DJs: Most Charted - Minimal / Tech - March 2015

Review: Using the Turkish psychedelic project Insanlar as a jump off point, Honest Jon's have enlisted Ricardo Villalobos to turn out one of his grandiose remix projects that gels so naturally with more exotic sound sources. The original of "Kime Ne" is already an enchanting, Moog-infused groover rich with traditional vocals, and then Mr Villalobos locks the ingredients in for a typically cosmic ride into stripped and hypnotic house territory, letting the lutes intertwine with dusty reams of percussion using that alchemists touch that could only come the man himself. The remix spreads itself over two sides of wax, leaving one side of the double pack free for a fetching etching as well.

Review: Perbec is Mark Broom and Baby Ford. Their last vinyl outing was "Variety Club" for the seminal Ifach imprint in 2001. Here they return with "Chaser" an epic journey into the original principles of house music. Infectious bass, Chicago-style keys and deep, analog synth pads announce that the party is very much in full force. Flip the disc for "Long John" which features stripped rhythms with plenty of swing and energy - equally suited to the main room or afterhours. Mastered at D & M.

Review: Any Diego Krause fans out there wondering when the Berlin producer and co-owner of Beste Modus was going to hook up with the Apollonia crew can rest easy, it's Right About Now! So goes the title of this three track 12" and the lead cut which finds the K man on simple and wonderfully groovy form over its 7 minute duration. A perfect DJ tool for the house music selectors out there, and there is more of the same on the B side though "Manitu" offers a more stripped back and techy side to the Krause palette. And what to say about "Dreams" other than it lives up to its title and then some!

Review: After the adventures in Meditations from Thomas Melchior, Perlon's latest release of an impressive 2015 so far finds the label turn to a lesser known artist in Bihn. The production alias of Berlin based Germann Nguyen, BIHN emerged last year with a pair of low key 12"s as well as working with Onur Ozer as Treatment. What Nguyen lacks in profile he makes up for in punchy Perlon-worthy productions skills on the basis of his two tracks here with opener "Visio" a quite haunting cut where stripped back drum programming allows a neat bassline and detailed synth work to shine. Complementing this, it feels like "Ruski" is Nguyen letting his more urgent desires reign free and is likely to become a B side many selectors cherish.

Review: It promises to be yet another interesting year for Dial Records with an upcoming compilation and the tantalising prospect of a debut album from White Material man DJ Richard on the horizon. Before that, it's Herr Flugel that kicks proceedings off with a new three track 12" that sounds and feels every bit as vibrant as this stellar 2014 LP Happiness Is Happening. Sliced Africa opens with "Black Towers" a racketing slab of epic deepness that appears suited to the early morning moments, whilst the title track has our Roman veering off into more tropical territory. Some superb drum programming on this one. To close "Spiritual Enhancer" adopts a more contemplative poise, easing down the tempo and providing the warm up DJs with a B Side gem to cherish.

Review: After the first collaboration on Samuel Deep's Native Tribe EP, these infamous jungle brothers decided to do a full EP together. When together they go by Ingi Visions and have a unique heavy underground sound made for dancefloor destruction. The "Get Slapped" EP features two solo tracks as well wich really represents their own styles. U can expect a lot more music from the brothers in the future.

Review: Roughly a year after Thomas Melchior inaugurated The Return Of The Cosmic Kids series for Aspect Music, the German returns to the label with a second three track offering. "your vision will become clear when you can look into your own heart who looks outside dreams, who looks inside, awakens" is all Aspect Music offer in term of sales notes, leaving you to enjoy some more wistful Melchior Productions Ltd music free of distraction. A decidedly spectral vocal sample is key to lead track "Sometimes" adding further to an already haunting production, whilst "Liquid Moves" is an altogether more strident and uplifting cut from Melchior. Do check the MJM accapella of "Liquid Moves" if you are after a trippy set opener!

Review: With a few scattered releases behind him, Denney makes the leap to Hot Creations with the self-assured strut of the Pimp Out EP. "Low Frequency" has the potential to be a huge track with its slick use of acid touches, hooky bassline and catchy vocal sample. "Pimp Out" gets more tripped out in its own use of 303-esque sounds, keeping the drum machine rhythms pattering and flying in playful touches of melody to keep the warmth in there. Luca Cazal steps up to deliver a remix of the latter track, working it into a drum focused slice of dancefloor functionality which should prove useful in a plethora of situations.

Review: Last year's Ballad of the Ice LP for I'm A Cliche seemed to open quite a few doors for Tel Aviv pair Dori Sadovnik & Niv Arzi with Red Axes appearances on Kompakt, Highlife, and Relish. The commencement of a new Shem series of records brings the Red Axes back to Cosmo Vitelli's label with a remit being tracks geared towards the dancefloor but always retaining the one-of-a-kind approach that it distils in all its productions. The four tracks on Volume 1 set the tone nicely, be it the Delia Derbyshire does cavernous acid house vibes of "Na Da" or the spectral "Balma" which features the Portuguese crooner Abrao. Best of all however is the effervescent jack track "Nu" which really exemplifies the talent of Red Axes to make club-ready tracks out of organic elements.

Review: The fortieth release on Scuba's label is a collaboration between Locked Groove and the fast-rising Italian pair Mind Against. If there was any doubt that Hotflush represents an accessible take on underground techno, then this is it delivered with a palpable self-confidence. "Elysium" is based on tribal beats, but its groove pulses insidiously and the melodic breakdown is reminiscent of Kompakt's classic trance sheen. "Pulsar" follows in a similar vein and the arrangement, erm, pulses hypnotically. Although similarly pristine hooks and sparkling synths are audible, on this occasion it's all about the groove that gets increasingly intense until the inevitable climax.

Review: The collaborative project from Ry X and Frank Wiedemann has already a splash in its original form, and now this set of remixes brought to you jointly by Monkeytown and Counter has its sights on the floor. Rodhad has been taking the techno scene by storm recently, and he brings a delicate touch to "Signs" that comes on like a pagan mantra as much as a contemporary dance track. Kalabrese meanwhile drops a delicate and shimmering slice of laconic, jazzy acid mixed in that unusual manner which he has always brought to his own productions, and then Radioslave and Thomas Gandley activate their Last Communication for an equally melancholic piano-led revision.

Review: Johnny D is a certified masterclass when it comes to itchy, swinging and funky tech-house bangers. The dude has released on all the big 'uns including Oslo, Bouq and Safari Electronique, and he returns to 8Bit with another deadly three-tracker tailor-made for the dance. The title track "Believer" is a hypnotic and floor-sweeper, while "Ellic" is a little darker and more lo-fi, and "Poluc" focusses on the percussive edge, something which Mr. Johnny D knows a thing or two about!

Review: A new record by Stephen Laubner is always a cause for celebration, and on this occasion he's making a rare outing beyond the comfy confines of his Something label and moonlighting on Lick My Deck. The lead track "The Liker" is as rowdy as you could expect STL to get, with a seriously gnarly lead synth line that packs the potential to decimate many a dance. The drums piston-pump all kinds of grottiness in the process, which plays in neat contrast to the B side jam "Fluffy's Empire". While there may be a certain roughness to the beats, the calmer key lines are much easier on the ears giving you a handy option for any part of the night, while as ever a couple of off-kilter loops linger in the inner grooves of each side.

Review: In a rare deviation from his usual haunt Third Ear, London producer Wbeeza gets snapped up by Moscow's Arma label to serve three distinctive tracks that prove he has a meandering artistic vision that doesn't easily fit into any particular trend. "Creek" shuffles and shimmers with a Detroit sensibility in its brittle drum machine beats and primal bleeps, while "Psychosomatic" drops the melodics and instead focuses on a roughly made set of percussion with a techy demeanour but a housey groove. "Just Trust Me" calls to mind the wayward tones of Wbeeza's Void LP, jamming out some fine slithers of funk around a tough but sprightly bounce that teases as much as it delivers.

Review: There are some seriously haunting tones at work on this new single from regular collaborators Jozef K and Winter Son, as Let's Play House keep a little winter spirit alive thanks to the utterly evocative tones of "May The Lord Have Mercy On Us All". By way of contrast "Like Falling Angels" comes woozing to life on hazy loops of piano and far-flung drums that might just be right for a mystical summer time experience. In terms of remixes, Luke Hess goes to task on "May The Lord Have Mercy On Us All" and turns it into an expressive, limber dub techno cut while Basic Soul Unit dices "Like Falling Angels" into a dislocated electro abstraction.

Review: Following the release of their debut LP, 'Keep Up Appearances' on their new label Modelmaker, Dan Berkson and James What draft in Frank & Tony, Dana Ruh, Dorisburg and Alan Doe for remixes.
Berkson & What have chalked up many releases on Poker Flat and Crosstown Rebels over the years whilst most recently turning heads outside of their own Modelmaker imprint via singles for Dogmatik and Seth Troxler's Play it Say It. The duo's LP, released in January, marked a new chapter in their production history and has seen support from Josh Wink, Mr G and Skream over the past few months.
'Keep Up Appearances - Remixes' opens with Anthony Collins and Francis Harris' superb Frank & Tony alias taking on 'Seraphim' which results in a tense but understated piece of layered, classic sounding house music while Dana Ruh, fresh from her excellent debut LP on Underground Quality last year, drops an eerie recreation of 'Worship' that draws on spacey synths and unsettling ambience.
Dorisburg, known for outstanding material on Sweden's Aniara amongst others, continues a sterling run of form with a rendition of 'Feel Free' which employs soaring chords to fashion a luscious and elevating take on the original. Rounding off the package is Berlin producer Alan Doe, an artist who debuted on Rue De Plaisance in 2014. Doe's 'Worship' remix is squarely dancefloor-aimed with punchy kicks, smokey effects and teasing keys.

Review: Last year's Variety Of Different Feelings album confirmed Bucharest producer Barac to be a rising star of the Romanian minimal scene, so it makes sense for him to further establish his profile with a new record label. It also makes sense for Barac to be involved in the first release, with Moment 001 consisting of two collaborative productions with compatriot Chiriches Vincentiu Iulian. With both stretching past the 12 minute mark, it's evident these tracks are the result of some fruitful time in the studio between the pair and "In Colour" features some particularly delightful musical touches that really bring the production an extra sense of life.

Review: Following a various artists release that featured the likes of Loopdeville and Innominate, OdD are back in the saddle for the fourth release on their label as they spread their wings within the busy world of minimal house music. On "Drum Technology" the concept sounds complete, from the ethereal pad tones to the impeccably crafted beat, packing enough movement to let the insistent jam roll on blissfully for as long as it pleases. "Dutty Drum Skin" meanwhile revels in a more sinister headspace, keeping up the finely chiselled beats but letting a more ominous brand of drone linger in the background of the mix. "Squiggle & Flam" lives up to its name and gets all wriggly around its slickly shuffling beat, while the looped up synth refrains maintain the twitchy feeling perfectly.

Review: With a style rooted in classic 90s rap-house styles, System2 have already flown out a wealth of material for various imprints including Underground Audio and Politics Of Dancing, but on this occasion they're back on their own System2 label to deliver two upfront jams that will sit right on any old-skool minded dancefloor. "Movin (Edit)" may have a dubbed out flavour to it, but it's still a peak time belter with a smooth hip-house vocal flow atop of loose and limber breakbeats and a satisfyingly punchy bassline. "Backed Up" may take things deeper with some intricate drum machine patterns and soulful keys, but it's still a neat time machine back to the good old days of early house music.