Minimal / Tech House Recommendations September 2011

Review: The fourth King of Limbs remix 12" sees headline duties going to Actress and Lukid under the Thriller moniker. Their remix of "Give Up The Ghost" takes the pastoral tone of the largely acoustic original and puts the ghost firmly in the machine, as Yorke's vocals are stretched out over a spiraling background of compression and synthetic interference, held together with only a tight kick. Shed's remix of "Little by Little" begins with whirring clockwork percussion over a looping guitar line, and a deep sub-bass, stretching its gloomy tension out over three minutes before finally breaking into a trippy 2-step death rattle. It's the Illum Sphere remix of Codex that really impresses however - avoiding the dancefloor route, the young producer takes the most gut-wrenching vocal moment from the track and turns it into a warm analogue hymn that takes the original and elevates it to new heights.

Review: Argentinean born Federico Molinari may have South American heritage but there's nothing 'Latino' about his musical style. Boxy, forward thinking German electronica seeps from his work and, equally, from anything he puts out on his label Oslo. His new EP La Divina Comedia plays with all those elements on the A-Side title track as it marches forward with just a vague spring in its step. Sparse and stripped back, it holds a coaxing groove in its simplicity that is quite frankly irresistible. On the flip, "Limpia Madrid" opts once more for simple beats that work via their rubbery textures and expert arrangement.

Review: Subsequent to the release of Vitalik's latest collaboration compilation in cahoots with Ibizan stalwarts We Love.... Space, the Spanish label presents the first in a series of vinyl samplers for the wax fiends. As samplers go it's pretty tasty and varied, stacking Martin Buttrich up against Bristol lynchpin Appleblim and 7 Inches Of Love's The Mole. "Space Babe" finds the always amusing to pronounce Buttrich in playful form, marrying a touch of wonkiness with the deep rhythms that are poised at an upward directory. Appleblim's "Moonlight" is typically revelatory, flushing all manner of stretched vocal elements with shimmering flourishes of light across a backdrop of intricately broken up syncopation and oven ready bass. The Mole dominates the B Side with the expansive, emotive, twilight slinkathon "Even Now Just Us" unfurling from the delicate chords of the opening bars into a delightfully elongated arrangement of multi faceted percussive touches and bubbling analogue tones.

Review: Best known for his collaborative work with Dan Berkson, Londoner James What has also released music in solo mode on the likes of Crosstown Rebels and Murmur. On his new EP for Poker Flat, Mr What exercises dark musical characteristics with a moody and brooding two tracker with a remix from Lee Curtiss. "It Feels Wrong" bobs along at a prowling pace - confident, dark and meandering - while Lee Curtiss injects some peak time flavour with a fuller bassline, tense hi-hats and a more uplifting arrangement. "In The Dark" meanwhile sees sporadic percussion and shimmering light splashes take control, leading through a relaxed journey of mellow basslines, eerie vocal samples and swaying hooks.

Review: Icelandic trio Gus-Gus are certified Kompakt stalwarts, having already produced two albums for the legendary Cologne label. This time the group release their "Over" remixes featuring three fresh and contrasting themes. Starting with the Life And Death mix and its no nonsense structure, there's something blissfully simple about its smouldering vibes and lack of desperate punch. On the flip, Gus-Gus's staple sound becomes recognizable with a hearty tech kick as the platform for shimmering orchestral sections and fierce electronic rhythm on President Bongo's (Stephan Stephensen) "Acid Mix". Lastly, Sasse takes the wheel with a melodic and vocal dominated closer.

Review: A teasing first look at the upcoming album from new collaborators Minilogue and Koss. Recorded in Minilogue's studio late last year, the producers then worked on the album separately to finalize their respective roles. First track "One" is a fusion of the typically deep and dubby sound of Minilogue and the warm and somewhat bewtitching sound of Koss. The result is mature and some might say timeless piece that leaves us eagerly awaiting the long player. DJ Qu takes up the role of remixer on the flip and in typical NY deep house way tips "One" into an edgy, dance floor orientated cut.