Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Back in business and enlisting the help of two heavyweight Spanish electro artists, Aspecto Humano preserve the human essence of their music despite leaning heavily into mechanoid motifs. The logo always stays the same, though each release's colour and mood is variable. Robert Cosmic and Dark Vektor lay down a duo release, complementing the label's various solo and V/A outer-missions released in 2024 so far: 'No Estamos Solos' and 'Luces de Neon' saddle the mix with languid vox overdubs and flashy murmurs in the bass nether regions. 'No te Enteras de Nada' and 'Simulacion' rend the mix to a comparative dryness, stripping the electro bark back to expose the bare cambium.

Review: Dashiell has been road testing these two tunes in his sets for a while, and they have always done a job. They finally arrive on wax courtesy of Foul Play and are sure to get dropped all over the place this summer. 'dfuse all the tension' is the right mix of driving tech but wonky minimal. The bassline is drunk and all over the place while the lead synth has a retro video game feel, and some crisp melodies and refracted vocals finish it well. On the flip, 'da nastiest' is faster and more direct with some turbocharged and bass-driven tech house characterised by another sleazy vocal and phased synth lines that bring a playful twist.

Review: New heat from Datawave is always going to be worth tuning into, and so it proves with this new one on Wave Function. His signature fusion of dreamy synthscapes and kinetic rhythms shines bright from the off with 'Hyperborea' soothing mind and soul while the body shifts its behind. 'Dawnlights' has lazy acid modulations drifting between the slower beats, then 'Drifting' is as hopeful as the dawn of a new day with it arching chords and celestial synth twinkles. 'Aquila' has a more pronounced broken beat pattern and prying bass, but still plenty of deft melodies, and 'Landscapes' is a dubbed-out thinker.

Review: Detroit's DJ 3000 has always operated at the futuristic crossroads between techno and electro, and his latest Ep does that again but also comes with heavyweight remixes by pioneers Aux 88 and DJ Stingray 313. The Motor City's rich musical heritage shines through here right from the off: 'Waiting In The Dark (Midnight mix)' is a grinding and mechanical electro-techno jam, then Aux 88 delivers a bass-heavy, machine-driven remix while DJ Stingray 313 brings high-velocity precision. DJ 3000's own 'Voyager (The Journey Mix)' is then a dusty deep house groove layered up with star gazing chords that slowly unfold with a sense of beauty.

Review: First released in the golden year of 1996 under Joe Manumaleuna's longstanding formative alias DJ Hyperactive, this founding Chi-bleep bluff-caller on 12" took the world by paretic storm just as easily back then as it surely will do now. Communique Records, executive vicars of the Sounds sublabel, now do a stellar job of reissuing this crazy-making clobberer, having first remastered it from the original DATs. 'Muzik Make You Lose Control' and 'Drummer Boy' riff off Chicago's rich percussive history, while 'Circle Of Life' and 'Alteno' go wilder on the monophonic synthwork, to eerily maddening effect.

Review: Keith Tucker aka DJ K-1 is back with more of his stripped-back electro magic, complete with trademark vocoder flair. His 'My Name Is DJ K-1' is a six-tracker EP that is reminiscent of his classic K-1 Agenda era on Direct Beat. The original mix here leans into Kraftwerk-style futurism while DMX Krew's remix adds a darker, sample-heavy twist full of Motor City-style techno and bass brilliance. The 'Beat Mix' is pure looped funk so is perfect for seamless blends while the 'Detroit Jit Mi' offers a full vocal rap with local flavor. The goodness keeps on coming with the 'SPOCK Mix' and its eerie, spacey strings, and the 'NAVI Mix' is a hypnotic bonus beat version soaked in synth puddles and absorbing rhythmic tension. Irresistible stuff.

Review: A potent ongoing collaboration between two techno heads lands on a legendary label, delivering four cuts that span the spectrum of classic and contemporary dancefloor energy. Side-A kicks off with 'ClickClickClick', a tech house burner that lives up to its name as it is bouncy and rhythmically addictive. Its catchy loop play gives way to deeper, murkier textures midway through, maintaining its infectious swing while offering DJs a perfect mid-set curveball. Following it is 'Gearbox', a slick, electro-informed groover with a low-slung, funky bassline. It's high-energy yet controlled, laced with head-nodding bounce and shimmering detail that make it ideal for peak-time dancefloor action. On Side-B, 'Destination 909' is pure nostalgia with a modern polish, bringing in 90s techno grit, trancey atmospherics and a post-rave euphoria that's all tight kicks and laser-focused execution. The production is clean and sharp, but there's an intentional vintage flavor that pays tribute to the roots. Closing things out is 'Reach Out', a hypnotic, dub-leaning track infused with a raw vocal loop preaching unity and rave authenticity. It's spacious, meditative and subtly anthemic. The kind of track that creeps up on you in the best way. All in all, a cohesive, floor-ready EP.

Review: Glispy Records makes a strong vinyl debut with a four-track showcase of Georgia's deepening electronic talent pool. Tbilisi producer Reshio opens with 'Electronic Mind', a high-octane blend of punchy electro and precise sequencing, setting the tone with clinical flair. Toke follows with 'System 32', a rolling groove machine laced with dubby atmospheres and smart modulationiweighty but agile. On the flip, DJ Astrobee injects some swagger into proceedings with the rugged, percussive funk of 'Elvis The Gator', full of low-end heft and filtered bite. Label co-founder Levan Grdzelidze rounds off with '84 Slave', an acidic slow-burner that builds intensity through tightly-wound layers. A confident and well-curated start to the Glispy vinyl era.

Review: Breakcore don DJ Balli and tropical electro purveyor Sindaco team up on the aptly titled Mutant Goth Italo. True to its name, the Italian duo deliver a batch of oddball, high-energy Euro dance filtered through a nocturnal lens, with affecting vocals from Ossydiana. The twisted pop sensibilities of opener 'Pizzeria Brigada Rossa' set the tone i a feverish pace, shimmering synths, and a searing vocal top-line. The gorgeously sleazy 'Febbre' is a standout, driving yet restrained, while 'Ricatto' impresses with its sinister synths, crisp drums and undulating bass. Closer 'Fedeli Alle Linee' lets it all hang out, pairing singalong melodies with snappy rhythms and snarling bass arps.