CRYSTAL MAZE Vinilo y CD

Review: While it would be nice to think that this EP of melodic analogue techno and shuffling deep house was the work of hyperactive British eccentric Richard O'Brien (less so the irritating Ed Tudor-Pole), Crystal Maze is in fact Amsterdam-based duo G-string and Marco Antonio Spaventi. Having previously impressed with releases on aDepth Audio and Bio Rhythm, they now find themselves on Greek imprint Echovolt, a label famed for the depth and variety of their analogue explorations. All three tracks ripple with feverish humidity, from the Mood Hut/Future Times-ish tropical pagan shuffle of "Orchidea Nera" (think Confused House meets the Belleville Three) and sumptuous "DECAY", to the apocalyptic, droning pulse of "XR84".

Review: For the Dub techno curious, Dutch imprint Field Recordings makes a perfect starting point for discovering fresh and forward thinking ambient and dub techno. As per usual Field 09 is a various artist sampler, featuring cuts from Crystal Maze and Creme Organization's Orgue Electronique, as well as four piece collective ESHU and Dutch dub techno purveyor Ohrwert's second submissions to the label. After an ambient and credit less intro, Ohrwert opens the EP with a wispy and dreamlike stroll through wavey textures, whereas ESHU employs Burial sounding beats and spacious atmospherics. Crystal Maze's "Cow Needs A Bell" shrouds itself in a electro eeriness only to be lightened by Orgue Electronique's synth heavy "Halcyon".