Back catalogue: House

Review: Michael Mayer's fourth album, The Floor Is Lava, arrives after an eight-year wait, following his collaborative & album on !K7. Mayer's solo output has always been selective, with each release feeling like a significant moment. His previous albums, Mantasy and Touch, were similarly spaced out, but with good reason. As the head of Kompakt and Imara, a globe-trotting DJ, and a highly sought-after remixer, Mayer wears many hats, and it's no surprise his own productions are more sporadic. Yet, this also ensures quality. His name on a record sleeve signals music that's both forward-thinking and rooted in the past, deftly balancing the demands of the dancefloor and more reflective listening. The Floor Is Lava showcases Mayer's talent for threading together genres and eras while keeping a distinct sense of purpose. Whether it's designed for late-night clubs or a contemplative listen at home, Mayer's sound continues to evolve, pushing boundaries while remaining firmly anchored in his established style. As always, his knack for combining the exploratory with the functional shines through, and this latest offering is no exception.

Review: Laggy Panteli and Zeno Messis (aka Megalon) were cult techno artists back in the mid-nineties. They released seminal albums like 1994's Pandora's Box and mixed up ambient, Detroit techno, electro, European electronics and their own experiences of London's acid house scene. The good folks at Above Board have been digging in the duo's vaults and put together this collection of all of their best EPs across four crucial sides of vinyl. This is deep, atmospheric techno for the small hours with the likes of skittish rhythmic workout 'Sorcerer' (Funky Magus mix) sitting next to the widescreen acid styles of 'Semblance' (Dim B) and the shimmering leads of future tribal cut 'Transition'.

Review: Milio's third album on Atomnation marks a significant artistic evolution for the Dutch producer, who has harnessed new production techniques to translate his childhood fantasies into music. Utilising mostly analogue sounds, recorded percussion, and his own voice, the artist crafts a rich auditory experience that again showcases his suburb synth work as it explores the space between the surreal and the real, featuring tracks like the melodically gorgeous 'Day in Night,' the lithe and dubby rhythms of 'Confuse Me,' and the broken beat beauty of 'Sleeping.' Each piece offers a unique blend of emotional depth and vivid soundscaping that takes you to a world away from here.

Review: Route 77, the third album from Mirror System, Steve Hillage and Miquette Giraudy's chillout project, offers a serene sonic journey through spacious, dreamy soundscapes. A mellower counterpart to their work as System 7, Mirror System's music blends soft tech-house rhythms with lush electronics and Hillage's signature guitar. With a travel theme inspired by the vast American Southwest, Route 77 is rich in atmospheric grooves. The album features contributions from The Orb's Alex Paterson, Dan Donovan and Marv Brookes, adding to its laidback yet intricate vibe. Standout moments include reimaginings of Manuel Gottsching's 'Sunrain' and Ry Cooder's 'Paris, Texas', which fit seamlessly into the album's flowing textures. The closing track, 'Sonora Desert Edge (The Abyss)', incorporates a poem by Allen Ginsberg, creating a vivid, immersive auditory experience. Route 77 is an engaging blend of ambient trance and chillout music, perfect for deep relaxation or reflective listening.

Review: During the late 1990s, Japanese producer Yuji Takanouchi produced a trio of sublime EPs, most of which went largely overlooked at the time. He surprisingly returned to action a few years ago with a handful of similarly dreamy, loved-up productions, prompting R&S offshoot Apollo Records - who famously released his peerless ambient house 12", Southern Paradise, in 1997 - to put together this superb compilation. The genius of his productions, whether dancefloor leaning or more horizontal in ethos, always lay in the hazy colourfulness of his synthesizer melodies and life-affirming chord progressions. It's those traits, coupled with his firm grasp of deep house and intelligent techno aesthetics, which shine through on Brand New Day. "Pacific Jazz", "Nite" and "Ocean In Heaven", in particular, are stunning.