Review: This week in minimal tech house we have some wicked underground material courtesy of new label Syntaxx out of Leeds. If the tracks on Syntaxx Waxx Vol 1 are anything to go by, this crew are on to big things in 2021 and beyond. Features Mehlor with the hypnotic swing of "Wurk" reminiscent of local hero Jack Wickham, AWSI goes into UKG territory on the woozy "SPD" while over on the flip Parsec delves into druggy microhouse realms on the afterhours paranoid shuffle of "Error" and Nate SU delivers the mandatory Rominimal style track on the lean groove of "Trip".
Review: Minimal electronic house tour de force here as Border Com's James Holden teams up with the UK's Jon Tye (aka Milky Globe) here on the A-side, while on the flip Nathan Fake and Milky Globe join forces for the Dusty Cabinets mix of "Lava Flow". The "Sun Spots" cut is a deep slice of electronic dub combining Holden's ever-shifting palette of abstract tones and crisp percussion. "Lava Flow" takes Nathan Fake's signature keyboard work and stretches it out over a sweet low-end groove.
3lias, Erick Navas, Clock Poets, Nagual - "Good Not So Bad" (10:06)
Triptease & Greg Paulus - "Dreg Gong" (7:25)
Fabrizio Siano - "Indahood" (5:49)
Review: Bulgarian crew We Or Us have assembled a fine various artists release here for their next 12". 'L'interpretazione Dei Sogni' features an opening cut from The Mole in the form of the loose -limbed 'Groovy Foodbag. 3lias, Erick Navas, Clock Poets & Nagual all combine for the brilliant 'Good Not So Bad' which is gritty minimal tech house, and Triptease & Greg Paulus offer the more organic depths of 'Dreg Gong' which is all busted bass and muffled vocal swirls. Fabrizio Siano's 'Indahoo' shuts down with some wonky rhythms invention, spooky spoken words and DIY percussive details.
Review: For our money, Mike Grant's label Moods & Grooves is an underrated outlet from the Motor City. It has long been quietly going out its business, realising killer house 12"s from a mix of US mainstay and European greats. Nico Lahs is next up with this sublime offering. 'Always' is heavy, dusty, physical house for sweaty basements. 'Dimensions' gets you in a trance with its swirling pads and muffled vocal sounds and then 'Easy Going' brings some melodic wonkiness and loopy drum funk. 'Redemption' is a steamy end with pinging drums and layer up on layer of fuzzy sound.
Review: Minimal and tech house fans have long been tuned into the sounds of Norken. The master studio craftsman knows exactly how many element he needs to make a deep, immersive groove and never does he use a single hi-hat more. His Southern Soul EP has been reissued a number of times before including by the likes of Delsin but now its title track gets remastered for this fresh serving on Only One. It is all wispy synths and cosmic motifs with bendy bass, then 'P Fox' picks things up with another rolling rhythm and dub kicks topped off with astral synths. 'Spring Time' closes with crunchier tech house drums and a more quickened groove but is still as deep.
Review: It has been some years now since Nail came back from the wilderness after one of his early EPs was re-released by Fear of Flying. Since then he has turned out plenty of new material as well as digging deep into his vast and vital vaults to serve up the sort of lo-fi but kicking house sounds that made him and his Nottingham crew such a driving force back in the 90s. And that's what we get here on For Those That Knoe - no fewer than eight masterfully stripped-back cuts of deep house. Some are laced with dreamy melodies, some roll deep for days, some are raw and textured pumpers and some are jazzed-up bangers with charm to spare. Essential stuff.
Review: The Noodles label does not rush things. This is only its third release since launching in May 2020. Once again the eponymous production outfit or solo producer, whoever they, she or he may be, takes care of the sounds and does a fine job of bringing real character to minimal grooves. 'Track 1' is packed with detail, from swirling cosmic pads to a busy melody line and well-placed vocal samples that all bubble and brim with energy. On the flip, it's more stripped-back business with ice-cold and dry rolling drums and a seductive female vocal that gets stretched, smeared and teased throughout.
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