Tags: Minimal Techno

Review: Into The Wizard's Sleeve have decided to offer up a reissue of the classic Mr Barcode original 'The Rise Of The Machines' for their second wax. It's the sort of glitchy, abstract, twitchy acid and minimal techno that is perfect for those 5am slots in some twisted basement. As such who finer to remix than the king that milieu, Ricardo Villalobos. His first version is an empty, stripped back and full of sub bass and sine wave details, his second is a slightly fuller track with gorgeous hits and plenty of aliens living in the grooves. All in all a superb EP.

Review: RFXN kicks off life with a new single from David Agrella which has seen early support from Ricardo Villalobos. First off he offers up his own Acid Mix of 'Perro Balearico' and it's a supple, deep and dubby track with liquid synths and prog chords that sound both retro and future all at once. The original is a more dreamy and spaced-out sound for 5 am sessions. On the flip is a more punch but still silky and warmly melodic remix from Mario Liberti before last of all, Gabriel Rai gets darker. His drums hit harder and the synths are moodier as he takes dancers down a late-night path of mystery and intrigue.

Review: We have a mysterious pressing this week from Hcsvntdracones (however that is pronounced) with what has been best described elsewhere as 'Highly effective House DJ weaponry' and that's fairly spot on! Both sides are reworks of tracks by the legendary Romanthony (RIP). On the A side, we have a trippy minimal techno style rework of his anthem '(The) Wanderer', followed over on the flip by a 303 breakbeat rendition of his 1994 song 'In The Mix' (Acidic Tendencies Edit) most famously remixed by Tony Humphries.

Review: Portland-based Aaron Carlson is AC$ and this is his third outing on the cult Sakskobing label. Once again he comes at house music from a unique vantage point and mixes up the rawness of Motor City hero Omar-S with the disco dalliances of Metro Area and the deep house of Berlin. His tunes are packed with character as well as funky drum patterns such as on the seductive lo-fi house of 'Patio Protocol'. 'No Jello' is a bumping Chicago house cut with nice frayed edges and 'The Big Black Slot' is cosmic tech house with soulful heart. EPs this fresh and classy don't come along often.

Review: Cultured minimalist Junes is back with more future takes on tech, acid, house and breaks. This time once again it is the artist's own Dote label that serves up these four cuts - only the label's 5th EP in some four years. 'Sapphire Tomb' pulls off that fine Junes trick of being both dreamy and deep yet dynamic. It's got smooth chords and tight drum programming that takes you to the stars where you then get worked over by the acid undulations and glistening tech of 'Head-Free Dose'. 'Heritage AD' veers towards supple, mind-melting Jeff Mills-style deep techno and 'Rounded' then ends on a prickly acid jacker. Versatile and vital.

Review: Long-time quality deep house operator Andy Vaz has a classically inclined sound that is infused with his own European perspective. Never has that been more obvious than with this EP on I'm In Love which assembled some of his best work. A Collection Of Trax Vol 1 is a limited 12" that opens with 'Only', a lively rhythm with jazzy chords and smooth vocal hooks, while 'Balances' strips it back to deep, warm, diffuse basement house. 'Deutz Motorcity (From The D)' channels the best of the Motor City with its balmy pad work and 'Little Acid' brings some raw 303 lines to a twisted house sound for the freaky after-hours.