Review: Hamburg-based Rupert Marnie helped found The Press Group back in 2015, and has since been weaving a compelling strain of minimal tech house on his own terms. Now he makes it over to emergent label System Error for a suite of head-tweaking workouts which tip closer to techno, especially on the rushing arps of opening track 'Prospect 8'. 'Tilt' toys with some trance elements and 'Mystery House' locks in a sub-heavy bassline and spooky theremin-style leads up top, while 'Clean' reaches for a sweeter, synth-led mood and captures it beautifully.
I'll Be Back I Promise (Yossi Amoyal extended Remaster) (7:01)
All Night Long Girl (5:59)
Be Your Own Girl (5:08)
In Rythem (5:31)
In Rythem (House mix) (5:57)
Manhattan (5:11)
Aurora Aura (6:14)
Review: For a long time Gary Martin was referred to as an "unsung hero" of Detroit techno, but with the DET 313 label, run with Yossi Amoyal, he's finally cemented a fearsome reputation as one of the Motor City's finest. With such reputations come the exchange of the proverbial "silly money" for the more hard to find recordings, thus the existence of this double 12" which collects eight of Martin's efforts from the mid to late 90s into one package available for a slightly more sensible exchange of currency. Among the highlights are the Latin-enhanced beats of 'Manhattan', two mixes of the sublime 'In Rythem' complete with a gospel preacher in full flow and a seven minute extended remaster of 'I'll Be Back I Promise' from Yossi Amoyal. It's no surprise to see Martin's work picked up and played by the likes of Ben Klock, given his unique take on rhythm, but there's plenty of soulfulness going on here as well.
Review: Martinesque is back on his own Adam's Bite with a fresh EP that builds on his signature sound. The artist hails from Basel, Switzerland and as well as impressing with this label he was also known for his role in booking for the renowned Elysia club until 2023. Here he kicks off with 'Drama' which is a lively dub house sound with crisp tech drums and wild synth calls, then 'The Final Hour' first comes as an instrumental. It's a seductive sound with synth puddles and twanging chords, heavy melodies and a romantic feel. 'The Final Hour' (vocal mix) closes with a teen vocal line laced in for extra atmosphere.
Review: Santiago Martinez drops a new cut on the Argentine label Psyfunk that is a great mix of chunky but funky drum machines and vibrant synth work. It's part cosmic viber and part party starter with a nice languid bassline. That's the club mix, while the original version is a more broken beat workout with squelchy stabs, gloopy bass and detuned chords that all make you move in loose fashion. The Franco Cinelli remix ups the ante to make the tune into a nice jazzy tech house sound with dubby low ends and plenty of character.
Review: Fresh from serving up a superb set of off-kilter house cuts from Newcastle-based maverick Man Power, Timo Rotenen's Echocentric imprint has turned to regular Belters contributor Dominik Marz. The long-serving producer has delivered an EP of nostalgic, energy-packed delights that variously doff a cap to dance music sub-genres of the 1990s and early 2000s. For proof, check the gargantuan 'Honesty', where mind-bending noises and sharp, trance style stabs rise above stomping beats and deep, sub-heavy, bleep & bass style low-end pressure. Similarly excitable and mind-altering is EP-opening slammer 'Honesty'. Elsewhere, 'Only One' sees Marz pepper a stabbing bassline and hissing house beats with raw bleeps and nostalgic samples, while 'Never Use Quantize' is pleasingly wayward - like early Chicago house crossed with NYC freestyle.
Review: Matahari's latest offering, 'MHV 003', is a dynamic and refreshing 12" featuring four tracks, each carrying a modern yet funky twist on tech house. With subtle but clever use of some familiar rap vocals, the EP weaves familiar elements into a crisp, energetic framework, showcasing a fresh approach to the genre. From the bass-heavy bounce of 'Most Wanted' to the slick, groovy undertones of 'Lil Licks', every cut feels crafted for the dancefloor. 'Biggie' and 'Where You At G (Magic Mix)' round off the record, touting slick productions that manage to feel both new and nostalgic in equal measure.
Review: Equal Audio is launching with a clear mission: to deliver stripped-back, DJ-friendly house music designed for maximum impact. Their first release, 'Giseigo' EP, by Croatian producer Mariano Mateljan, encapsulates the label's ethos perfectly. Across four tracks, Mateljan demonstrates his expertise in crafting minimalist yet punchy tools that keep the dancefloor moving without ever feeling cluttered. The focus here is on simplicity, with each track making use of only a few core elements, allowing space for the groove to breathe. What's striking about this release isn't just the reduced arrangement but the precision with which every sound is placed. Each track offers a constant energy, never dipping, never overcomplicating the formula. It's a masterclass in restraint, with Mateljan proving that you don't need layers upon layers to create a compelling, dance-ready record. From start to finish, the 'Giseigo' EP is a showcase of how minimalism can still pack a serious punch, and it's a promising start for Equal Audio's journey into the world of vinyl.
Review: Matpari kicks off the brand new Eject label's first vinyl drop with a strong statement of minimal and tech house intent. His mastery of groove is laid bare on the smooth and super cool vibes of 'Portmone' which hints at a love of, or at least respect for, early tech house innovators and West Coast pioneers of the 90s. 'Vtorichka' is more dark and dubby, with heads-down drums and freaky sound effects. 'Izlesa' then gets full freaky with its spun-out synths, wonky lines and unhinged percussion. Last of all, 'Portmone' (Nolga remix) ups the ante with a more full-fat house sound that charges on with nice dusty hits.
Review: Matthias closes out 2024 with 'Life Among Nightmares', a three-track EP that dives deep into the techno-synth wave spectrum. Kicking things off is Global Thunder, a mind-bending track that crescendos into an epic blend of nostalgic synths and cinematic tension. On the B-side, Living Nightmare delivers a moody fusion of eccentric analog sounds, acid sequences, and swinging percussion, creating a dark yet hypnotic atmosphere. Finally, Sunfall rounds out the EP, where sinister synths and shadowy pads pull listeners into a haunting, techno-wave journey.
Review: 'Fix The Pitches On Your Old Turntables To Improve Quality Of Life' on Mud Trax Russia delivers a dynamic and immersive experience in the world of minimal and tech house. The first side opens with Kirill Matveev and Wiklauri's 'Ioli (Kirill Version)', a track that offers a strong, late-night tech house vibe, filled with a driving techno sound. Ataneus' 'Napolitaner' follows, a deeper, chord-based piece with an atmospheric quality and fast-paced tech house elements, designed to energize the dancefloor. On the flip side, Genning's 'Red Lights' brings a fusion of dub techno with flighty, melodic techno sounds, building energy through airy, atmospheric layers. Etzu Mahkayah's 'Cs-13' closes the compilation with a melodic tech house track that introduces trance-like elements, offering a spacey, progressive soundscape. Each track expertly balances depth with dancefloor energy, creating an album that is both atmospheric and immersive, perfect for fans of techy minimal beats and progressive grooves.
Review: Germany's workhouse Rawax label is the sort of imprint that provides busy DJs with just the sort of tools they need to do their job. This latest drop veers away from the more traditional house it most often deals in to dip into sleek minimal territory. Giorgio Maulini is the man in control and 'Night Roads' is just like a nocturnal cruise down the motorway, with wispy neons flying past like headlights and a linear groove extending out below you like miles of tarmac. The rest of the EP remains just as heady and well-designed, with supple grooves and deft synths colouring in the small hours of the morning.
No Speed Limit In The Jungle (Dana Ruh remix) (7:02)
Review: Giorgio Maulini comes through to H24 with this two-track lip-licker, 'OG Kush', which, as the title should suggest, evokes the feeling of smoking herb when ingested correctly - without haste or anxiety. Exemplifying the incipient talent of his local scene, the title track is a smooth and snappy dream-whirl, synthetic organs and wahhing pads sloshing around the mix, while a remix from fellow producer Pressure Point seems to smoothen out and intensify things in equal measure.
Review: The Makin Moves label hits relate number 13 which is unlucky for some but is another doozy deep house outing for them. It's a split EP that features Maqman & Joseph Junior's 'Let It Go' tune served up in two versions by Chicago house legend Glenn Underground. First off he brings warm synth smears and lush strings to the original which is a soulful gem, and then he strips out the vocal for a magical instrumental. On the flipside is Trinidadian Deep's 'Jump & Move', a blissed-out late-night house sound with lush instrumentation and spiritual pads. 'Hola Mamita' shuts down with shimmering pads and percussive broken beats for classy party vibes.
Review: Known in Tokyo's underground for filling her DJ sets with an enticing blend of house, new wave and disco, Mayurashka's Studio Barnhus debut is - as the label point out -full of sonic illusions: immediately accessible and enticing tracks which are nevertheless filled with quirky sonic details. There's plenty to admire throughout, from the breathlessly dark and driving peak-time jack of 'Cool Stop' and the lightly disco-infused peak-time tactility of 'Cosmic Rising', to the percussive, wildly pitched-down chug of 'Fatties' and the effects-laden, tribal house-on-the-moon insanity of 'Mountain Pads'. Throw in the low-slung dystopian dub disco madness of 'Appex' and you have a genuinely brilliant label debut.
Review: For those who have been digging deep & minimal house for decades, this 12" is a mini modern classic from 2004 by Mazi Namvar aka Audio Soul Project. Once a hidden gem, exposure in plenty of high-profile DJ sets means it has become a sought-after record with second-hand copies fetching up to $170. Enter this reissue to make it available to all, as good music should be. As well as the lush original cuts, this version includes a bonus track, 'Murmurs Low,' featuring Jimmy Tripp on saxophone and Mazi's spoken word, while standouts like 'Tattoo Of You' and 'Down' still hit the sport perfectly.
Review: We're firmly, groovily locked in to this latest release from Locky Mazzucchelli. Ironically, his is a *key* release on Helix Discs. The Melbourne upstarts have put out a thrilling threnody of EPs so far, with kitsch 3D rendered retro-sci album covers ('Digital Destination' by DJ Alan) and mega moods of automotive, intercity chic ('Close Contact' by The Audio Manipulator). 'Learn To Listen' fits neatly into the pile accrued so far, with 'Bias' providing a strangely out-of-order set of janker beats, and 'ShaiHai' and 'The Box' furthering this blinkered, badly-tracked yet charming sense of ease. Borked moods abound on the closing 'Leave The Party', which makes relaxed work of the otherwise sometimes fraught act of finding one's way home after exiting the warehouse.
Review: Mbius's latest release on Club Dream captures the essence of deep house with an almost hypnotic quality. The A-side kicks off with 'Exist,' which layers delicate melodies over a compelling rhythm that ebbs and flows like a steady tide. 'Midsummer Dream' continues the mood, offering a warm, ethereal soundscape perfect for late-night listening. On the B-side, 'Reality Check' ramps up the intensity with a thumping bassline, while Christopher Ledger's remix adds a darker edge, shifting the vibe into something more introspective. The 12" perfectly showcases Mbius's ability to create emotive, immersive atmospheres without overcomplicating the groove.
Review: It's five up for the small but already fine NRV label who welcome Me&MyDog for this one. There is a darkness to their brand of tech that is evident from the off with 'Body Move' with its stark drum hits and twist deadline, all topped with some moody vocal mutterings. 'Moonside' brings kinetic rhythms that have carefully designed percussion sprinkled over the top to bring some looseness. A login bassline keeps things firmly rooted to the floor while 'GR308L (6AM mix)' gets more trippy with some acid modulations and wispy synths all fleshing out the minimal grove.
Review: Meera's Stikk on Crosstown Rebels delivers a dynamic journey through minimal and tech house, blending energetic rhythms with moody atmospheres. Side-1 starts with the title track 'Stikk,' a techno builder that grabs attention right away with its powerful drive. The piano elements elevate the track, adding a dramatic flair that sets it apart. The Tripolism remix follows, offering a more techy and uptempo take. It feels like a dub version, retaining key elements of the original while infusing Tripolism's unique style, making it a versatile addition to any set. On Side-2, 'Sykkelkurv' shifts the mood to a deeper, dubby techno vibe. The melodic chords and eerie, soundtrack-like ambiance create an otherworldly experience. Dennis Cruz's remix takes this track even further, adding a sci-fi edge that intensifies the futuristic feel. Stikk is a well-rounded EP that showcases Meera's ability to craft engaging, multifaceted tracks that come complete with a strong remix for extra depth.
Review: This week in minimal tech house we have some wicked underground material courtesy of new label Syntaxx out of Leeds. If the tracks on Syntaxx Waxx Vol 1 are anything to go by, this crew are on to big things in 2021 and beyond. Features Mehlor with the hypnotic swing of "Wurk" reminiscent of local hero Jack Wickham, AWSI goes into UKG territory on the woozy "SPD" while over on the flip Parsec delves into druggy microhouse realms on the afterhours paranoid shuffle of "Error" and Nate SU delivers the mandatory Rominimal style track on the lean groove of "Trip".
Review: The Moonraver label is only young but is already in our 'keep an eye on' list after two fine first releases. After hearing this new offering from Daniel Messier, it will remain on that list too. The producer cooks up a silky minimal groove on 'Omani' that recalls early Villalobos with its smart layering of deft sounds, sines and fx. The PRT Stacho remix gets a more fulsome low and and more obvious wonky feel, and n the flip, 'Midnight Sun' keeps things fluid and free-flowing. Endemica brings a little more colour and neon melody to it with his remix.
Review: Your latest acid extraterrestrial jive comes in the form of this four-track EP V/A from Planet Orange. With tracks by Velvet Velour, Mitch Wellings, Tom Frankel, and Planet Orange boss Pete Melba, this second release retains all major aspects of the label's signature sound. Bursts of alien percussion pepper luminous beats, textured by light and shade as fleeting melodies wax and wane.
Review: And so the Perlon Meditations continue... Late last year German producer Thomas Melchior made his first appearance on Perlon in some three years with the exquisite Meditations 1-3, which naturally channelled the iconic label's vibe perfectly. The first Perlon release of 2015 presents a further three Melchior produced Meditations, 4-6, with the opening track something of an understated epic. At 12 minutes long, "Meditation 4" demonstrates Melchior's craft for slowly building a groove, adding elements in a fashion that sounds subtle on headphones and deadly on a soundsystem. Face down, the 5th Meditation is an infectious little house groover, with hi hats and vocal samples jousting playfully whilst the closing track is a sub heavy number rich in vocal abstraction.
Review: Under the Melchior Productions name, German producer Thomas Melchior has committed some of his finest material to wax in the name of Zip and Markus Nikolai's seminal Perlon imprint. After an absence of some three years, Melchior's name is back on one of those distinctive Perlon 12"s with the first of two planned records under the Meditations banner. Don't get confused by the name though, the three "Meditations" are in no way meditative! Instead this is a record that finds Melchior fully channelling that classic Perlon vibe with the rowdy "Meditation 2" the pick of the bunch.
Review: Melchior Productions has long since perfected the stripped down tech and minimal sound but no matter how many times he does it we still can't get enough. Now back on his own My King Is Light label he has us immediately locked in with 'Feeling', which is loopy and seductive, trippy in a subtle sense and all about the smooth interaction of drums and swirling pads. 'Sentinel Enigma' then gets more weird with its flappy drums and hits, spoken word samples and wispy cosmic pads all dragon you into a dreamy late night world of psychedelic charm.
Review: ReSolute sublabel DisDat has become an essential checkpoint for anyone hunting out fresh goods in the broader minimal tech house scene. The label seems to have some clout when it comes to signing releases, and so we get this smoking hot combo of Melchior Productions Ltd and Chez Damier laying down a standout piece of deep house that champions the two legends' considerable gifts. A true release for the DJs, this is a double pack with some choice alternative mixes giving you the chance to have fun flipping between versions in the mix to keep a crowd on their toes. Pick your path and let it rip - the results are guaranteed to be magical.
Review: Weirdo minimal tech soul, anyone? Any takers should be directed towards this oddball release from Melchior Productions and Paul Walter. Two tracks of serious strangeness: timestretched vocals and repetitious yeahs blossom between the beat-thickets of Melchior's 'Yeah X 3', while many more percussive hits and cuts and clicks and pops and booms come courtesy of Walter's B-side, 'Xvive'. It's an impressive first foray for Maria Newyen's new imprint Scious; let's hope future 12"s stay just as weird.
Review: Having already served up plenty of (in his words), "heaters and panel beaters", Mella Dee delivers a four-track hit of bona-fide rug cutters. He first fuses sweat-soaked and stomping house beats, bassline house style organ bass and giddy female vocal samples on the energy-packed 'Cutting Snakes (Keep on Moving)', before reaching for fuzzy analogue bass, squelchy TB-303 motifs, breathless vocal snippets and more grade-A drums on 'Bumps (You Say)'. The South Yorkshire producer successfully breaks up the beats on the warehouse-ready excellence of 'Cutters (They Don't Get It)', while 'Pay No Mind (Who Am I)' is a bouncy, garage-influenced early morning workout full of deep sub bass, haunting male vocal samples and infectious organ stabs.
Review: Mella Dee is a master of making function tunes that blow apart a dancefloor but never lack character. He's been knocking them out for years now, always subtly tweaking his aesthetic and for this new on on Private Parts he tapes into electro and minimal. There is plenty of slickness to the tight drums of 'Strictly Ruffneck (Come Again)' and a squelchy garage bounce underpins the synth fizz of 'Just Need To'. '5am (Your Love)' is another rugged drum cut with a prying bassline and 'Twisted Funk' closes down with warped metallic lines and jittery low ends. Great body music once more.
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