Back catalogue:

Review: ukuoka-based band MuchaMuchaM, known for their breakthrough debut album Qantikala, returns with a collaborative EP featuring Malaysian singer-songwriter Zee Avi. After performing together at The Creators' Co-Write stage in 2023, the two artists have crafted a unique sound that blends their distinct Asian influences. The EP features the modern acoustic track 'Day By Day', a cover of 'Sad and Unfulfilled' and the Asian dance number 'Oyasumi na Sayang', sung in Malay. The EP's cover artwork, inspired by Borneo, was designed by Fukuoka-based illustrator TOYAMEG, further enhancing its cross-cultural appeal.

Review: JS Zeiter returns with another masterclass in dub techno, proving why he has remained a staple in the genre for nearly three decades. The first track, Momentum, delivers the atmospheric, deep dub techno that has long defined Zeiter's sound, with swirling textures and a hypnotic groove that pulls you into its immersive world. On the second side, Exodus takes a more melodic turn, layering emotive synths over a deep techno foundation, creating a track that feels both expansive and introspective. Closing the release is Resolve, a more reserved offering, moody and subtle in its approach. While understated, it serves as a subliminal peak, building tension without overt intensity, showcasing Zeiter's ability to create depth with minimalism. This release is yet another testament to Zeiter's skill in crafting refined, atmospheric techno that remains both timeless and forward-thinking.

Review: Two years on from delivering a notably dark, fuzzy and drum-heavy debut on Public Possession (the genuinely brilliant 'Percussion Heaven', which more than lived up to its title), Zellmani is back on the Munich-based imprint with a similarly inspired four-track EP. Check first opener 'Yongheng Forever', a left-of-centre house cut in which weird electronic noises, atmospheric field recordings, saucer-eyed chords and cute melodies ride a charred bassline and unfussy tech-house beats, before admiring the quirky, breakbeat-driven deepness of Piotr collaboration 'Nuevo Portamento'. Over on side B, Gojiano hook-up 'Smutt' is a spacey, thickset slab of late 90s tech-house revivalism with added pots-and-pans percussion, while 'Eternal Loop of Emotions' is another jazz-flecked, breakbeat-driven slab of star-gazing wonder.

Review: Zendid takes the reins of this Romanian label's talents and shows plenty of studio guile and versatility. There's a nice breezy quality to opener 'Fradpause' thanks to the way the pads swirl around so expansively while the nice mid-tempo drums move onwards. 'Panama Panthers' then ups the ante a little more pressure in the drums but still a nice heady feel to the roomy pads. Last but not least, 'Nature Peinture' takes on a menacing edge with the snippets of vocals that pan about the mix amongst eerie pads and groaning sound effects. Splendid, or should we say Zendid, stuff.

Review: In his endeavour, Zet Uma's provides us with a fresh spin on classic wave and Italo influences. The four tracks draw the you in with deep, pulsating basslines, while the synths create an atmospheric tension that feels both nostalgic and forward-thinking. 'Loveblind' sets the tone, offering a smooth yet intricate groove, while 'New Level, New Devil' amps up the energy with its driving beat. 'Pleasure Above' and 'New Direction' wrap up the EP, each track offering a distinct feel, from moody introspection to high-energy propulsion. This release captures a sense of evolution, with the duo crafting soundscapes that are both rooted in the past and looking toward the future.

Review: Juuz Records box up, package and release the fifth edition in their vinyl only series. Silat Beksi, Soyro, RWN and Zlatnichi are the latest artists to be spotlit, and all of them deliver a seamless minimal techno experience, teeming with tics and fidgets, the four-piece sonic equivalent of a gut microbiome. Usually, we like to home in on the oddest tunes and we'll certainly indulge the impulse here; Silat Beksi and Soyro's 'Shout In 30 Seconds' makes impressive use of gurgly, subharmonic dream-voices, swabbed across the otherwise sticklike mix, like glue holding a skeleton together. Equal technical and ambisonic itches are scratched on Fedo's closing 'Lena Told', whose transitional vocal scramblings play back like furtive rumours spread through a fragile transmission chain.

Review: This is Ukrainian artist Zola's first EP since the war began back home so we shouldn;t be surprised that it's one of resolve and survival. The five tracker explores the tension between peace and conflict and notes the forest as a sanctuary for strength and reflection, somewhere to find respite from the chaos. The tunes shift between moments of quiet introspection and raw confrontation by layering delicate melodies with haunting textures. Personal and cathartic, it reflects the resilience and the importance of sanctuaries and is a great reminder of the spaces that ground and sustain us.

Review: Zoo Brazil follows up the digital release of 'Stand Alone' with a fresh new wax edition on Housewax. Bringing together spitting snares, illiquid FM basses and shimmyingly panned plucks, 'Faceless' moves like a cyclical upward ascent to heaven, yet the movement is still towards a set of pearly gates that we can never quite reach. Then comes the spiritually dragged disco-drive of 'It's You', which assures us of our importance as we gaze into a future soothsaying font, the track's asynchronous voice calling out to us from without. Finally, 'The Night' brings an ultra-clip-distorted experiment to our ears, in true curveball fashion, an unusual bucking of the trends of the minimal techno world.

Review: Zopelar's 'Horizonte' is a captivating exploration of soulful house and jazzy influences, blending rich melodies with upbeat grooves. The title track, 'Horizonte', delivers a jazzy Detroit house vibe, setting the tone with smooth rhythm and deep bass. 'Let It Live' brings an uptempo energy, with a soulful saxophone that adds a distinctive layer of warmth. On the flip side, 'Pure Heart' strikes a perfect balance between house and techno, nostalgic yet fresh with its groovy, melodic appeal. 'Venus' stands out with its dreamy 90s-inspired piano, uplifting spirits and evoking an emotional connection. Closing with 'Serena (feat PR.A.DO)', the EP ends on a high note, leaving a lingering sense of euphoria. Each track blends beautifully crafted melodies with rhythmic intricacies, making 'Horizonte' a standout for anyone craving jazzy, soulful house with a modern twist.

Review: Returning some 25 years after its original release on the beloved IDM label deFocus, these three refreshed takes on the skittering melodic gem of the genre are something to behold. The original 'Arrest' shines with jittery beats and intricate melodic patterns, embodying and example of the best of early 2000s. Nuron's remix keeps the track's kinetic energy but envelops it in lush textures, creating a perfect balance of rhythmic complexity and ambient depth. Voyance's remix pivots toward organic instrumentation, introducing drum sounds that ground the track while maintaining its melodic evolution, a satisfying balance between the original and a fresh, dynamic new feel. Mike Golding's ambient techno rework is a standout, blending his vintage touch with the original's core elements, a sublime, paradisiacal soundscape that recalls great memories of this golden era of challenging new melodic music. A project that succeeds on so many levels, artistically and creatively.

Review: Label affiliates Mytron and Zongamin make a combined return to the ever-on-point Canadian stable Multi Kulti, delivering an extended selection of typically off-kilter, genre-bending sonic mastery. In what appears to be a match made in the leftfield heavens, the duo join forces to explore dance-ish music's outer reaches, blending tribal motifs with 8-bit sampling and all manner of wonkiness. From the blissful bells of Conjunction With Reality to the bass-heavy throb of GHX, there is unsurprisingly plenty to savour here. Opening cut '08932168' blends enchanting lead melodies with rolling polyrhythms and dubbed-out effects before the equatorial percussion of 'Calliope Omniglot' makes way for the wiggy atmospherics of the collection's title track. Highly recommended.