Metereze Romania Vinilo y CD

Review: 2019 was a breakthrough year for Adam Longman Parker AKA Afriqua, thanks in no small part to the release of his brilliant debut album on R&S (the mixed-up and imaginative "Colored"). It's a curious quirk then that his latest single features tracks not recorded last year, but rather way back in 2017. It shows a producer trying to take tech-house in interesting new directions whilst still maintaining the club-focused rhythms and late night hypnotism frequently associated with the style. We're particularly enjoying the melancholic, funk-fuelled deep-tech eccentricity of "Haven" and the colourful melodies of the decidedly druggy "Noga", though lolloping and layered opener "Moonspa" may well be the best of an off-kilter bunch.

Review: The latest release on Raresh's Metereze label comes courtesy of Ionut Arapu, a Romanian scene stalwart whose minimalist techno releases are rarely less than rock solid. Between them, Arapu and Raresh apparently decided to call the EP "Anthology" due to the eclectic nature of the four tracks on show. It certainly ticks a lot of boxes for us, with the warm, loose, bass-heavy and spacey "Committed" being followed by the more sparse and unusual "Wave Hat", where mind-altering electronics and ghostly chords drift around an off-kilter groove. Turn to the B-side for "Modular Jam", a warm chunk of analogue tech-house hypnotism, and the groove-based antics of fittingly titled closing cut "Shuffle".

Review: With just one other release behind him on the Naural imprint, Barac makes the leap to a full-blown double pack which finds the Romanian producer exploring the fringes of the current explosion in minimal breakbeat tracks. There are serene and melodic moments as in opening cut "Marea Neagra", and there are more sparse and alien moments such as "Does It Float". It's not all chopped up rhythms though as "Muntii Bassului" provides a strict house beat to latch on to, although it is very much the exception to the rule. That said there's plenty of variety on the release with the closing title track particularly standing out with its punchy box beats and seductive synth tones.

Review: Dimas never disappoints: here we find the Greek-in-Berlin laying down four highly distinct styles that will cater for every chapter of the night: warmer-upper duties should never go without the light-footed silky soul charm of cuts "Virtual" and the more rolling "Immersion", all-out heads-down moments are guaranteed acceleration from the jacking techno folds of "Telexistence" while the biggest gun fingers the night will go to the Goodlooking-style vibes and fly-by-night breaks of "Illusion". Your whole night on one heavyweight slice of wax; Dimas has the Midas touch.

Review: Romanian artist Iuly.B makes a great label debut here on Metereze out of his home country. He serves up three of his painstaking produced and sublimely arranged minimal tech house rollers. 'Presence' goes first with its sci-fi motifs and wispy neon synths. 'Cruising' is a more crunchy and textured tune for the late night hours and then he strips things right back to a taught, pinging kick drum and sonorous bass on 'Exoplanet.' It's a climatic track is constantly, subtle evolving and rich in detail.

Review: Raresh's Metereze imprint is back with some more emerging homegrown talent, this time in the form of up and comer Limpid. He is also part of duo Alsi, who have released on Body Parts, Colourful and Project London. On the A side "Uncle Sens" is emotive and sexy deep house with those hypnotising keys and that killer bassline doing most of the work over a.. well, pretty minimal groove! "Shine" follows in suit with its swirling pads and funky yet restrained style: which sums up why these Romanians are so good at their craft. On the flip "Speologie" gets a taste for some reduced acid sensibilities like fellow label mate Melodie: this one's sick! Finally "Zibi" gets back to the emotive groove but has a bit more guts about it, compared to the first side. Featuring sombre atmosphere, subdued melodics and a very tight rhythm powering away beneath. This guy's one to watch!

Review: Dutch minimal house Maestro Ion Ludwig makes a somewhat surprising yet absolutely worthy appearance on Raresh's Metereze imprint. The Deventer native's idiosyncratic sound shines on "A Better Future To Long EP", comprised of what the label describes as three "electronic mandalas". Mesmerising A side cut "140 KM/H" is reminiscent of his acclaimed live sets - a long and meandering cut that's perfect for a deeper stage of trance after hours. The title track on the flip is as rolling, bass driven and hypnotic as you like it, and introspective minimal house cut "Abstracy" with its subtle dub techno inflections calls to mind some of the material on his seminal "Ghost To Coast" LP. Killer!

Review: Romanian label Metereze may not be as prolific as some of its peers but you can't argue with the quality of music they've issued since first surfacing roughly two years ago. A fourth release introduces a new face in Melodie who's Echo Rhythm EP veers away from Metereze's previous house focus into more techno flavoured territory and it's a good look. As you might expect from the title, "Acid Sunday" is rife with lysergic tweakery, and it's augmented by an overall deep feel which seeps into the next cut "Rhythmico" which gives off the sensation of steam rising superbly. B side hogger "Justa" is a melodic techno number in a similar vein to Gui Boratto.

Review: Metereze is one of the many Romanian labels to serve up that stripped back minimal tech that keeps the cool kids dancing for days. This is its 15th such outing and it comes from the cultured A Beautiful Place label founder Noha, who is also head of Panick Panick. 'Me, You' kicks off with pinging kick drums and occult sci-fi sounds making for a deep space trip then 'Japanese Ghost' cuts loose on airy drum loops and dubby chords. The title track hits a bit harder with more thumping kicks drums but still spaced out pad work and 'Controversy' closes down with supple drum funk.

Review: In typical minimal house and techno style, the six tracks on this expansive EP from Stefan 'Sublee' Nicu are stretched over two slabs of wax. It's the Romanian producer's most ambitious release to date, and undoubtedly his strongest collection of work yet. Highlights include the undulating, slowly evolving minimal funk of "Entre", the pumping drum machine hits and rumbling analogue bass of "RumbleTrouble", and the Adonis-goes-to-Bucharest vibes of tech-house jack-track "Road To Frequensea". Arguably best of all, though, is "Space Dive", which combines bumping beats and gently fluttering chords with just the right amount of acid-style electronic psychedelia.

Review: Raresh has nurtured Metereze as his own side label since 2013, indulging his own particular vision for elegant minimal that still aligns with that broader Arpiar sound. This latest release comes from TC Studio, a Bucharest-based production duo making their first appearance since 2014. There is some serious quality at work here, as is especially evident on the gloaming, immersive creep of 'Ariel' and the dreamy roll of 'Nevada', both credited to Tulbure (one half of TC Studio). On the flip the co-conspirator Cher brings a subtly tranced up groover and a hypnotic slice of rhythmic reduction, rounding out a varied yet invariably classy addition to the Metereze catalogue.

Review: Romanian minimal techno; often imitated but never matched. And you know when you hear it from the source, just like in this instance. Vincentiulian is up next on the always quality Metereze with four slices of sublime, reductionist groove that are truly awe inspiring. On the first side is the chunky, funky groove of "Started" that you could just imagine playing peak time at Sunwaves. Things get deeper and more mysterious on "Ended" with its swirling immersive pads that hypnotise you into submission. On the other side is "No More" getting funky again but with its tripped out, sci-fi atmosphere providing the perfect dichotomy. Finally "Le Van A Cantar" provides something a bit more upbeat with cheeky vocal samples, groovy keys and more of his immaculate drum programming. Tip!