Review: Burnski and Kepler, two names synonymous with the deeper shades of house music, converge on Chris Stussy's Up The Stuss imprint for a collaborative EP that showcases their shared passion for dancefloor-focused soundscapes. 'Solstice', the title track, sets the tone with a hypnotic swing, its subtle rhythmic shifts and infectious bassline weaving a mesmerizing tapestry of sound. 'Contemplate', the second collaborative effort, offers a more introspective vibe, its bumping rhythms and melancholic melodies suggesting a moment of reflection amidst the dancefloor euphoria. The flip side sees the duo explore their individual artistry. Burnski's 'Give' is a late-night gem, its shimmering textures and hypnotic rhythms conjuring a sense of blissful introspection. Kepler's 'Transcend', on the other hand, lives up to its name, its vibrant energy and captivating melodies transporting the listener to a higher plane of dancefloor consciousness. It's a confident opening salvo for 2025 from Up The Stuss, a label that continues to champion the most vital strains of contemporary house music.
Br Beta - "Man Of The World" (feat Luke Eargoggle) (3:01)
Guttan - "Bambakaos" (6:28)
Kenneth X - "Mixed Emotions" (4:02)
Kan3da - "GBG Electro CIty" (5:45)
Singularity Club - "Intercon" (2:28)
Review: Gothenburg Electro City 3 is a third episode in this superb new various artists series. Stilleben label head Luke Eargoggle says that three generations of Scandinavian electro sounds feature on the six track record. It comes from producers based only in Gothenburg which is the capital of electro in Sweden as well as being the capital of the Vastra Gotaland county. From the high energy and hard-hitting electro-funk of Dataintrang's opener to Guttan's more cinematic but no less caustic 'Bambakaos', all shades are explored here with compelling results.
Review: It's coming home, it's coming home - house music is coming home! A second instalment of the Groove Access: series Chicago Is Home offers us five fresh tracks from the windy city landing in a glorious cavalcade of razor edged snares and hypnotic jack house. Ed Nine & Kid Enigma's 'Bandleaders' opens side one in spectacular fashion with spoken mantras lying deep in the mix, distinctive phasing arpeggios, poking keyboard riffs and ringing cymbals. JSquare's 'Get Wicked' kicks with even more power, tribal rhythms bouncing of bleepy melodies, before 'Move' by Geto Mark rounds off the side with the strutting, beautifully brutal 'Move', a proper 3AM peak time pleaser. Steve Noah's 'The Hater' opens side two, a wily acid line worming its way across a raw, stripped down backing before exploding into serious gnarliness when you least expect it. AFTR's 'Undercover' rounds things off with another knuckle duster of a tune, leaving no doubt that Chicago is still the place to be when it comes to house.
Fisher Vs Kita Alexander - "Atmosphere" (extended mix) (7:24)
Fisher Vs Kita Alexander - "Atmosphere" (acappella) (1:42)
Fisher Vs Kita Alexander - "Atmosphere" (extended instrumental) (5:56)
Fisher Vs Kita Alexander - "Atmosphere" (3:24)
Review: 'Atmosphere' is an all new and highly effective earworm pulled from the depths of a tequila bottle. It is sure to be another mega-hit for EDM royalty and pro surfer-turned-producer FISHER who is best know for his last anthem, 'Losing It.' Featuring ethereal vocals from Brisbane's Kita Alexander, the track blends ecstatic synths with massive, pogoing bass and has already got tens of millions of streams and a gold certification. Various mixes all tweak the drums and synth but the original is the one you will be hearing all year long.
Review: Having already caused a stir with their various solo releases, old friends Klein Zage (real name Sage Redman) and Joey G (Joe Gillick) have decided to join forces on an EP inspired by their time living together in South London. While the EP is musically varied, there's a sonic coherence to the three original tracks thanks to the presence of Redman's spoken word vocals throughout. We're particularly enjoying the deep, emotive beauty of 'A Little Dissonance', though punchy, shuffling and spacey opener 'Folks Not Guys' pushes it close. Over on the flip we're treated to a trio of remixes: Ariel Zetina's intense, trippy and high-tempo take on 'Folks Not Guys', Local Artist's warming and rolling, Rhodes-sporting 'Disco Dub' of the same track, and DJ Python's pleasingly weird, mind-mangling version of 'A Little Dissonance'.
Review: Mathias Kaden's Circulate EP takes its time, but in the best possible way. Freedom opens with a lean, rhythmic pulse, all stripped-back beats and delicate stabs, before a gospel vocal drops in, adding a moment of unexpected brilliance. It's a track that operates with precisioniKaden makes every element count without overcrowding the sound. The low-end groove moves with a quiet confidence, refusing to show off yet impossible to ignore. Circulate, the title track, leans into a hypnotic, classy mood. Synth hits crackle through like electricity, giving the track an infectious tension without ever needing to go over the top. It's all about subtle control, making it the kind of track that commands attention without ever asking for it. William Kiss steps in on remix duties for Freedom, pushing it into full peak-time mode. There's an extra layer of percussion and a heavier swing that gives the track a new edge, transforming it into something bigger without losing the original's sharp focus. To close, Kaden's Twisting Shadows brings in an acidic bassline and warped vocals, shifting the energy into something more unpredictableiperfect for those moments where the night starts to take on a life of its own.
Review: With releases already clocked up on Carl Craig's Planet-E, the Omar S-run stable FXHE and Rob Modell's Echospace, Detroit house/techno fans with a keen eye (and ear) will already know Brian Kage. Michigander is his own label and this EP - that kicks off with Taho and Kage joining forces again on its A-side - was a success when it first emerged on marbled vinyl in March 2023. So much so, in fact, that's it been given a repress. With traces of acid and uplifting piano notes undewrwritten by deep chords on the opener '909 Nights', 'Warehouse Vibes' then brings driving kicks and dubby techno bliss before the closer 'JAX' goes in the style with its fist pumping rhythms. Motor City musical magic at its best.
O Seara De Ragaz (Gez Varley aka G-Man remix) (7:24)
O Seara De Ragaz (OHM & Octal Industries remix) (8:11)
O Seara De Ragaz (H-Foundation remix) (9:32)
O Seara De Ragaz (Crihan remix) (6:28)
Review: The latest remix package on Ada Kaleh's own label features a stellar lineup including Gez Varley (aka G-Man), Ohm & Octal Industries, H-Foundation, and Crihan. This collection showcases a range of inventive remixes and fresh takes on Ada Kaleh's original track 'O Seara De Ragaz'. Each artist brings their unique style, from G-Man's deep and classic vibes to H-Foundation's more bright and bold rework with its flashy synths and dense drums. OHM & Octal Industries remix pair things back for a more dry and abstract minimal groove while the Crihan remix is a deep, dubby, moody late night roller for subtle sets in back rooms.
Review: For his latest trick, Karizma has decided to revisit 'Ya Dig', a killer cut from his 2013 album Wall Of Sound. Donning his Kaytronik guise, an alias often used for more tech-tinged (but no less soulful) productions, he delivers a remake rich in woozy, staccato synth sounds, lo-fi electronics, looped vocal snippets, flashes of soulfulness and beats as rubbery and righteous as you'd expect from the master of infectious rhythms. Over on the flip we get the previously unheard 'Feelin' Rite', where pal Osunlade's delay-laden vocals ride a crunchy, loose-limbed Afro-house beat and woozy, warming chords. It's the kind of track that you can get lost in, sonically, but is infectious and dancefloor-friendly enough to encourage proper heads-down dancing.
Review: Freerange's City To City series returns with its second edition, this time spotlighting Lisbon. Known for its stunning views, beautiful beaches and vibrant nightlife, perhaps one of the city's best-known hotspots is the iconic Lux Fragile, which has shaped the city's sound since the late 90s. Longtime resident DJs from Lisbon are now gaining global traction; to butterfly-net the essence of the coastal metropolis, this new mix LP hears six original tracks from local talents, chief among whom are Megatronic, progressor and ambassador for the city, and Yen Sung & Photonz, two names closely tied to the circuit's deeper-underground corners.A
Review: Fresh experimental dance cuttage from Jonathan Kaspar for Kompakt, clearly at the label's absolute vanguard for what constitutes boundary-pushing in 2023. A resident at the Gewolbe club in Cologne, Kaspar has surely flexed enough muscles to have worked out what makes the less easy-to-please dance-goer tick - and we think he's cracked it on 'Speicher 127', two tracks indulging weirdo drum-flams and crazy-emotive filter-sweeps respectively. Recalling the work of Barnt, but with perhaps an even more patient approach, the likes of 'Topper' and 'FEZ' are not to be trifled with.
Got 2 Groove (feat Devorah & Ida Burroughs) (7:28)
Review: Dana Kelley gets a lot more recognition these days since the excellent Boston Boy retrospective compilations which came out over the past year or so. The late US house heavyweight has a huge legacy behind his various aliases, and now Chiwax are looking at the Beta 12" from 1999. Opening cut 'Left With Nothing' is a powerful dose of deep house with a vocal turn from David Walker, while 'Nastiness' shows how gnarly and experimental Kelley could make his productions when he wanted to. 'Armageddon' is a hot and heavy worked with pumping compression creating the kind of locked in, sweaty atmosphere basement raves are made for.
Got 2 Groove (feat Devorah & Ida Burroughs) (7:28)
Review: US house music producer Dana Kelley's 'Beta' was originally released in a 1999 and became a late era tech house classic just ahead of electronic music moving towards big trance and prog sounds. It is an expensive original to find nowadays so this Chiwax reissue is welcome indeed. 'Beta' exudes a hypnotic energy that is driven by pulsating rhythms and intricate layers of synthesizers to make for a fine fusion of techno, house and ambient elements that will still captivate the dancefloor today. 'Left With Nothing' is a deeper opener, then things get more raw on 'Nastiness' and 'Armageddon' is drenched din soulful pad work. 'Got 2 Groove' is a stomping percussive groove with a busy and cosmic lead.
Review: Demi Riquisimo's Semi Delicious reaches a significant milestone with its 20th release, unveiling a four-track EP from the ever-impressive Leeds producer, Kepler that's a stellar addition to the label's expanding repertoire, 'Step Up' launches the journey, a sub-bass-driven escapade that intertwines pulsating grooves with squelchy acid lines, encapsulating the label's ethos. 'Swoon' arrives next, blending a playful FM-bass lead with staccato vocals and warm pads for a vibrant dancefloor allure. The B-side's 'Acid Flow' faithfully channels classic 303 vibes, while 'Separation' pays homage to vintage US house, tweaked with Kepler's unmistakable UK tech-house stamp. It's a veritable feast for discerning dance music aficionados.
Review: The cultured underground outlet that is Brouquade squeezes out one last release of 2023, this time from the enduring man of the moment, Kepler. He brings his usual cosmic touch and mastery of celestial melody to a trio of tasty tech house cuts. The first is a busy one with clacking drums and snappy snares on 'Enter The Void' that takes you through the cosmos at a great pace. 'MRF' then rides a nice bumpy low end and has delightfully deft astral melodies peeling off the beats before 'Event Horizon' shuts down with a hurried and snappy rhythm and more dark and unsettling synth explorations.
Review: Kepler delivers a solid EP with Eclipse, showcasing his knack for crafting infectious house grooves. The title track 'Eclipse' sets the tone with its rolling beats and crisp production, while S.A.M.'s remix takes things up a notch, adding a sleek, driving edge that's bound to light up any dancefloor. On the flip, '2K5' keeps the energy high with punchy rhythms, and 'Squelch Is Wealth' rounds off the release with a quirky, bass-heavy twist. With support from DJs like Chris Stussy and Luuk van Dijk, this EP is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for house heads.
Review: Luschn and Roman Khropko seamlessly blend their styles on 'Rozchyn', a bouncing, elastic groove that pulsates with energy, its hypnotic rhythms and infectious melodies drawing the listener into a world of sonic intrigue. 'High Hopes' takes a different approach, its smooth, tech-infused textures creating a hypnotic atmosphere, like a journey through a neon-lit cityscape at night. On the flipside, Luschn's 'Never Defeat Me' emerges as an anthem for the resilient, its driving rhythm and soaring melodies inspiring perseverance and determination.
Review: The 10th release in this various artists' series from the Afterme label out of Russia welcomes a pair of producers who collaborate on a brace of A-side jams to start with. 'XXVII' is deft, artful late night dub house and final cut with widescreen synths and oily bass, and the second, 'DOV', is a deep, aquatic house number with some meaningful synth work and cosmic intent up top. On the flipside, De Yan goes solo, twice, with more dubbed-out and unhurried atmospheric tech on 'Pumpe' and some spaced-out electronics on 'Shks' to close a stylish and cerebral EP.
Review: Kiasmos are a Reykjavik based duo comprised of BAFTA awarded composer Olafur Arnalds and Janus Rasmussen from the band Bloodgroup. The sounds of classical music and electro-pop collide fantastically on this release. First track "Drawn" is a sublime and emotional serving of trip-hop with Arnald's signature piano style floating on top of Rasmussen's immaculately programmed beats. And then that lush string section comes drifting in, its magnificent! "Gaunt" features some mutant pan pipes accompanied by a bleepy melody and sub-bass pulsations, but once again balanced out by Arnalds' lush piano and strings arrangements. On the flip "Swept" is a dreamy and melancholic deep house cut that could have come out on Kompakt, it's that good. There's even a remix of it by men of the moment Tale Of Us, who revise the track into one of their signature dark and adrenalised journey tracks, it's well done!
Review: Johnny Kick's Come On EP on Rawax Germany is a vibrant homage to the early 90s rave sound. On Side-1, things kick off with 'Burnin,' a track that blends classic house and techno with strong melodic stabs, reminiscent of MK or Nu Groove. 'Come On' follows with a fun and clever UK breakbeat style that echoes the energy of 808 State. On Side-2, 'Alright,' is a perfect recreation of the early 90s techno rave sound with classic samples. Closing the EP is 'Everybody,' a breakbeat dancefloor destroyer with keys that pay huge respect to Outlander's 'Vamp.' Each track captures the nostalgic essence of the rave era while delivering a modern punch. Massive!
Review: A year on from Antoine losing what was going to be his debut album, he decided to reform his concept-based project Mise En Place into a vinyl-only label. This is the first outing on it and is a work inspired by the hit TV sitcom The Office (US). 'Australian Reds' is part progressive workout and part stripped back minimal rhythm, 'Colombian Whites' is a 90s-inspired house cut with sparkling synth arps and glitchy claps while 'Cafe Disco (AK's Rare Groove Dub)' takes the B-side into after-hours territory. 'Threat Level Midnight' is an atmospheric closer that take things deep.
Review: The No Agenda label takes its bow here with a new EP that features a first appearance from the US's Bridget Barkan. Kimono is behind the beats and they are couched in house. 'Waiting' opens with rattling chords that bring steely determination next to the time-keeping hi-hats and echoing vocal swirls that speak of a patient wait. The Aubrey rework is super fresh with daubs of dancing synth and sci-fi details over a barely-there rhythm. Shuffling deep house sound 'Forgiveness' closes out with more slight sound designs, dusty drums and plenty of suggestion rather than in-your-face maximalism.
Review: The short-lived moniker of Kingpin Cartel comprised techno titan Mark Broom and lost legend CJ Baker. Their output spanned a 5-year period starting in 2005, on which the release of 'Moogie Nights' laid down their methodology; funky abstinations from Broom's usual style of hard, gritty techno. The 'Ghetto' EP was their second and most famous release. Best known for its lead title track, a triumphant techno-funk piece and a prototype for the bright, swanky mode repopularised by the likes of KiNK in recent decades. Also came 'Fishfunk', a wacky cut dipping its on motifs from French house to g-funk, and 'Bottle', a raspy house number replete with bitcrushed chords and domestic, found-sound samples.
Review: Kirik is a much-loved Ukrainian house producer, and he recorded something of a career highlight last year when he collaborated with Alia Palant on the Dance For You EP on Kherson-based label Memory Remains. The partnership between producer and vocalist has extended to the High EP for PhonicHouse1 earlier this year, and now they're on Portuguese label Bosom Ltd, offering up two original tracks and two remixes from kindred spirits. 'Day Or Night' is a smouldering, shimmering slice of dance pop which should appeal to fans of Kylie as much as minimal heads who enjoy strong vocals. 'Waiting For You' comes in a variety of versions, from Armando PT's nervy club workout to the softer, sweeter attack of the original and through to the techy, metallic Irv.in remix, all of which complement each other beautifully.
Review: As many freshly minted dance labels do, France-based Handwerk Sounds has decided to make its debut release a multi-artist EP. Fittingly, debutant artist Kiss The Future kicks things off, serving up the rising and falling new-age synth sounds, sequenced bass, buzzing nu-disco lead lines and unfussy retro-house beats of 'WhatUWant'. Casual Plaza takes over with the mid-80s NYC proto-house-meets-freestyle flex of 'FM Paradise', before Disset blurs the boundaries between spacey tech-house and intergalactic deep house ('Connection Loss'). To round off a rock-solid first Handwerk Sounds EP, Amlee delivers the bleeping, electro-goes-early house excellence of 'Come Close' (all sparse melodic motifs, squelchy bass, supernova chords and talkbox vocal samples).
Review: More proper tacker makes it way to vinyl here courtesy of the blow label who enlist four more producers of this latest various artists EP. Kitchen Plug's 'Cheat Code' marries the best of tech, garage, dub and house into a kinetic bit of body music that oozes warm and lo-fi soul. CYMKA brings kaleidoscopic colour and squelchy acid to 'Sweet Peach' then it's all pout old school piano rave madness from Batenko on 'Inside Summer 21'. Last of all is the searing electro funk of Les Hauts with 'Passing Clouds', a blisteringly quick trip into another dimension with some rueful chord work. Sensational EP.
Review: Following on from his remixes of Robert James' LP Battle Of The Planets, Berlin-based Klix goes in for the kill with four examples of club-friendly grooves that are big on dancefloor dynamics but also boast a delicate sensitivity to melody that's often left behind when it comes to the minimal/tech genre. Check, for instance, the distinctly understated acid undertow to 'Just Tell Me', balanced beautifully with lush, New Order-esque pads, or the almost imperceptible trails of flute left across the landscape of 'Satisfaction'. Best of all is probably 'Squanchy Thoughts' featuring Shibafu No Baga, the vocoders and synth lines rendering it like a post-rave Kraftwerk.
We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.