Review: Humanoid Recordings co-founder 4d lays down another four-track 12" for the label, scouring the weightier and scrapier ends of minimal and acid house, all while teasing out a retro-robotic edge. Only an artist with a real sense of humour can invoke ideas of 'Stupidity' and 'Quantum Theory' in the same breath; both tracks betray the unified whimsy and intelligence that a successful acid house and techno artist must portray in order to win hearts. The latter uses a particularly sticky, hard-to-pin-down 4x4 kick style; contrast to B1 'World In Our Head', which portrays a psychic model of the outside world through trilling trance lines, and the meek glissandos of 'Sowie Lockers', securing an indeterminate but funky mood.
Review: What's that, a new year means a new label from Burnski? We'd expect nothing else. The man has more imprints than a beach has grains of sand, but importantly they all serve a purpose and all kick out killer jams. Mikasa starts with this lush and lithe prog house EP from Abdul Raeva. Stylish opener 'Cream' is a bouncy, feel-good and sleek electronic house sound for peak time fun. 'Helico' is laced with acid and 'Tex Mex' has psyched-out lines rising through the uplifting drums while 'Vanguard' shuts down with a percussive edge and a killer bassline.
Review: Abdul Raeva's 'No Risk No Reward' EP captures the spirit of minimal and tech house with four dynamic, dance-ready tracks. Side-1 kicks off with 'Spazza', a lively, upbeat tech house track primed for the dancefloor with an infectious groove. It's followed by 'Eurotech', which brings in a high-tech, acid-tinged vibe, nodding to the ravey energy of the 90s with an irresistible, driving beat. Side-2 transitions to a more introspective energy with 'Phaselock', a melodic and flighty piece that leans into late-night techno territory, with a hypnotic, trance-adjacent sound perfect for deeper, immersive moments. Closing the EP, 'Crystal Palace' dives into heavy acid rhythms, blending elements of acid trance to create a powerful, pulsing finish.
Gonna Do & Do It More Now (Titonton Duvante FLiP) (6:27)
Review: Acapulco Heat is a new duo from Acapulco made up of Felipe Valenzuela and new comer Ossios. They share a love of colourful shirts and making "sensual moves in the shade of palm trees" and here offer up a set of cuts designed to encourage dancefloor mindfulness. 'Intellectuelle' is a crispy tech house groove with thudding kicks and enough detail to keep the mind as locked as the heels. 'Gonna Do & Do It More Now' is a highlight on the flip - a trippy synth line buzzes about over flappy drum programming that suspends you in the groove. The one and only Titonton Duvante offers a remix that has a darker heart.
Review: Accented Measures Series (AMS) is a still relatively new series that has been compiled and arranged by Accented Measures and is designed to deal in unreleased and new music from some of the scene's key names. The Space Drift Remixes EP is next up the series with a combination of 90s vibes and modern grooves. '97NY' (TC80 remix) is heads down and raw as you like tech. 'Aeons' (Pedro Goya remix) rather spins you out on more silky cosmic pads and the Miles Ellis remix of 'Bad Sector' is thudding tech with rigid drums and washes of sugary synth. 'Space Draft' (Karaba remix) begins some serenity and smoothness to the final cut.
Review: Two toolroom essentials from Rob Amboule, former London stalwart come Frankfurt familiar. Where years of collecting and playing gradually evolved into Rob making music of his own, it wasn't long before he made the move permanent, settling in around the Main. A late stopover in Paris has now domino effected this new one: 'Wovv Tools' brings 'Melortra' and 'Kopuie', equal parts dance-incenting and vagus nerve-soothing. The B is especially brilliant, cycling through generative hypnotic whirls and sweller padwork.
Review: Friendsome Records and Ams how up for a fourth time here with a new EP that is a perfect blend of sunshine and otherworldly atmospheres. Inspired by nature, to which Ams is reportedly deeply connected, and influenced by progressive house and trippy electronic music, this 12" showcases her true style and might be her best work yet with proggy vibes, old-school UK tech-house influences and dynamic rhythms. 'Bol B' is a fine start with chunky drums and lush layers of synth, 'Control Freak' is a psychedelic wonder and 'Clair De Lune' brings blissed-out ambience before the stunning melodies of closer 'Sunrises'.
Heavy Water (D Tiff Floating To The Top mix) (7:18)
Diact (6:19)
Trouble Down Groove (6:45)
Review: The Cosmic Soup label did some mighty fine work in bringing Howard Dodd's work as Doc Bozique and Anoesis back into ear shot. Dodd released a fair clutch of wiggy, trance-inflected house and techno back in the wild old days of the mid-90s, and so it's no surprise to hear his music finding new relevance at a time when that sound is so warmly received on dancefloors all over the place. This release for German label Spray pulls together a few different bits from 1994, ranging from 'Heavy Water' and 'Diact' from The Anoesis EP to 'Trouble Down Groove' from Eight Day Music. Bringing the relevance with the current zeitgeist in no uncertain times, we're also treated to a remix courtesy of a scene leader in this field, D. Tiffany.
Review: Atimpuri emerges from the Italian prog techno scene with Present Magnificus, a sublime new EP for the small but already well formed Spaziotempo (or 'space time') label. Giordano is already known amongst those who know as a fine DJ and producer, as the uninitiated will now discover with this top label debut. He explores fusing of an array of styles form techno to prog, trance to Italo, breakbeat to electro on an EP that is thoroughly of the moment. all the sounds are sci-fi in design and futuristic in mood with compelling grooves and plenty of great designs that work as well on head as they do heel.
Basement Space & Mans Glaeser - "Spacer Glaezer" (6:01)
Eric OS - "Timeout" (5:11)
Baby Rollen - "TwentyTwenty Home" (8:23)
Anna Kohlin - "What Time Is It?" (7:06)
Review: A releaser that crackles with an energy that could only emanate from the shadowy corners of the Swedish electronic underground. Anna Kohlin, label co-head and architect of hypnotic soundscapes, guides us through a diverse sonic landscape, her own 'What Time Is It?' leading the charge. Built from the evocative textures of the Roland JV-1080, it shimmers with a sunrise glow, ethereal pads interweaving with delicate melodies. Kohlin, a master of contrasts, doesn't shy away from the shadows, injecting her creation with sharper, dynamic elements that add a touch of grit to the dreamlike atmosphere. Eric OS throws down a challenge with 'Timeout', a sonic time capsule that transports us back to the early 2000s. Analogue warmth collides with the raw energy of digital sound, vintage synths intertwining with crisp beats in a nostalgic yet undeniably fresh sonic tapestry. Baby Rollen, armed with a looped double bass sample and the crisp snap of a 909, crafts a hypnotic groove with 'TwentyTwenty Home'. A warm 303 bassline snakes through the mix, adding a touch of acid-tinged euphoria to the already infectious rhythm. Basement Space and Mans Glaeser, never ones to shy away from the unconventional, deliver 'Space Glaezer', a sonic maze that twists and turns through intricate textures and unexpected rhythmic shifts. Kohlin's curation is nothing short of masterful, showcasing the diverse and ever-evolving landscape of the Swedish electronic music scene. Inside Out 002 is a testament to the power of electronic music to transport, inspire, and defy expectations.
Review: Boulderhead's I Need Space to Dance EP marks a significant expansion of his sonic horizons, taking in everything from contemplative dub moments to glistening rollers and a psychedelic tour-de-force. Tracks like 'I Need Space' featuring Overnite Oates and 'Dance and Dance Again' deliver shuffly spoken-word tech vibes, sure to become club favourites. Unified yet diverse, the EP appeals to fans of tech-house, prog, broken beat, and minimal techno alike, while Boulderhead, aka Henry James, exhibits the kind of top-tier production skills that hint at the potential for a full-length album.
Review: Brique and Babu step up for two tracks each on this nice and cosmic new tech house offering from the Quinoa Cuts label. Brique get first with a deft blend of silky synth designs and snappy tech house drums. It's both driving and physical but nice and heady at the same time. His 'Customer Service Meltdown' has more textural, fizzy synths snaking their way through the crispy tech beats, then Babu's 'Apollo' has an acid-laced sound and cyborg vocals piped in. Last of all is 'American War' with more tight, bobbing beats and electro-tinged rhythms.
Review: he North Macedonia label Pirka releases its fifth album and features four excellent tracks by the longtime producer Vincent Casanova. Things begin with the addictive melodic burner 'Mikey's Attic", which has a great balance of being futuristic with being retro enough to get everyone to the dancefloor. 'Euphoria' is bit more reserved but deeper. The track sneaks up on you as rhythmic elements continue to change and evolve under this excellent bassline. The track is carefree and fun that makes for an enjoyable time. On Side two, 'Strike' is more up-tempo jam that we cannot get enough of while 'Lush Void' might be our favorite of the bunch. This spacey romp into the cosmos is not only beautiful but it feels in constant motion like you are on a magic carpet ride. This EP has something for everyone!
Toto Chiavetta - "My Eyes Are Failing" (feat Trenton) (6:04)
Toto Chiavetta - "Dua Is" (Imperfect Couture extended mix) (6:36)
Toto Chiavetta - "The Sacred Space" (Tape Proc mix) (6:18)
Toto Chiavetta - "My Eyes Are Failing" (feat Trenton - Imperfect Couture extended mix) (7:52)
Toto Chiavetta - "My Eyes Are Failing" (feat Trenton- Echonomist remix) (7:12)
Review: Impressively wide and etheric new minimal / prog tech house from Italy's Toto Chiavetta, who returns to Mind Against's HABITAT sub-imprint with 'My Eyes Are Falling'. Rarely do we hear progressive house artists indulging such futuristic sound-palettes, if not for the fact that such sonic and textural detail often naturally spurs artists into more abstracted explorations away from dance music. But Chiavetta reins this impulse in, and keeps firmly rooted in the dance world by way of mega-surrounded breath-voices (courtesy of singer Trenton) and stratospherically catchy synth evaporations. Everything here, too, from the unpredictable, grid-flouting synthwork of 'The Sacred Space' to the ensuing remixes of the title track, sounds just as exo-worldly as the occult lifeform portrayed on the front cover.
Review: The new four-tracker from Chicaiza through Kimchi Records is decidedly impressive, finding reams of emotive expression in a knowing, but well-wrought gaudy-trance rawness. We clock we're in for a trippy one from the off; 'Frgil Bodies' hears an opening vocal natter with the intonation of a leprechaun under the influence of some lab-bought compound; and not long before the crudest of crude yet rudest of rude drum flows ensues. Then 'Metaphorical Nihlusiions' follows with a continually janky, but frankly wicked still, tunnel-toss through noetic synth flicks and gurglingly good bass groundings, throwing shade on false nihilations in the process. The understory opens up considerably with 'Shinobi', with trophic psychic layers and bushwalking sproutings-forth, culminating in a canopied trance lead atop. Finally, 'No Way' flushes an excess of chitinous, skin-shedded beats and leftover bass nacres, depositing them on the forest floor like lap-up fruits ripe for the taking.
Review: Some would deny that sound could be at all malevolent, or carry an innately evil intent. Greek techno producer Cirkel Square may think differently; his latest red-label EP for Ukrainian imprint Jerelo makes the argument quite clear that since sound does not exist without an ear to receive it, and a subject to perceive it, all sound is thus subjective. Its emotional contents are as contingent on the presence of a human mind as is the capacity to hear the sound itself: if we hear a sound, we cannot avoid ascribing it an intention. Cirkel Square, meanwhile, refrains from bad philosophy of this kind and draws on Ancient Greek mythology to inform his tutelary four track EP, each of which is named after the Greek gods of time, hell, war and hell again. The Greeks believed in four "sinister harmonies", and Cirkel Square has finely tuned each track to conform to each of said grave frequencies, to harrowingly electric effect. It's not all doom and gloom, though: make it to the end for the calmest balm in sound there is here, 'Persefone's Whisper'.
Review: Guy J's new alias Cornucopia experiments quite readily with progressive house and techno, veering atmospheric and immersive. Made up of two tracks which fans have been eagerly awaiting for years, 'Remember Me' spans an array of melodic plucks and even warmer grooves, crafting a super-hypnotic haunter. 'Early Morning' evokes the tranquility of sunrise, with Guy J's signature groove and dextrous production proving meticulous, though still easy on the ears. Both tracks exude extra warmth, as do most sonic hugs.
Review: Serbian DJ & Producer Igor Radosevic, known as Cosmic G, joins the E&X roster and serves up the label's first release of 2024. With a string of successful releases on labels like Haws, Goddezz & Neptune Discs, Radosevic has become a key figure in the progressive house and trance scene. This EP backs that up and features two originals - 'Human Spirit' which rides on feel-good and warm rays of synth goodness and 'Infinite Balance' which is a deeper cut with mind-melting pads. Alongside those are remixes by emerging French talent Clint, who injects raw energy into each of his renditions.
Review: Beyond the Outer Limits by Cult of the UFO is a new solo recording produced by Anthony Barker of Overlords of the UFO.
Due to Anthony being an integral contributor to the music of Overlords of the UFO, the four tracks maintain the trademark retro analogue sci-fi vibe of Overlords of the UFO, although with a more contemporary edge.
Review: Neptune Discs bowl headfirst into a future cybernet on their ninth V/A volume. Christening this latest record a “Neptune Disc”, we’d not be surprised if it indeed was true that a hidden alien civilization resident on the farthest known planet in the solar system was, in fact, using copies of this record as currency. From the opening filterswept FM declensions of ‘Emerald Canopy’, to the closing saws and oral acid resonances of ‘Donald Llg’, this retrofitted vision of the 2090s propels us towards a altered, proto-temporal conscious state, twining intricate vocal hooks round endlessly pulsating acid lines.
Review: The correctly titled Pressure EP from DC Salas is sure to amp up the energy levels whenever it gets deployed. These are sizzling tech house and minimal tracks that got right to the heart of the strobe-lit action. 'Light In The Distance' opens up with big, frazzled bass stabs and crispy drum breaks, then 'A Second Home' is a fat and bouncy one with train track like grooves embellished with panning synth madness. The title cut is a turbocharged and raved up house slammer and 'The Strongest Love' is a head wrecker with progressive synths darting all about the mix.
Review: Kevin de Vries collaborates with rising stars Y do I on his latest EP and it is a three-track journey showcasing the signature Afterlife sound. Merging emotionally charged moments with driving basslines and electrifying energy, the duo strikes a balance between light and dark while cooking up grooves that resonate deeply. Each track embodies the label's ethos of fostering close dancefloor connections through rhythm, emotion and vibration. This is evocative, painstakingly designed melodic techno with pristine synth work and sleek drums that carry you into all new worlds.
Review: Philoxenia Records boss man Luigi Di Venere continues to blur the boundaries between traditional genres with a new EP that takes its inspirational cues from the multidimensional nature of sound waves. The title reflects the depth and motion captured in the EP's stunning artwork by CGI duo muzzin+samiri while the opener is a tribute to early 90s Frankfurt EBM. 'By Means Of Music' is a more funky vibe with New Beat undertones and real warmth. 'Got Momentum' brings a French house edge and on the flip, Cromby transforms' Got Momentum' into a euphoric UK peak-time anthem, and Cycle_2 reimagine 'By Means Of Music' as a psychedelic techno trip.
Review: Robert Dietz continues to impress with his latest EP, Rejuve-Nation, demonstrating his versatility and skill as a producer and DJ. The standout track, 'Crane Song,' explores proggy house territory with a sophisticated touch, offering two distinct mixes that captivate the listener with their intelligent arrangements. 'Deranged Self Therapy' takes a different turn, blending IDM with new wave drums and poignant synths, resulting in an excellent composition perfect for lovesick robots. 'Centro Di Gravita' builds upon the qualities of 'Crane Song' while infusing it with an acid lines to push boundaries and experiment with different sounds. Closing the EP, 'Any Plan(t)s This Weekend' provides a soothing ambient experience, like a confident sketch for the end of a beautiful summer. Rejuve-Nation offers a bouquet of bangers catering to various musical preferences.
Review: Background is a Rimini-based label which specialises in slinky, playful strains of minimal tech house from some emergent names well worth keeping tabs on. Alex Dima has certainly earned his stripes as a name to get you checking the record, and his opening track 'Twisted' offers the mysterious synth touches and boxy drum machines beats we've come to expect, while Luca Piermattei lays down some seriously satisfying trance-minded melodic lines to loosen the crowd up good and proper. Munir Nadir is in an equally artful, inquisitive mood as he fires off the interlocking riffs and licks of 'Guinea' and then Smoud Beats completes the picture with a diversion into shaky, 90s-styled acid for the jacker in your life.
Review: You might have caught onto German label Synq with their release of John Dimas' Rave Wave back in 2020, and now the label finally kicks back into action with a various artists release which widens the scope of the label. DJ Gus leads the way on the A-side with 'Toxic Dementor', a throbbing workout taking cues from Italo and Hi-NRG while retaining the cool demeanour of a modern day club track. Lis Sarroca throws down a dreamy electro beat on 'Solstice' and Voodoos & Taboos brings the heat to 'Press One' before Cosmic JD cleans up with the trancified wig-out 'Soft R@ve'.
Review: DJ Normal 4 infuses plenty of psyched-out colours, trance from the 90s and sleek deep techno rhythm in his work for this new one on Fantastic Planet. 'Eden Responding' kicks it off with singing synth lines over quick beats. 'Spore Clouds' is more deep and driving with less melodic playfulness and 'Green Mantra' brings some more twisted after-party energy. 'Liquid Desire' then slows things down with watery sound effects and hypnotic layers of sound designed to zone you out.
Everything Nice This Morning (Volen Sentir Rerubed dub remix) (9:15)
Review: A fresh digital single by DJ Zombi, an Israeli DJ and producer and maestro of everything progressively downtempo. A curt two-track statement comes on this fresh vinyl release; the original 'Everything Nice This Morning' is a shoulder-lifting bop, with syncopated layers and melodic upticks backing up a measured, burgeoning mood. The B-side's remix from Volen Sentir is far weightier, bringing drums front and centre while also paring back the rhythmic synths for pure ambience. Released by Moments, a project of internationally acclaimed DJ Guy Mantzur that connects the elite producers with a series of gatherings, this one's a surefire path to joint ecstasy.
Review: The Not An Animal label, which rose out of the "debris left uncleaned from London's infamous Bad Passion parties" arrives at release number 20 here and a fine one it is too from Donald's House and DJ Chrysalis. They open up with the prickly percussive prog of 'Pound Bend' with its warped lines and glistening snares. The Apiento remix is a snappy one with more synth patterns layered in before 'A Curious Warmth' strips it back and gets a little more deep and dubby with a mix of abstract sounds and aching vocals. 'Tingler Ring' closes down with a Balearic late night feel.
Review: Novaj Records presents its second vinyl release - 'Space Energy', an electrifying compilation EP inviting listeners on an interstellar journey through a wide array of sonic cosmologies, in good stead with the nascent trend of space-age acid house emergent of late. Lauching into the boundless realms of space, the likes of Donnie Cosmo's 'Venus Transit', MLink's 'Frequencia' and Sunaas' 'Flash Dancer' are all as enchanting as they are out-of-body-experience-inducing.
Review: Eris Drew, "high priestess of the motherbeat", drops her second release of 2024, reflecting her genre-mashing DJ style with a cheeky slice of stab-infused club magic. Tribal house marching, tightly marshalled breaks, glitchy bleepiness, bubbling arps and a celestial melodic ether - this one's got it all. Label founder Baby Rollen reinvents it via a slightly more rave-orientated remix, while retaining a solid base of beats and bass perfect for modern floors, before Gallegos closes things with a more epic, slow burning version that echoes some of Carl Craig's raw but irresistibly danceable work under the 69 banner. Triple, tasty trouble!
Review: Spanish producer Ducados dips toes in adjacent pools of progressive house and straight-up trance here on this latest release for Cupula, impressing with four high-NRG enjoinments. Also their first ever release, the likes of 'Mimi' and 'Calada' are bowler-overers indeed. Smoothened out by scaped preset synths and flirtatious sampled reminders of the energy in the room, the openers give rise to a less scrupulous mood on the B, which works more as the dark side of the disc: 'Estrella De La Mort' and 'Synth Popper' dance with death and chem-sexuality respectively, bowling ever further down cosmo-sonic dust belts.
Review: Given that both producers are underground titans, traversing the blurred lines between disco, acid, deep house and wide-eyed dreaminess, you'd expect this two-track collaboration between Eddie C and Keita Sano to be pretty darn good. It is, of course, with the pair carving their own mind-mangling, breathlessly energetic niche on 'Disco Universal' - a certified throb-job in which trippy noises, exotic instrument samples and pulse-racing electronic motifs rise above a thumping beat and Italo-disco style sequenced bassline. It slows down midway through, 'French Kiss' style, before the duo brilliantly bring it back to a peak-time tempo. They explore sub-heavy, garage-influenced deep house and breakbeat pastures on the dreamy, weighty, impactful and acid-fired 'Joy Joy Joy', once more showcasing the diversity of their musical influences.
A Dam Will Always Divide (Lew E Asks The Dust remix) (7:55)
Review: This remix EP invites Young Marco, Minor Science, Ineffekt and Tornado Wallace to offer up their own reworks of Avalon Emerson's recent works. First up is 'Karaoke Song' (Ineffekt's Two Day version) which is shuffling, dense and club-inspired rhythms, then comes Young Marco's rework of 'Entombed In Ice' which is lit up with bright and bubbly arps, while Minor Science keeps it dusty and mid-tempo but heavy with his rework and Lew E closes out with a psychedelic trance-techno flip of 'A Dam Will Always Divide.'
Review: The Space Trace label keeps quality high with this fourth outing on wax. Eric Os is on the button for this one with 'Underworld' first to lure you into its world with gently broken bets and moody pads setting an eerie tone. 'Stereophysical' is more jacked up with fizzing synth lines and warped pads over future house beats and 'Elusive' bringing some trance energy to its flashy, bright synths. 'Electrodreammachine' is a wonky electro workout with withering sci-fi motifs, puling synth sequences and raw hits. 'Feeling Real' and 'Cherry Red' complete the EP with more blends of house, electroclash and sleazy guitar riffs.
Review: Italian tech connoisseurs E.T.H (Italy) and Palmiz deliver a sublime 4-tracker with Interstellar on Gestalt Records, perfectly balancing big room utility and sweaty club vibes. Highlights include 'How Long (Trippy Mix)' , an energetic, progressive house groover with a big, heavy late 90s sound. This track is a standout with its powerful beats and infectious energy. 'Interstellar is pure 90s fun with it's techno vibes dominating this track, bringing a vintage UK sound that feels both nostalgic and fresh. Another great one is 'Senator Bump' with the blend of classic New York house and elements of acid house. E.T.H and Palmiz have crafted a versatile EP that resonates with both classic and contemporary techno and house lovers.
Review: Slow Life has always nudged at the edges of typical genres, be that deep house, tech or minimal. Here comes another case in point - a remix EP that finds key associates rework originals by Ethereal Logic. S Moreira get first with a psyched-out sound dripping in colour and percussion. Paolo Mosca's remix is a glistening one with airy breaks and twinkling melodies and the Primary Perception remix then slows things down to a vibey downtempo and boogie delight. Mosh Project's remix closes with a slow motion and snaking sound that would work well as a backing track to a DMT trip.
Review: Nicola Facchineri's Prog EP on Twig is a masterclass in hypnotic, groove-centric electronic music, demonstrating the label's knack for crafting compelling club tracks. Each cut on this EP reinforces Twig's reputation for pushing boundaries while keeping it grounded in dancefloor practicality. The opener, 'Lighter Cubes', immediately sets the tone with its spacey atmosphere and mesmerizing bleeps. The track's subtle melodic elements weave through a tapestry of electro sounds, creating a suspenseful build that's perfect for those crucial moments in a set when you need to heighten the tension. 'Juggle' shifts gears with a deeper groove, featuring a blend of bass and acidic synths. Its understated yet infectious rhythm makes it a standout, effortlessly blending subtlety with impact. On the flip side, 'Climbing' lives up to its name with a relentless build-up that turns the dancefloor into a dynamic playground. The track's chuggy bass and intricate drum patterns keep the energy high, demonstrating Facchineri's skill in maintaining momentum. The final track, 'Right Way', wraps things up with a touch of acid and a cool, spacey melody. Its bleepy, synth-driven vibe ensures it fits comfortably into any set, bringing a satisfying conclusion to the EP. Prog EP affirms Twig's status as a go-to label for quality deep club tracks, adding yet another gem to their impressive roster.
Review: Francesco Farfa's iconic 1991 club EP is reimagined three decades later here with fresh remixes by four of Berlin's top DJs and producers. Their various different takes make for a versatile selection of dancefloor tools crafted by DJs, for DJs, ensuring it fits a variety of occasions. The A-side features Trent's deep, big-room darkness, complemented by Juan Ramos' trancey rework which mixes in key elements from the original. On the B-side, E-talking delivers an uplifting progressive remix while Hamsa strips it down for a more minimalist, enhanced version of Farfa's classic theme. A must-have selection of reworks here.
Review: Francesco Farfa's Learn To Fly delivers a seamless blend of deep house and electronic intricacies. The opener, 'Peace Treaty #1,' sets the tone with a smooth, rolling rhythm that gradually builds into an engaging groove. 'Feel The Run' follows, layering atmospheric synths over a punchy bassline, drawing the listener further into its hypnotic world. The track progression on Side 2 is notable, with 'Fly To Sub-Conscious' guiding the mood into more introspective territory, while the 'File' series offers varying shades of darker, more experimental textures. Farfa's production shines with every track, maintaining a balance of groove and explorationiperfect for both the dancefloor and home listening.
Review: Fata Morgana reissue is here and is a standout progressive house record originally released in 1993. Certainly, a key release from an era when the genre was dominating the electronic club scene. This 12" features four versions of the track, each adding its own nuance to the original's hypnotic groove. Each mix is meticulously crafted, showcasing the complex, layered sound that would define late 90s and early 00s progressive house. Transmigration Records continues its excellent work with this reissue, reminding listeners why Ulterior Motives is often cited as a lesser known gem in the genre.
Review: Fabrizio Fattore brings a lush world of sound to the fore on his new EP for Mule Musiq. It mixes up early, soul-drenched Detroit techno championed by the likes of Derrick May with jazzy melodies that would make John Beltran proud. 'Deep Blue is a sophisticated symphony of melodic and cosmic techno that will lift you off your feet. 'Passengers To Mars' is more lo-fi but still has a driving sense of groove and serene synth craft that is rich in emotion. 'Moon Temple' shuts down with more melancholic melodies but no less elegance in the craft.
Review: Fazack, Not Even Noticed, NairLess and Henrik Villard battle it out on the fourth Terrazzo disc, unleashing a contagious arsenal of acid and proggy tech house in the process. From the opening hip-swangs and filter-pinched laserblasts of 'Slung Low' to the more ecstatic midi-synth plucking ends of 'Zuzswang'; and last but not least, the more overt acidifications of 'Reflective Tears' and 'S11'; there's something on here for every raver.
Review: Fio Fa is back in his own label Sunset Drifters with four well-crafted and progressive cuts. 'Strengthen My Delusions' opens up the Delusions EP with twitchy electronics whipping about a steely arrangement with potent bass. 'The Wrong Side Of Doubt' has a winky lead taking centre stage over well programmed and crisp drums and hits and 'Partys Over' on the flip then layers up more future-retro sounds and slivery synth lines with a more moody low end and some sleazy vocals. Last but not least is the rather more serene and cosmically minded 'Another Epiphany' which cruises on acid-laced prog beats.
Review: Corsican label Isula Science drop a fresh brooder of previously unknown electro knowns, this time from label founder Flash FM alongside HDV, Sweely and Man/ipulate. Spanning vertiginous dark acid, then moving on through to dreamatic neon breakbeat and expedient Italo - 'Vol de nuit' especially makes signature use of a classic slap bass synth - they've got us entirely covered here. Enticing bumps in the night from the exquisitors.
Review: As you will well know if you are reading this, prog house is back and it has been for ages. As always with any revival, there is good stuff and weak stuff. This EP is very much the corner from Forces of Nature, with authentic 90s soundscapes mixing up lush ambient synth designs, dreamy Italo drums and real musical depth. 'Jupiter' is super smooth and seductive as it cruises at high altitude, then 'Tripping' is a downbeat workout and 'The Bomb' takes you to the heavens on gorgeous melodies while the bass plunges low. 'In Your Mind' is perfectly comedown music to close the EP in style.
Review: Belarusian producer Four Walls is back - this time around he finds himself on the new Ultraworld Records imprint from DJ Craft. This one kicks off with the lush prog house and silky synth arps of 'Mind Charger' which soon takes you to the stars. 'Metamorphosis' is a more raw-edged and acid-laced techno stomper for peak time action and 'Summer Nights' is a bubbling, elastic tapestry of new age overtones, thudding kicks, and trance-tinged pads. A remix by Toronto-based Pletnev adds another dimension to this club-ready EP.
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: Where dub and ambient house meets tense techno, Sascha Funk has us covered. The prolific Berlin DJ and producer has here created a monument to a nearly lost cultural artefact: the Germina Speeder, the only skateboard made in East Germany before reunification in 1986. Known for their unwieldy quality - likely the result of technical limitations faced by the chocolate factory improperly tasked with making them - the title track on this record rolls much more smoothly than the Speeder, its trucks comparatively loosened and boardside waxed. But most skateboards out there would likely pair well with this glorious, wind-in-your-hair dance EP; 'Bo Knows' and 'Master Mind' are easy-rolling, manual cascaders of equal calibre.
Review: Sascha Funke is a long time master of the deep who arrives on the always tastefully diverse Running Back label headed up so expertly by Gerd Janson. He brings a slightly different look here with the wonky, twitchy and tech infused rhythmic stomp of 'Reality'. There is more melody on display on 'Fantasy' with its ever rising synth loops glowing bright with a celestial hue and on the flip-side 'Puzzle' pairs some subtly joyous piano chord stabs over prickly disco-tech beats with molten arps underneath. 'Halle Weissensee' then closes down with a nice stiff and rave ready house sound, snappy beats and tight bass.
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