EARTH TRAX Vinilo y CD

Review: Appearing on labels as varied as Phonica, Shall Not Fade and Growing Bin, Bartosz Kruczynski has certainly carved his own path as Earth Trax. Now he arrives on Lapsus, the Spanish label which tends towards more introspective electronica and ambient. From the tender folk of 'Closer Now' to the straining neo pop of 'Understand' it's clear we're in for an experience very different to the upfront club bangers we might have enjoyed in the past. Proving himself to be a bold and fearless creator capable of many different sounds, with Closer Now Kruczynski is taking Earth Trax well and truly interstellar.

Review: Lo-fi house merchant from Poland Bartosz Kruczynski returns as Earth Trax with another serving of retroactive VHS styled dreams. Also known as The Phantom, he has had previous releases on current 'it' labels such as Rhythm Section Intl, Dopeness Galore and Emotional Response. "Deprive Me of Air" is a sensual groove that bounces away deeply assisted by low-bit rate beats, granular pads and all beneath the mandatory layers of tape hiss. "Cafe Luna" is his way of channelling early Warp Records style ambient electronica: loved this one! On the flip, "I Gave You Everything" is a nice one too features all the tropical Amazonian aesthetics of 808 State style acid house from back in the day.

Review: Since making his debut on Rhythm Section International in 2016, Polish producer Earth Trax has proved to be one of the major players in the revivalist dream house movement. He's at it again here, delivering another swathe of tactile, ear-pleasing and mood-enhancing cuts. "L'Aventura" is available in two tasty variations, both of which are underpinned by snappy drum hits and thickset synth bass. The "Main" mix makes great use of fluttering synthesizer flute lines and cascading pianos, while the "Dub" is a little more stripped back and percussive despite the presence of plenty of humid synth sounds. Elsewhere, "Nokturn" is a masterful exercise in eyes-closed sunrise nostalgia, while closer "HG" massages your ears with all the sensuality of a forgotten Morenas production.

Review: Long-time collaborators Earth Trax & Newborn Jr collide once again for another London/Polish lesson in house music rudiments. Bumping with a classic 1990 feel but 2019 muscle, "Truth" hits home in two different ways; the big room hooky crossover vibe (Main Street remix) and a deeper, acid-tinged introspective twist (Back Alley mix). Flip for two more blasts of foundation magic; "Old Way, New Way" hits with classic synth-pipes and Mr Fingers dreaminess while "And Then" closes the show with a wry Balearic head nod. Turns out you can handle the "Truth".

Review: Previously, Polish brothers from other mothers Earth Traxx and Newborn Jr have both released killer EPs that look to the "dream house" era for inspiration. It should be no surprise, then, that this superb collaborative two-tracker looks to the same loved-up period of European dance music for inspiration. "Bailando", for example, boasts an attractive and saucer-eyed mixture of rolling organ riffs, dreamy chords, rubbery bottom end and the kind of whistling synthesizer melodies originally heard on new age ambient records. It's very good, but it could be argued that the restless flipside "Aquamarine" is even better. It, too, boasts plenty of dream house flourishes - sparkling piano riffs, swirling and brightly coloured electronics, and so on - but thrusts itself forward at a much more techno-centric pace.

Review: Comprised of Polish duo Kruczynski and Brocki, Earth Trax & Newborn Jr. return after some dope deep house recently for Rhythm Section Int'l. For Les Yeux Orange, here they deliver four sublime cuts on the dusty and retro tip. Starting off with the chunky, squelchy analogue grit of "Hypnosis" which does exactly what it says on the tin with its roaring/delay drenched basslines and spangling FM tones. Next up "Mirage" is like a much more lo-fi version of MCDE and Marcus Worgull's ambient balearica as Vermont. The sun bleached vibes continue on the flip, with the somewhat Sueno Latino sounding "Just In Time" by Newborn Jr until we are treated to one more gorgeous and evocative dancefloor experiment in the form of "Nemesis" by Earth Trax: who also flies solo for this offering. Following up some stellar releases by Wav Fuzz and n.stal, this Parisian label is off to a flying start and we're keen to hear what they have in store for us next!

Review: For Rhythm Section International's fifteenth 12" release, Bradley Zero has looked to the bourgeoning Polish house scene. It sees occasional Transatlantyk artist Newborn Jr. (AKA Adam Brocki) join forces with the previously unheralded Earth Trax. They open with the tactile, wide-eyed warmth of "Sax & Flute", where dreamy, stretched-out chords, toasty bass and hazy house breakbeats rub shoulders with punchy, synthesized saxophone and flute lines. It's reminiscent of not only 808 State's "Pacific", but also Italian "ambient house" (Morenas, Lux, Midas etc.) of the same period. Flipside "Flute Track" is similarly woozy and loved-up, though its' twittering synth-flutes, chiming melodies and bold bassline recall memories of Orbital's more Balearic-minded moments, rather than Sueno Latino.