimalist, Needless layers up delightfully smooth drums and dub chords and a Tm Shuffle Myotatuuli dub remix is frosted with icy static and chilly winds. Celestial Sphere Aka Hirotaka shuts down with a more textured and snappy dub tech vibe.
Review: Berlin producer Ede returns after their 2023 Innervisions debut 'Poptroit', this time for another melodic techno forward-facer. With a papillary front cover - resembling the suckers of an octopus or the polyps of a fantasy coral - we doubt the trypophobics out there will be at ease with this one. That is, at least until they hear the soothing progressives of 'I Am Wavy' and 'Odyssey', which build through and cleanse classic acid, rave and bleep motifs. The latter track has an incredible vocal breakdown, saturating and processing its stabs and chirp-hits just right.
Kirill Matveev - "Never Losing That Track" (Genning remix) (7:00)
Tm Shuffle - "Artist" (6:00)
Nicolas Barnes - "Outro" (7:50)
Review: MixCult Records' latest release offers an atmospheric journey through deep and dub techno, featuring standout artists like Eric Louis, Kirill Matveev, Genning, TM Shuffle and Nicolas Barnes. Eric Louis's 'Voice Memo' opens the compilation with a haunting blend of soft bass pulses and ethereal vocals, setting a reflective tone. Kirill Matveev's 'Never Losing That Track (Genning Remix)' layers sweeping synths over a driving beat, creating a euphoric yet wistful energy that's perfect for early-morning dancefloors. On the B-side, TM Shuffle's 'Artist' dives into the dub techno world, its solid groove grounding listeners. Nicolas Barnes wraps things up with 'Outro', an ambient masterpiece that fades into introspective calm.
Review: 'Solipsism' opens with sleek, futuristic energy where its infectious groove and sharp percussion that locks dancers into its hypnotic rhythm. It's a shinning example in refined minimal techno, balancing precision with raw club energy. 'Street Lite' follows, evoking the spirit of early 90s UK techno with rolling drums and nostalgic synth textures, transporting listeners straight to a dimly lit warehouse. On Side-2, 'Freeze' shifts into heavier territory, driven by a weighty bassline and pounding rhythms that demand attention. It's a raw and relentless techno cut built for peak-time intensity. Closing the EP, 'Glove Box' leans into new beat influences, layering thick synth stabs and mechanical grooves for a gritty yet infectious finish. Drum-heavy and rich in character, this record is all about the old-school techno feel while keeping things fresh. It's a love letter to the past with both feet firmly on the dancefloor, designed for those who crave deep, rhythmic intensity with a timeless edge.
Review: By their standards, Berlin twosome Nap92 have been positively prolific this year. Having previously confined their output to a sole EP a year, this 12" marks their second of 2024. It is, of course, rather good, with the pair once again offering a collection of retro-futurist workouts that blend early 90s house sounds and late 90s tech-house tropes with plenty of ear-catching samples and agreeable melodic motifs. You'll find plenty of fine fare amongst the five tracks on show, from breakbeat house style opener 'Most Perfect' (where a squelchy bassline, floatation tank synths and eyes-closed vocal snippets catch the ear) and Clav-sporting garage-house shuffler 'Track 3', to the organ-rich MK goes tech-house flex of 'Laurent' and the fiendishly sub-heavy 'Body Body'.
Review: Back in 2012, long-serving Italian producer Marcello Napoletano decided to launch a new, highly limited-edition series, the 'Private Collection'. Since only 100 copies were available direct from the producer, it was effectively a private press EP of machine-powered club cuts from his personal archives. 12 years later, he's decided to reissue it and make it available to a wider audience. This is a very good thing indeed, because the material is - to quote a certain fictional broadcaster from Norfolk - top class. Check first redlined EBM-meets-Chicago house opener 'L'apparzione', before submitting to the early Larry Heard style excellence of 'Fuck the Machines'. Over on side B, 'You Know This Groove' is a solid chunk of Rhodes-smothered, Detroit style deep house dustiness, while 'Stay Forever' is a spacey, squelchy and star-gazing slab of intergalactic house futurism.
Review: Silias Records welcomes Marko Nastic, a venerated DJ and producer from Serbia who could rightly claim to be one of his country's biggest underground electronic music exports. He brings peak time renegers here with tracks rooted in techno and tech such as 'Sour Pie' with its mechanical drum loops and rickety rhythms run through with blasts of electricity. 'Circuits' is smoother, deeper, more rounded in design and jazzy in melody. 'Que Rico Enrigo' is packed with well-designed sounds and a hint of Latin flair in the vocal sample and 'Clockworksx' shuts down with a thudding, persuasive and chunky tech sound with clattering percussion adding some texture.
Review: Portuguese label Bosom Ltd invites us back in with a new EP from Paul Neary that gets deep into some abstract minimal and tech sounds worlds. 'Lemonade' opens up with ghoulish voices and grubby basslines topped with modulated synths and Villalobos style keys. 'Lizard Lounge' is just as much from the underworld with its dark sounds and freaky FX marbling a weird vocal, then 'Hotels & Jam' rides on detuned and off-grid chords, warped beats and underlapping bass. A Leanca remix speed things up but is no less out there.
Review: Paul Neary's 'Lemonade' EP offers four playful minimal tech house cuts that ooze energy and charm. Side-1 kicks off with 'Lemonade', a bass-heavy, minimal groove that's both catchy and irresistible. It's the kind of track that locks listeners in with its infectious rhythm. Following that, 'Lizard Lounge' keeps things slick and techy, delivering a groove that's as smooth as it is hypnotic. On Side-2, 'Hotels & Jam' brings a bouncy, fun-filled tech house vibe, perfect for keeping the energy alive. The remix by Leanca takes things up a notch with a more twisted, playful spin, pushing boundaries while still maintaining the EP's core essence of lighthearted minimalism. Overall, 'Lemonade' is a standout release, filled with memorable grooves and techy finesse that will light up any minimal tech house set. Released on Bosom Ltd Portugal, this record is packed with fun, quirky grooves reminiscent of sets by Ricardo Villalobos and the legendary Paxahau parties during DEMF.
Review: Lisbon veteran Nebulaee makes his debut on Carpet & Snares, delivering four tracks that blend organic arrangements with quirky vocal samples. With a distinctive style that recalls the likes of Spencer Kincy, Nebulaee crafts tracks that balance minimal house vibes with a slightly eerie twist. Walking basslines ground the groove, while nimble percussion adds movement and energy. The harmonies shift from cheerful to creepy, drawing listeners into a playful yet slightly unsettling atmosphere. Every track here feels like a journey, with carefully layered sounds and a mischievous, ever-evolving tone.
Review: Like a Michelin starred chef, Neurotron - an alias you would much more expect to come from the world of drum & bass given its semantics - mixes up just the right amount of serval different ingredients in this classy new EP. There is jazz, deep house, acid, techno, electro, dub and probably more. The opener is a deep one with lovely melodies, 'Alone' is a more club ready sound with smeared pads and acid, 'Hunting' bangs the box in Detroit fashion and 'Woodward' is a blissed out dub house groove that oozes charm.
Review: Owen Ni invites us on a sonic exploration with this ten-track release, a journey through the realms of ambient electronica and deep listening techno music. 'Beyond Flyhigh' sets the tone, its expansive soundscapes and hypnotic rhythms drawing the listener into a world of introspection and wonder. The Raytek remix injects a pulsating energy, transforming the original into a dancefloor-ready odyssey. Elsewhere, tracks like 'Mover' and 'Arqs2600' delve deeper into hypnotic textures and intricate sound design, creating a sonic experience that's both arrestting and thought-provoking. 'We Are Here' and 'S7lverbox' offer moments of quiet contemplation, their delicate melodies and atmospheric soundscapes inviting a sense of peace and reflection. The release closes with 'Epilog', a fitting conclusion to this immersive journey through sound and emotion, leaving the listener with a lingering sense of wonder and possibility.
Review: Picture a utopian twist on Akira, and you might land close to Nick Nikolov's vision for his NKLV project. With a nod to classic house elements, like bright piano riffs, he blends in the finely detailed sound design of IDM and ambient, adding a playful, French touch-inspired groove. Tracks like 'Speak to Me' and 'No More' dive straight into expressive, textured soundscapes, while the title cut 'Inbetween' radiates with serotonin-charged energy. Mixing the quirky beats of Basement Jaxx with KiNK's raw pulse, Nikolov crafts an escape filled with soul, spontaneity and unexpected joy.
Review: The second release from Diggers Society Records features NND, who is renowned for both his compositional talent and his skills as a selector. This EP is a real journey through NND's diverse musical landscapes and his rich musical background. The A-side is defined by dark atmospheres and deep, powerful rhythms. On the B-side, a track inspired by the iconic soundtrack of an '80s cult TV show shines bright and is followed by a celestial production that transports you to otherworldly realms while blending nostalgia with a modern techno touch.
Review: After the likes of The Orb have already worked their magic on these tunes by the prolific N.O.I.A., now comes a couple more jams with new takes on the Italian electro-pop flavours of the original piece. This vocoder-soaked synth extravaganza gets the Dutch touch with remixes by I Venti d'Azzurro Records' own Eddy Mi Ami first up and then and Savino Deejay. Both remixes are must-have gems for Italo disco lovers of all types.
Review: Following outings on Eudominia and Who is Paula, Carsten Fluck and Lucas Lejeune bring their Not Even Noticed project back to Craigie Knowes. Like their last EP on the reliable Scottish imprint, Beneath The Surface has both eyes firmly fixed on peak-time dancefloors. Our pick of a very strong bunch is opener 'Hidden Ground', where razor-sharp TB-303 acid lines, dreamy chords and misty-eyed female vocal snippets ride a rolling techno groove. The quality level never dips throughout, with the warm but spacey tech-house hypnotism of 'Whopper', the deep acid house hedonism of 'Hibiscus' and the electro-fired supernova that is 'Under Your Radar' (whose acid lines are wonderfully insatiable) all hitting the spot.
Review: This release delivers an electrifying journey into acid and electro techno. 'The Program' opens with an uptempo, busy rhythm that pulses with excitement. Its sci-fi influences are clear, with acid-driven melodies and a compelling sense of urgency that keeps the energy high throughout. On Side-2, 'Test' takes a darker, more subterranean turn. The pounding beat anchors the track, while spacey, atmospheric elements create an immersive environment. The production is tight, with deep, resonant layers that pull the listener further into the track's world. Both tracks showcase a mastery of tension and release.
Review: After a near two-year break, the shadowy CUE Point label - an imprint based in Valencia, Spain - returns to stores. To reintroduce itself, the imprint has decided to offer-up a multi-artist EP featuring cuts from new signings, old heads and friends of the label. Pad Union kicks things off with the deep, dusty and gently jazzy 'Holodnaya Para' - all rich Rhodes chords, languid bass guitar and crunchy drum machine beats - before storied producer ScruScru joins forces with Guydee on the acid-fired, funk bass-propelled house bounce of 'Nesting Down'. Over on side T, Negroove's ghostly, slipped tech-house jam 'Smoked Jazz' (a track blessed with Villalobos-influenced percussion programming) is paired with EP highlight 'Grisha (Soe)', a chunky and organ-rich slab of peak-time tech-house by label regular Heavenchord.
Everything (No Statues) (previously unreleased version) (5:03)
Don't Do It Like That, Do It Like This (feat Donna Black) (5:56)
Crazy For Your Love (previously unreleased Recording) (4:18)
Together (6:53)
Sycologic PSP (5:09)
Self Hypnosis (previously unreleased mix) (5:37)
Silicon (live At The Brain club - previously unreleased version) (4:11)
Review: The Nexus 21 'Mind Machines' album finally sees the light, bringing the shelved UK techno classic to eager fans. Originally recorded in the early 90s, these tracks capture the essence of Detroit-inspired UK techno, fusing raw energy with British flair. Standouts include 'Nexodus' and 'Everything (No Statues),' with Motor City talent Marc Kinchen and Anthony Shakir lending their touch. While only two tracks saw official release back then, this album unearths unreleased gems and alternate mixes, showcasing the duo's groundbreaking sound that influenced both Nexus 21 and their rave-alter ego, Altern 8. A long-awaited landmark.
Review: Noreen is a cult name for those who know - a producer who had his own unique take on minimal and dropped some real low-key classics. Nearly two decades after its initial release, his album Our Memories of Winter now gets reissued so you can relive its blend f early 2000s electronica with Norken's unique mix of minimal techno, house and British IDM. Featuring all 12 original tracks, plus the inclusion of 'Df23' and 'Flirt', this is the first complete vinyl version of the album. Lee Norris's sound evokes nostalgia and warmth with atmospheric emotional techno. Influenced by luminaries like John Beltran and Autechre, this one remains a real gem.
Review: Cabale Records is a Parisian label that has, for the last few years been exploring the minimal techno world. It now branches out with its first various artist release featuring some tasteful tune makers starting with Pheek. He brings some loose percussive energy and wonky drum funk to his opener then Mod303 layers in dreamy and immersive pad work to deft, subtle drums on 'Paris City Zoo.' Night No Tori Vs Hubble keeps it deep and dubby with the late-night introspection of 'Deja Vu' then Sten's 'Slope' is a trippy afterhours sound with tumbling synth smears and percolating dub tech beats.
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