DJs: Most Charted - Minimal / Tech - Most Charted In June 2012

Review: Connaisseur veteran Chymera presents an insight into how his forthcoming third LP Death by Misadventure might sound with lead single "Strange Things Are Afoot." Housed in a clear PVC sleeve and pressed on equally clear vinyl, this is an impressive looking 12" and the music matches the feel, with the Irish producer presenting a master class in how to build a track, as a complex array of spectral textures weave between one another atop a strident kick drum. It is the moment where the bass line emerges from the nether regions and dissipates into one glorious arpeggiated lead that grabs your senses wholly. Two men of the moment in Conforce and Claro Intelecto offer their own takes on the B Side, with the former's relentless jack hammer through brooding electro complemented by the altogether more serene dubby scraping of the latter.

Review: Although Ricardo Villalobos had already appeared on Raum Musik under the RiRom moniker together with Roman Flugel, the Baby EP is his first full release for the label. The title track sees a firm kick and wood block snares forming the backbone for a drifting piano chord and sensual vocals which lead to a climax of delightfully glitchy vocoder. On the flip, "hansup" takes on a tougher groove, as sprung bass and minimal house stabs are joined by ethereal chords and twisted vocal samples.

Review: Having made his debut on Claude Von Stroke's Dirtybird way back in 2005, multi-talented San Fran electro-bass producer Justin Martin makes his full-length debut with this excellent LP. Luckily for fans of last year's excellent, juke-influenced collaboration with Ardalan, "Lezgo", there's a VIP mix included here that makes for a bigger, more building rerub, while Martin also does a great job covering Goldie's seminal "Kemistry" - adding some real venom and bite in the process. Look out for the deep and twisting "Ruff Stuff" and the syrupy "Night Calling" too.

Review: It's been quite a while since Lawrence has appeared on the Dial imprint he founded with Messrs Jost and Turner, and while he's not exactly been slacking with appearances on Mule, Pampa, Smallville and Dial offshoot Laid, it's nice to see the man known as Peter M. Kersten back on familiar territory with the Etoile Du Midi EP. Trademark Lawrence nuances are in restrained abundance across each of the three tracks here, such as the skipping, gloopy groove of the title track that playfully hints at concrete jack amidst the crystalline textures. Alongside this "Creator" sees Lawrence in a looser mood, drawing out increasingly hypnosis inducing circles of melody over a locked groove that gradually gets dominated by the shimmering clouds of chords that appear overhead.

Review: Ricky V's return to Perlon this year! That's correct, some four years on from his last appearance for the Frankfurt label, Villalobos returns with a two track 12" housed in those distinctive Perlon colours that precede the release of the Chilean's fifth studio LP later this summer. While Ricardo has been in experimental mood of late - see the Shangaan Electro remix or the Re: ECM album he completed with Max Loderbauer - both tracks here are very much in the canon of trademark Villalobos productions. Lead track "Any Ideas" plays around with the repetition of a vocal sample over stretched out textures that veer into mind bend territory whilst the pitter patter groove at times sounds like a ping pong game in action. On the flip "Emilio (2nd Minimoonstar)" is reminiscent of a ZX Spectrum having a meltdown in time to a minimal bump.

Review: There's a lot to be said for artists that take their time. In a career that reaches back to 2003, Marc Barrite has issued just a handful of EPs and one album under his Dave Aju moniker. Roosting in his preferred home of Circus Company has provided Barrite with ample space in which to develop his wayward sound. Unlike some who find a style and stick to it, each passing year finds a different kind of Dave Aju gracing our ears. Where the concept on his last album Open Wide was using just a mouth as a sound source, on Heirlooms all sounds have been sampled from instruments passed on to Barrite by his late father. However the starting concept is but a springboard from which he crafts his own vision for house music, and as with his previous output it's a loose, free-flowing version of what the music normally entails. What makes Aju so wonderful is that his music transcends any genre trappings; people who detest house music would still have a good chance of finding pleasure in his craft. Perhaps it's in the sunny Californian demeanour that seems to inform everything he does. Perhaps it's in his refusal to play by the rules. Whatever the case, Heirlooms represents yet another leap forward for a constantly shifting artist.

Review: What can we say about Visionquest? It was another historic year for the crew and adding Guy Gerber to their roster is certainly one way of confirming that! "The Mirror Game" is classic Gerber funk, where a mid-tempo beat fuses to seamlessly with luscious synth chords and anthemic pads. If we turn to the flipside, "One Day In May" injects more party-time vibes and does so with its insistent snares, smooth bass lines and sweet, elusive vocals.

Review: Appollonia have kept it all national with their collaborative EP by natives, Dan Ghenacia and Shonky, two ever-impressive house producers who have made a name for themselves in the last five years. "Close To The Edge" takes a Versatile take on things and delivers a 90s style track, with an addictive female vocal circling on and on around its shimmering beat layout. The Mole reinterprets the original with a comparatively more experimental edge - reducing the original to a swirling palate of shuffling, fast-tempo drums and intricate effects.

Review: Some 12 months after Sub Static regular John Spring debuted on the Air Drop imprint with the Benzo EP, the Berlin meets Bushwick operation usher forth this killer remix EP which features imaginative tweaks from Mike Huckaby, LHAS Inc and Airdrop stalwart Franco Cinelli. The latter opens proceedings with a bumping disco house revision of "Playing No More Games" - the kind of effortlessly fun track you could picture DJ Sneak dropping in one of his more playful moods. Huckaby shares links with Mr. Spring via their mutual contributions to Native Instruments, and apparently was keen to further develop a working relationship with a remix, which is good news for Airdrop as his take on "Drummachines" is Motor City grooves in its purest form! Lending an English touch to proceedings are Felix Dickinson and Jamie Read, adding further credence to the idea their re-emergence together under the Larry Heard Appreciation Society studio moniker is a good thing with an illuminating take on the title track. Recommended!