DJs: Most Charted - Minimal / Tech - June 2011

Review: Autoreply do the record buying public a favour and give Baby Ford's Tin Of Worms 12" another repress, this time on yellow wax. Baby Ford has been making electronic music since the late 1980s and is regarded by most as one of the key players in the nascent UK acid house scene. His entry into the Autoreply stable is a classy, versatile two tracker. The title track showcases crisp, tight linear drum programming - with ribcage shaking sub bass and supernatural synths which undulate over its eight minute cycle, displaying the original principles of minimal techno alongside forward thinking sound design. On the flip you'll find "Westway", originally recorded on Ford's now defunct hardware set up and mastered from DAT. This track conjours images of smoky late night jazz clubs with its smooth piano chords and strings that seem to float in an out of the mix- set starter, nightclub techno lesson, afterparty showpiece; the choice is yours...

Review: Autoreply offshoot Stuga Musik picks up where it left off with another three tracks of deadly effective, club-friendly madness. Having held a residency at Berlin's legendary Bar 25 club and recording for high calibre labels such as District of Corruption, Thema and Little Helpers, Beaner is welcomed into the Stuga family. He serves up "Miles Then McCoy", a nine minute epic that effortlessly fuses tight linear drum programming with freeform sound design and loose instrumentals that thunder along towards an exciting climax. Patrik Skoog aka Agaric is undoubtedly one of Sweden's best loved techno exports - he's responsible for the world famous We Are series not to mention the fact that his "Who Made Up The Rules" on Ovum is currently holding Groove Magazine's esteemed #1 album chart slot. Here he re-works Beaner's track into a peak time, sub-driven sweaty dancefloor bomb. Taradise completes the package with smooth deep house vibes, lush vocals and infectious piano riffs. A diverse and solid release.

Review: DJ Koze's label Pampa Records proudly present Gabor Schablitzki's long player Thora Vukk. Created in six short months and riddled with field recordings that range from his own drunken vocals to the sound of the summer rain, slamming drawers and even his nostrils whistling unintentionally, "Thora Vukk" is not quite as you would initially expect from the ex Whighnomy Brother and techno fuelled party animal. Its seven beautiful and varied tracks are separated by bridges - the album forming a story all of its own as it plays from start to finish. Whether it be from the groggy but intricate minimal basis of "Bommsen Boff", the wispy ethereal touches within "Tulpa Ovi" or the endearing choir wails on "Ende"; Robag Whrume's album is a standout of and we highly recommend you listen to it on repeat!