Back catalogue: Minimal House/Tech House

Review: Amulanga, operating out of Thailand, emphasise beauteous atmospheric progressive house, pairing each compilation with exquisite, extra-worldly sci-fi themes. Their latest, sixth vinyl V/A hears additions from Dulus, Acrobat, Ilias Katalenos & Plecta, Taleman and Shri & Alej, each track a seamless infusion of living, writhing organic sound. More than just music, the aim is to imply a narrative, shuttling and transforming listeners over and beyond centrifugal, interplanetary orbits - not just dancefloors.

Review: A rich exploration of minimal and tech house sounds with a nostalgic twist. The EP kicks off with 'Istinto,' blending futuristic techno with elements of house music and early 90s bass vibes, all wrapped in spacey sounds that evoke a sense of cosmic adventure. Next, 'Aura' delivers a stomping, darker beat designed to capture attention and drive energy on the dancefloor. Side-2 features 'Potenza' which channels raw techno reminiscent of 1991, incorporating trance elements for a nostalgic feel. The track's energetic vibe and vintage touches make it great for old skool sets. 'Essenza' ends the EP with a great groove and atmospheric feel good melody. A devastating blend of beauty and brawn. Dynamic, engaging tracks that will resonate with techno enthusiasts.

Review: Heat Recordings presents a special release marking the comeback of The Parallax Corporation (I-F & Intergalactic Gary) after a 20-year hiatus, alongside works by Ron Morelli, Robert Bergman, and Redray. This compilation features four tried and tested cuts from real-life gatherings, assembled onto a single disc for maximum impact. On Side-1, The Parallax Corporation's 'Shadow Figures' - A catchy and unusual blend of house and techno, sure to capture attention with its creative clash of sounds. Ron Morelli's 'Hot On Wheels' is afuturistic romp featuring unusual sounds that propel the track into the future For Side-2, Robert Bergman's 'Acid Tapes 88' is a deep acid cut, heady and raw, paying homage to the underground sound of house and techno. Lastly, Redray's 'Early Swang' harnessing Detroit and Chicago's legacy in all their glory. This has us flashbacking to our warehouse days, offering a nostalgic yet fresh take on the genre. Heat05 is as strong as it is diverse, offering essential gear for those exploring the depths of minimal, experimental and acid techno.

Review: Spencer Parker delivers a masterclass in unadulterated house, stripping back the excess to focus on raw, direct energy. The opening track pushes forward with a tight rhythm section, a pulsing bassline, and crisp percussion, all working in seamless sync to create a groove that demands attention without overcomplicating things. The vocal sample on 'You're A Cool Girl' is looped into a hypnotic motif, evoking a sense of urgency and repetition that doesn't wear thin. Later, the mood shifts with a darker, more industrial tone, where staccato beats and metallic edges add an intensity that builds steadily. There's no fluff here, just focused, dancefloor-ready rhythms that get straight to the point.

Review: New Theo Parrish? Yes please. The Sound Signature boss remains in a class of one and continually finds new ground to explore in the studio, often taking a freeform jazz mindset to roughed-up house and techno that blends the mechanical with the soulful in otherworldly, hypotonic fashion. 'Orange Barrel Action (Yellow Flashing Light mix)' is very much in that mould with lumpy drums detuned and off-grid keys and hissing hi-hats all coalescing into something seductive and subversive. 'Pianamonn' is a deep house foundation topped with weird and wonky keys in inimitable Parrish style.

Review: Dreamloops is a collection of long-form tracks spanning two and a half hours across four, yes four, records - that's a mighty eight sides of wax all created, mixed, and designed by Dennis Huddleston, aka 36 ("three-six"). The album offers a profound subconscious connection that was originally released as cassettes in 2019 and was revisited by Huddleston in 2023 to enhance its clarity and cohesion. The eight 18-minute pieces unfold slowly and build emotional power through developing themes. Imperfections like tape hiss add depth while influences like Henryk Gorecki and Max Richter help to shape the album's epic and haunting soundscapes.

Review: There is unbridled joy and youthful exuberance to these fizzy new cuts from Peach. 'A Pretty Planet' is a nostalgic sound that harks back to endless summer days playing in fields. 'Charmed' has a slightly more physical groove but still comes with excitable melodies and a feel-good energy. On the flip side of this 12" for Can You Feel The Sun is 'Sugar N Spice' in two versions. First is the (Deeper dub) which is a stripped-back and dusty deep house shuffler with balmy pads while the Rollin dub is more prickly, percussive and kinetic. All four will bring smiles to faces and vibes to dance floors.

Review: The Wx Split EP by Petit Batou / Phoq on Stamp Records is a compelling minimal/tech house collection. Side-1 kicks off with 'My W," an airy, melodic tech house jam that flows beautifully with its smooth, breezy vibe. The Direkt remix takes the original and ups the tempo, introducing robotic sounds that add a distinctive edge to the track while maintaining its danceable quality. Side-2 opens with 'My X', mirroring the smooth, melodic nature of the A1 track but leaning more towards deep house. The Lizz remix of 'My X' transforms the track into a more upbeat house groove while retaining a minimalistic essence, making it perfect for late-night sets. This EP is a perfect blend of melodic sophistication and dancefloor readiness.

Review: Marcellus Pittman is one of the Motor City's finest. The long-time house explorer has a singular sound that is built around brittle drum loops, hissing and dusty hi-hats and loose-limbed arrangements that are stark and dehumanised but somehow full of intriguing machine warmth and soul. Take this EP, 'Loneliness Leave Me Alone,' first dropped back in 2010: the title cut has bouncing, bulbous bass and jacked up drums that sound both menacing yet playful, which the fizzy, sugary chords spray across the mix like a mist of pixelated water. 'Razz 09' has that Omar-S style melancholy and trudging rhythm that's heightened by the curious melodies which unfurl with a mind of their own in the background. Superb.

Review: We hear distant soul croons, and lyrical talk of silver linings, on this latest EP from Pornbugs and Frink, as the pair draw another heat on the EPs game after 2023's 'See Through My Eyes'. Striking while the rod is still hot, these two've releases through the likes of Spielgold and Sublease since 2006, which have surely informed on this rippling release, which keeps one foot in the chillout vault and the other in room one. But both moods are held in impossible superposition - we feel relaxed and upbeat at the same time. 'Keep It Down' especially impresses with its distant use of a vocal line that might otherwise be put to more focal use by less patient producers, proving the compatibility of lyricism and soundscape.

Review: Sometimes we get some wonderfully enigmatic notes with new releases and this is one of them. Rather than share them all, enjoy this one line - "Protecting the past by projecting it into the future, preserving identities, encouraging conversations across generations, and above all, safeguarding the island of Procida's vast intangible cultural heritage from extinction." Now you can ponder the meaning of that while getting lost in a collection of global grooves that span dub, downtempo, ambient jungle, Balearic and more with plenty of humid atmospheres, whimsical melodies and a general sense of mystic aura that will keep you coming back for more.

Review: By now already a cult favourite label, Banoffee Pies Originals is back with new beats from Planet Euphorique label boss D. Tiffany and multidisciplinary artist and Rinse FM resident Ciel working together as Psychedelic Budz. The Canadian duo delivers two off-kilter club tracks here with a guest appearance by Adam Pits under his Lil Mushroom alias. That's on the title cut 'Wonk Donk' and it features a supple and hyper-speed rhythm with dubby undercurrent and deft vocal smears next to acidic squiggles. The other cut 'Vokal Fry' is a percussive jumble with broken beats, watery effects, chopped-up vocals and a generally beguiling vibe.

Review: The debut album from Ukrainian collective Noneside unites musicians and visual artists under the inspiring words of poet Taras Shevchenko, who said 'Make love, o dark-browed ones.' Framed by a painting from contemporary artist Iryna Maksymova, the music explores the trance and tech house that is destined to bring souls together on the dancefloor this summer and beyond. Shjva opens with fresh and mashed bass and sleek trance pads that are subtle but effective. Lostlojic layer sup deep, bubbly techno drums and bass with an angelic vocal tone and Saturated Color's 'Trancia' is a speedy, scuffed-up tech groove for late-night cruising. Peshka and Yevhenii Loi offer two more future-facing trance-techno fusions packed with feels.