ELIAS STERNIN Vinilo y CD

Review: After launching last year with the All Killer No Filler Vol. 1 12", Mephis returns to maintain its mission of shining a light on up and coming Uruguayan artists operating in the trance-techno sphere. The A-side of this second release features Elias Sternin throwing down some driving acid trance styles with a sinister edge which should creep out your club experience nicely. On the B-side Artesano Titer has some further freakiness to divulge with the lingering organ notes and diced up breaks scattered across snappy drum machine jack. The end result is catchy as anything and should go down well with those bumping releases from labels like Partisan and Kalahari Oyster Cult.

Review: The correctly titled All Killer No Filler series from the Memphis/Monevideo label is back with a second instalment to back up the fine first outing. This effective various artists release kicks off with Elias Sternin's 'Loop Hole' which is a warm, fleshy techno kicker backed up by Stonem's more lithe and broken beat workout, 'Festichola', which brings some retro 90s synth sounds and plenty of colour. Alfalfa's 'Rising Down' is the flipside opener and is a turbocharged retro-future tech sound with cyborg energy. Last of all is a deeper, slower, heavier sound from Two Phase U with the pensive 'You Are'.

Review: Uruguayan label Eviterno Records makes a striking debut with a split EP featuring esteemed producers Stonem and Elias Sternin, and it's another that makes us take note of what is going on down there in South America. Stonem takes the A-side with two meticulously crafted tech house tracks. 'Banana Afair' energises with deep basslines while 'Jolgorio' fuses acid sequences and intricate drum patterns that embody the Uruguayan groove. On the B-side, Sternin delivers 'Quema Madera,' a hypnotic, acid-driven cut with commanding basslines before closing with 'Acufenos,' a melodic yet intense finale. This debut release has our attention and locked in for what comes next.