Tags: Minimal Techno

Review: REPRESS ALERT!: Trelik returns with a repackaged edition of one of the catalogue's most treasured releases. "Overcome" and "Lady Science (NYC Sunrise)" need little introduction, and now come sporting the new TR11:11 matrix number. Written and produced by Thomas Melchior and Baby Ford aka Soul Capsule, these tracks came from one of the many sessions recorded at the West London Ifach Studio in 1999. On the A Side "Overcome" is stripped back and energetic, driven by rolling and shuffling garage style beats, tight bubbling bass and atmospheric synth pads. The intermittent vocal samples and the release's signature organ set you up for the flip, "Lady Science (NYC Sunrise)". Possibly one of house music's most emotive pieces, the track builds slowly with the introduction of each part building a story of soulful optimism based around a sparse palette of deep synths, uplifting keys and warm analogue bass. The understated beauty of the main vocal riff never seems to grow old or tired with the track lending itself perfectly to either main room, peak-time play or after-hours sessions alike. Remastered by Rashad at D & M.

Review: Efficient Space's latest essential release sees Andras and Instant Peterson take a trawl through the darker, lesser-visited corners of Australian electronic music. According to the label, the pair lifted material from "local 12" singles, CD-Rs and the archives of community radio station 3RRR FM". Highlights come thick and fast throughout, from the acid-flecked, "Nude Photo" style Detroit fun of FSOM's "Resist The Beat" and chiming, trumpet-laden bliss of Ian Eccles-Smith's "The Slaughtering Eye", to the jaunty, mid-90s New York style bounce of Blimp's "Yellowgold" and the ultra-deep ambient techno pulse of Tetrphnm's "Track 11". Check, too, the enveloping dreaminess of Screensaver's drifting ambient closer, and the jazzy dancefloor depth of Inner Harmomy's "Da Lub Club".

Review: Tresor is celebrating 30 years in the game with a series of special reissue projects. This one really goes way back to almost the start, when Juan Atkins was already defining the early techno sound. For this one he linked up with Moritz von Oswald and Thomas Fehlmann in 1992 for a second iteration of the 3 Men in Berlin project. The monumental results join the dots between Detroit and Berlin across a collection of timeless cuts that meld bassline funk, hypnotic minimalism and soulful machine sounds into propulsive, emotive dance floor joy. The unbridled energy and cosmic elegance of 'Jazz Is The Teacher' might just be the highlight.

Review: 'State Of Mind' by Mephisto was originally released in 1992 as an Italian house precursor to trance. The single, receiving four mixes, was among the many wax releases to propel the producer (real name Maurizio D'Ambrosio) to longlasting acclaim, thanks to an affiliation with the label Palmares Records & Tapes. This new re-edit from Renaissance Records hears the 1992 version on the B with a 2022 rerub on the A by none other than UK house pushers Gorgon City.

Review: Dave Clarke's Red Series remains a vital benchmark in the evolution of UK techno. Released between 1993 and 1996, the three-volume run even managed to brush the UK top 40 back in the good old days when anything felt possible. Tracks like 'Wisdom To The Wise' will forever be etched in the make up of techno, and for very good reason. Now the whole series is being given a lavish reissue treatment which takes in all the original releases along with additional discs of rare, archival tracks and remixes, all bundled up in a box with a booklet and autographed by the Baron himself.

Review: Enjoy this remastered reissue on F-Communications of Finnish legend Jori Hulkonnen's much admired EP from 1996, as part of the label's 25th anniversary celebrations. 'Selkasaari Tracks' - Episode 1 was the first of a two part series, featuring such classics like the emotive, hypnotising and jacking title track, the healing hi-tech soul tones of "Flavatanssit" or the soothing late night deep house of B-side cut "Mello Dick Track" which are altogether the perfect zeitgeist of a golden era - for both the imprint and mid nineties house and techno music in general. Certainly one for the old school heads, and for those who didn't know - well now you know!

Review: With a name like Chiwax you surely know what you're in for right? The German label serves up another Windy City classic by the legendary DJ Skull here - under his birth name Ron Maney - with the 2 Entities EP, originally released back in 1996 on the seminal Relief Records. A classic for those that know, it's got the spooky and minimalist shuffle of "Bring It Home" and the heads- down stomper "Reborn Souls" which is classic DJ Skull all the way, complete with its heady loops underpinned by skipping rhythms. On Side B, "Reconstruction" also has more of a mid-90's Chi-town techno sound, only this one's even more driving and nasty - a proper basement jam to be experienced under the strobe lights.

Review: Laggy Panteli and Zeno Messis (aka Megalon) were cult techno artists back in the mid-nineties. They released seminal albums like 1994's Pandora's Box and mixed up ambient, Detroit techno, electro, European electronics and their own experiences of London's acid house scene. The good folks at Above Board have been digging in the duo's vaults and put together this collection of all of their best EPs across four crucial sides of vinyl. This is deep, atmospheric techno for the small hours with the likes of skittish rhythmic workout 'Sorcerer' (Funky Magus mix) sitting next to the widescreen acid styles of 'Semblance' (Dim B) and the shimmering leads of future tribal cut 'Transition'.

Review: Rawax first released John Selway's Real EP back in 2020. It has aged well and is still an in-demand 12" following the sell-out of its first run. As such the German label reissues it now just as it was the first time around. The title cut is a tribal and chunky house number with thumping drums offset but tender and barely-there whispers. 'Sliders' is a twitchy technoid stomper with a sleazy vibe and the urgent, hurried grooves continue through 'Wraecca', this time overlaid with swirling solar winds and busy synth modulations. Proper tackle.