asc is a perfect fit for silent season, favouring as he does greyscale melodic content and a cerebral approach to mutant techno. cerulean is a fine opening gambit on this 12inch, all crooked kick patterns and micro bleeps calling out into nothing, while dimension 1010 maintains the austere approach with a slow swell of melancholic ambience over a meditative rhythm. enchanted is no less restrained, but there s a subtle shard of light in the murmuring pad that lingers in the background. that s well and truly dealt with on the bleak beatdown molniya, which pings bleakest techno into a black hole of sound, which is of course a wonderful thing to behold.

vid vai delivers four slices of floating futuristic melancholy.

dungeon acid, bred in gothenburg’s (sweden) obscure music scene during the eighties and nineties, releases his second 7inch on hoga nord rekords. dog acid and sex beat focuses on those remote corners where jean-louis huhta have rooted his musicality. with legendary bands like cortex, anti cimex and the skull defekts on his resume, huhta is most definitely one of the most interesting artists in sweden!
the music on this 7inch breathes sex, concrete and dark seas. the tracks differ in instrumentation but they expresses the same feeling: uncomplicated and straightforward components, perfectly balanced in relation to each other, shutting down unnecessary body function, aiming for your lower back. spastic curling synthesisers rests upon soundwaves heavier than the swell against the norwegian north atlantic coast.
dungeon acid is the miner of your record crate - hard at work finding the nuggets in punk, rock and electro to develop the strict techno.

the first track sees villem step up to remix false alarm by total science, quadrant & iris. flexing his technical prowess with this chest-shattering offering, villem teases sonorous atmospherics around sharp percussive hits, building to a medley of full impact subsonic weight and aggressive drum patterns that cut right through the mix. for his debut appearance on the label, critical impact teams up with vocal powerhouse jakes to deliver geeks and geez. critical impact combines deep, rumbling subs and resonant mid tones which go hand-in-hand with jakes raw vocal energy and no-nonsense lyricism, making this a sure-fire dancefloor heavy hitter for the masses. for the third track, total science drop what i need , a beautifully crafted composition filled with tranquil pads and articulate rolling drums serving as a solid backbone. reversed atmospherics and glistening pianos swell in and out of the track with a deep, warm sub to bring it all together. finally, arcatype s cascade is an immersive roller bursting with ethereal tones and snappy percussions, taking you on a journey of rolled out sub lines and mid-range stabs washed with subtle reverb and delay. classified v3 delivers an across-the-board, cutting-edge offering of their signature d&b blend. combining the raw energy of false alarm and geeks and geez alongside the deep overtones of what i need and cascade classified v3 is solid proof that c.i.a are always at the top of their game, rolling strong since 1996 with no sign of turning back.

as a contrasting follow-up to our first single from rooteo & mahura’s metta album, the second single on made in green records keeps the format intact with entirely different results. deadbeat’s remix on part one was both respectful and subtly transformative, on part two, new york’s upcoming max mcferren, whose busy 2015 included eps on ultimate hits, allergy season, and 1080p, brings us a startling reinterpretation of album closer harmal very much in keeping with the vein of raw, aggressive house coming from brooklyn since that scene’s resurgence. the original version of harmal finishes the album in fine style, blending tablas, celestial electronics, and short melodica phrases that gradually swell with layers of vocal samples and orchestal pads before reaching a climax and slowly dying away in gradually receding layers of ambient electronics. mcferren’s remix leads off with only a bare framework of techno percussion. the entry of a sampled section of melody from the original signals a rapid transition to more abrasive territory, with sheets of metallic noise slashing through the high end, short vocal syllables stuttering, and an insistent bass pulse building up and breaking down with at least one element constantly in motion.

berlin based producer synthek is a renowned name within contemporary techno. besides succesfully running his label natch records, he has been also a resident at the infamous tresor.
for the seventeenth installment in the string of attic music releases, synthek (luca landolfi) comes up with a staggering ep that contains a lot of adventurous drum patterns, bold arrangements and swells of daring fx.
on the a side we find “loser”, which is a brave cut of spherical yet moody techno that uses a buldging percussion line and otherwordly fx to create an ominous vibe. “uneven mind” is an exotic cut with tough drum sounds that uses a hypnotic synth swell that cuts throughout to create an alarming atmosphere. french producer and concrete resident antigone comes up with an uplifting (eight minutes long) remix for “uneven mind” on the b side which is beautifully orchastrated throughout. “faithless” is a percussive cut with intense fx blips.

machinejazz brings you the dystopian sci-fi duo seer.
seer is the alter ego and collaboration of m. parent and maroje t.
seer is broken beat 808 meets hip hop break, where gnarled, trippy vocal samples swell over dissonant synth notes.
seer is time-space-mind becoming irrelevant.
after their incredible debut release on detour the duo keeps breaking the rules, bringing heat to the dance floor and letting the world burn.

x-coast helps to launch brand new label underthesea. the new york-based artist delivers three fresh original cuts complemented with a remix by berlin’s versatile talent borrowed identity. the ep presents equal parts of groove and energy characterised by x-coast s 90’s rave inspirations with a pulsating swell combined with seductive female vocals just like a mermaid’s allure. on the flip-side, borrowed identity illustrates his stripped down rhythms for a well-rounded 12-inch.

felt sense recordings delivers a four track compilation for its second release - moving and brooding techno par excellence from the local community.
an archive of a locality, the indirect but palpable influence felt by musicians of a similar ilk occupying the same city. transient experiments in dance-purposed electronics indelibly committed to wax.

london based club night and newly formed label snap crackle & pop s third releases comes in the form of a dark take on new wave influenced techno from berlin based new yorker curses. side a kicks off with a hypnotic techno stomper another view which playfully tips its hat to early electro albeit through a visor of coldwave inspired guitars. together in the dark delves into even darker territores with ice cold organs reaching for the light through the grinding ambient yet groovy undertones. on the b-side inga mauer ramps up the dancefloor tension with her machine like acid rework pulsating and crashing urgently together in the dark, whilst the golden filter turn out a low slung trip of brooding synths and haunting vocals before cascading down the rabbit hole in a swell of industrial motorik beats and percussive explosions in their take on another view

psycomat return with another super limited and experimental offering, this time from reason stendec. the a-side is an electronic dream take on an acapella version, subjecting reason stendec to extreme stretches, bends and vocoder abuse. the aa-side tries gamely to accommodate jono’s 9-minute kumo mix, a slab of unashamed banging techno that kicks like a buffalo and belches noxious acid fumes from arcane circuits that swell into an analogue meteor shower.

the swell ep follows a similar formula to release number five back in march. three originals and two tool tracks all from label boss mike gervais. many cut from the same cloth as release five. all good things we think.elegant restraint leaves the element stack slim and the sonic field open. backed by a thumping kick and sputtering resonant basslines while familiar machine hats shimmer in and out.

for their third release clandestino step into the light themselves to present two original cuts. here, shades of classic chicago and detroit complement a modern production aimed at discerning dance-floors. another horizon has a heady late-eighties feel ascending sunrise chords and gentle keys swell organically giving way to a burbling 303 line.

ambient power duo anjous sophomore statement continues in the vein of their 2014 debut, unfurling a full hour of mesmeric synthetic drift and veiled melodic undertow. comprised of mark nelson (of pioneering post-rock experimentalists labradford and pan american) and robert donne (of labradford, aix em klemm, cristal), the group work largely in long-form suites of sound, alternately spacious and dense. the new lps six pieces embrace flux and ambiguity: drones swell and shudder, hushed currents of noise glitch and dissolve, atmospheres congeal and liquify. as with the participants prior projects, anjou evoke a shadowed, mysterious mood, variously melancholy and transcendent. the album is an accumulation of craftsmanship and experience, blurred forms traced in light and fog.

centre source records continue to fly the flag for local artists with their fourth ep - this time from berlin-based jad & the.
love tool presents a dreamy opening to the ep, with its effervescent piano riff and lush layers of filters and reverberations, which swell and deflate throughout. bouyant yet gentle, convertible on the m1 is a sunny, textured groove with digital flutes and claps, softly ascending through to a blissful breakdown. on the flip side, underachieving koala juxtaposes eerie vocal samples with melancholy piano chords, making for a poignant cut on the record. untzz twelve inch mainstay arthur miles takes the track in a more club-worthy direction on the remix, giving it a healthy dose of drive and glistening keys, all while staying true to the emotive mood of the original.

chicago dj and producer olin follows up the debut release on his new record label, boundary movement, with tpi featuring four diverse cuts. up-tempo electro, moody minimalism, old-school melodies, and chugging deep house all woven seamlessly. the a side begins with “tpi,” an exercise in minimalism and micro-detail. unmistakably olin’s own, insistent synth stabs keep time while needlepoint percussion keeps the ear guessing. if you thought olin’s palette was limited to techno and house, a2 “corsaren” will prove you wrong — this is pitch-perfect electro in a classic style, a slow-building interplay of sci-fi synthesizers wrapped around icy cool call-and-response kicks and handclaps. b1 “thanks rob” is bom02’s most straightforward cut — and one of its best. building momentum slowly across its eight-minute runtime, “thanks rob” impresses as the larger-than-life bass swell hits. the dancefloor will be rapt – proceed carefully. b2 “hyssop,” feeling like it comes from a similar vintage as “corsaren,” might have been called “ambient techno” decades ago, but its upwardly mobile percussion makes it feel as at home in a club as it does in the chill-out room. it’s just the thing to close out this broad-spectrum record. – chris zaldua

valby001 demonstrates louf’s keen ear for growling analogue synthesisers and crunchy perpetual drum rhythms. hiccup is a wintery club jam that follows an intertwining exchange between a vocal motif and a warm winding synth line, held down by a pounding drum workout. dawn loop provides a breath of early morning nostalgia, with a combination of dusty rattling percussion and hypnotic chords that swell and crackle recurrently.

night tides sophomore release welcomes two new names to the family. thommyy ra an simonn bring us the lost journey ep, a 6 tracker of analogue laden esoteric house. on the a, we have thommyy ra, label boss at nasty habits tape cltr and prone to a bi-annual name change, he contributed the silty seth nk remix of eluize’s “up all night on our labels debut record earlier this year. he opens with journey into nowhere, an eerie, coasting, synth drenched opus propelled by throbbing percussion and rippling leads, follows with die darling die a 90s touched, left of centre house cut, complete with a skipping kick and playfully nostalgic horn, and wraps the side with creepy, deep and groove heavy razzy moon. on the b, we introduce simonn for his first excursion on wax. unknown habits is a straight up, tried-and-tested party piece, its vibrant chords pulse amongst thumping drums issuing an undeniable call to the floor. he then turns his hand to something more aquatic, amphibious pads swell in lost in progress while layering percussion build before erupting into a euphoric break beat. finally, raw and unbleached is a delicate arpeggio outing, melodic ideas tumble and burst over one another, its light and dreamy yet gritty, innocence in sound

somewhere between par grindviks debut album >isle of real< and his more recent output with dax j and nihad tule lands his new solo ep, >mnemosyne<. first track >o maru< launches the three-track release with a hi-tempo, swirling vortex of kicks and claps. >dawn< opens side b with syncopated flams and twisted harmonics, while >70sheets< sees ethereal chords swell dramatically under a hypnotic groove.

maeve 09 is a special record. it welcomes the return of one of the founding members of the label, baikal. although the dutchman has had somewhat of a hiatus from releasing music, his hard work and struggle with the process of creating forward thinking electronic music has always continued. “pelican’s flight” reaps the rewards of this carefully nurtured process and proves most definitely it was worth the wait. the title track “pelican’s flight” is a mesmerizing ten-minute techno trip. a throbbing kick drum is decorated with sparkling synth lines all moving on their own orbit creating a trance like effect on the dance floor. the pinnacle of the trip hears rasping chords blast through the swell in a glorious moment of elation, in short this is a bomb. the b-side “all forces occur in pairs” goes deeper again, drawing the listener into a similar hypnotic state. various sonic ideas breathe in and out of the foreground creating a swirl of expectancy and excitement. this track will cause you to close your eyes and be carried away to another dimension… maeve are honored to add this record to their repertoire.

underground slick yet daring chicago veteran emcee gilead7 of the windy city super collective tomorrow kings has completed yet another audio diamond to accompany the already existing brilliance of his nationally and internationally distributed collection of uniquely-created albums. known and respected by his scattered international cult following for not only his record collaborations and stage sharing with everyone from vast aire and a.g. but also his sonically experimental and lyrically razor-edged abrasive -art rap- for over 12 years, gilead has etched an indelible place for himself in indie hip-hop, combining aggressive universe creation and quirky nerdom in ways that only he could pull off

saft welcomes nortasun to it s expanding roster of artists. with not too much info being available about the artist, the music should do the talking. nortasun comes up with a sample drenched ep that consists out of swell basslines, mind expanding chords and outlandish percussion works. untitled 1 opens up with a carefully placed disco sample that hovers over the rhythms very nicely. the percussion section and the ascending chords serve the overal ambiance while nortasun plays with the extended loop pattern that maintains of interest. untitled 2 serves as a very deep but functional voyage into tribal territory. a vary of percussion sets in and smartly exchanges tones with fx cuts. on the b side fudge fingas debuts on saft with an atmospheric beast of a remix for untitled 1 that constantly grows and cleverly uses vocal cuts that change up the original atmosphere and makes the overall a very broad work of house music. the stevie wonder like clava hit + piano solo s that come in when the remix progresses are all in courtesy of the edinburghian producer himself.

oshana returns to us with the multiverse ep, it s an undeniable thrill to see how our girl from nyc has evolved over time. the tough, sure-footed approach on both tracks here suggests a more techno-flavoured influence coming to bear on oshana s studio work, and she makes the style all her own. from the warm, pad-enriched swell of rashomon theory to the bass-driven sass of voyager , this is oshana at her most confident and dynamic, and we re thrilled to be sharing it

** ltd 2016 repress ** the next release on fofs deeper house offshoot sees the labels roster swell to include two producers who are ascending the ranks, their recent >gruff it< track on the hotter than hot >visionquest< label has turned a heads and they look set to continue their upward trajectory. matthew has also released solo projects on john shepheards >retrofit< label as well as providing the debut release for sammy ds >ultrastretch< label. not only that but matthew is currently in the middle of his summer residency at berlins much revered club der visionaere. >take me away< is a pure slice of chord driven deep house and as such is a slight departure for the duo, the melodies inclining towards more melancholic feelings. remixes come from recent fof favourite scahtrax who strips the track right back, injecting a booming bass heavy kick drum & atmospherics to lend the track a more hypnotic tone. label co-owner blm injects a dubbier feel into his take on the flip. finally, matthew burton goes solo for >tell them phill sent ya< - a loose limbed dancefloor workout reminiscent of perlon in their pomp.

limited white vinyl lp with download code included.
reversed is the fourth album from french composer / sound designer franck zaragoza and his ever-expressive ocoeur nom de plume. the opening swell and passionate piano that precedes it sets the tone for what could very well be zaragoza s most personally ardent set of compositions to date. zaragoza thoughtfully augments his modern solo piano compositions with creative, some might even say organic, sound design and meticulous melancholic string harmonies. reversed is without a doubt a truly personal listening experience meant to be absorbed again and again.

part two of fhloston paradigm (aka king britt) beautiful cosmosis ep series starts with the haunting broken techno of nimoy, bass line and subtle piano gently modulating over scissoring drum machines and dubbed out claps, the switches in rhythm and the layers of chugging drums catching you off beat. the track builds into a heart-tugging melody, the drums breaking up under it s force. return is a pure analogue brain massage of a track, a deep space exploration of undulating arpeggios and shimmering emotive notes. the hour finishes the record, slow building waves of melody and chords, shimmer and swell, the repetition and addition of a mournful bass line consolidate the emotional energy of the track.

die köpfe hinter dem aufregenden, neuen electro-projekt polynation sind die beiden in amsterdam beheimateten musiker stijn hosman und hessel stuut. deren markenzeichen: trommeln und analoge bässe mit techno, ambient und weltmusik zu einem stimmungsvoll-mitreißenden ganzen zu verschmelzen. und das am liebsten live auf der bühne. doch obwohl polynation vorrangig als live-act gedacht ist, haben sich die beiden niederländer nun zur veröffentlichung einer 12 inch entschlossen. die debüt-ep *allogamiy* fasst sechs energetische tracks, welche die ganze bandbreite des duos widerspiegeln. während *damp* mit einem fetten bass sanft durch downtempo-gefilde tuckert, ist *why you pt ii* genau der track, der den dancefloor auf dem höhepunkt der nacht zum Überkochen bringt.

love potion is very pleased to introduce this killer 12inch by viktor birgiss. after creating some serious buzz with his live set at the impeccable sónar festival in reykjavik last year, this 12inch is further proof that the dude is full fledged. tomorrow is a gorgeous deep and twisted melodic cut, topped with a soothing vocal. on the flip you find shine and my neighbour.shine is a warm and bouncy cut, perfect for the summer terraces.my neighbour is more direct and raw, drifting on a rhythmic swell of percussions and a hypnotizing vocal loop, it really sums up this ep and what viktor birgiss is capable of

bleep repeat makes for a potent first track. here, a thumping step gives way to synth lines that sting and swell across solar systems. things get headier, grittier, reaching a furious and frightening rush with spectral soundbites to match. a homage to uk rave sounds, this track perfectly captures the uncanny pairing of aggression and rapture at the heart of 90s bleep. paper blades follows, a celestial soundscape punctuated with hissing breakbeats and a sinewy bassline. rippling acid lines beam along the astral plane, and a hallucinatory, near-liturgical melody meanders all the while. spaced-out yet inexplicably driving, this track is elevating, enveloping

with 8 sell out releases under the contrast wax belt so far, the boutique label invites, ben boe -boe recordings/for those that knoe- label head to the family & he joins the likes of blm, ethyl & flori, gauss & laak, with a killer 3 track ep, hand-stamped & hand numbered in true contrast wax style. the lead of the 3 cuts, steel city fly by is built around a lo slung bassline & subtle atmospheric pads that swell & drift in and out throughout, the b-side: what starts off with soft subtle pads & skipping hats soon rises into a bubbling acid line to compliment the latter in hope for enceladus that leave s the final cut of the ep byzantine times a laidback, groover, layered with delayed snares & synth lines make this emotive piece the perfect end to a solid 3 tracker.

kindred phenomena marks mattheis debut album. after two cosmic eps on nous klaer and a mini-album on tape for ecstatic recordings, he now returns to nous klaer for his first full story. an album shaped for every occasion: driving from the city to the island, dancing in the living room, or raving at sunset. on kindred phenomena mattheis picks up where he left off: swell serves as another episode of the prisms, the modular synth excursion of bit fragments pushes his arpeggiator solos a step further, and album standout ben_m provides his most beautiful dance of melodies yet. the album consists of eight tracks and comes as a double 12 inch for deejay convenience, and for the ultimate experience: go see mattheis perform his album live on the road.

after 3 years of hosting and co-hosting several successful events the guys at vbx decided to expand their musical horizon in the form of a vinyl only label. none other then vbx mainstay ferro is responsible for the kickoff ep. >time will tell< perfectly showcases the various facets of ferro s musical persona. the a-side track >time< is the most introspective and hypnotic on this ep. the background atmospherics swell and fall, while the rhythm steadily chugs forward, slowly making you lose your sense of time. the growling sounds and heavy kicks that form the backbone of >mushin< make this track the most straightforward club banger of the bunch, while still maintaining an edge through the intricate sampling of armand van helden s >the funk phenomenon<. ferro rounds up the ep with >opening the seven<, nagging vocal snips serve as a melodic hook while distorted rhythmical elements give the track its typical ferro sense of swing.

lisbon based techno producer re:axis returns to planet rhythm with his new solo ep *light & shadows*. after the success of his previous effort through the imprint, this time, re:axis comes up with an ep filled with swelling synth sounds and thoroughly produced drums. from the swell bass sounds in *light & shadows* to the rough mechanical sounding notes in *galactica*, re:axis stands his ground and delivers a percussive laden ep for peak-time club action.

collectors item! one side high quality black vinyl and other side picture disc. very unique. figure continues its new limited edition hybrid disc x.5 series with a special 2 track offering from johannes heil. >kykeon i< represents an unabashed, smiles-abound floor-filler with one of heil s most joyful and accessible productions to date. a perfect heady cocktail of slamming 90s drums and uplifting housestab melodies, the german producer has really struck a chord here with this future club-classic. the spaced out stepping beats of >kykeon ii< then, sit in welcome contrast to the all out madness of its bigger brother. subtle, intelligent techno formations rise and swell, based around a similar melodic framework to that found in part i. another masterclass from one of the most talented producers in the business.

returning home after the acclaimed holding ep and the highly regarded clap clap remix, lurka continues with his journey into sonic bat country. partials kicks off with lurka’s typical intrigue, pads swell with distant spectres of percussion build into the most saturated kick of the year slapping you in the face like wet rag, while an architecture of syncopated hats and bit crunching snares lock the angles a shower of haunting bells falls. dancehall for witching hour. mach steps in with an equally holo-deck soundscape. drums swing in awkward alliance with dry wooden blocks and woozy binary language. both tracks united in their skewed viewpoint and distinctive awkward funk.

der englische musiker und produzent richard fearless kuratiert den vierten teil der labelserie.

now a regular member of the figure roster, young portugese talent lewis fautzi resurfaces again, fresh off the back of an inspired full-length debut for soma records. continuing with his own take on the darker, trippier end of the techno spectrum, we re treated to 4 new tracks, beautifully sequenced and alive with energy. from the depths of fautzi s studio, >signal of the light< emerges with its deep resonant acid tones and broken beats. setting the mood, fautzi then unlocks the monster inside with three club-designed cuts that rattle, fizz, gyrate and swell with precision intensity. a name to keep an eye on without a doubt, its no surprise this young man s vision of modern techno is finding its way into dj s sets far and wide.

lauer returns from mascats orbit to new york citys beats in space records with a new two-tracker, hands & feet / stigma. since 2012s mascat ring down, lauer ditched city life for a quiet village outside of frankfurt. lauer embraced the space for his young family and settled his creative headquarters in a quaint attic studio. the new environments and housemate, a slumbering infant son, inspired these two songs to breathe a delicate and patient air. recorded during the first summer of his new domesticity, both tracks swell with echoed piano riffs buoyed by lauers dependably precise programming.
the vinyl ep includes a download code.

positive centre follows up last years highly acclaimed debut with another superb release for sighas our circula sound stable. doom laden electronics and warped techno sensibilities combine to marry weight, depth and immersive atmospherics, a winner

part 2 concludes killawatts largest body of music to date, the opposing rhetoric ep, a 6 track opus of truly progressive uk underground sound that melds his influences from dubstep and techno with expansive, high-tension sound design. the eps second triplet of beats feature his most overtly techno-focussed sounds yet, expanding his horizons and dropping the pace down to 125bpm, and delivers punishing dancefloor rigidity and bass-immersed sonic force. on black air, killawatt threads tightly coiled syncopations above a grinding 4×4 structure, and delivers a near-cacophonic but ultimately heavy full-sensory overload. the flipside is divided between the churning swell of dark industrial aesthetics on art of discourse, and the moody permutations of reactive technique, where rippling melodic shimmers provide accentuation to its pounding sub-density.

limited 200 black vinyl pressing in custom brown record jacket with black inner sleeve.
the deeply layered rhythms and atmospheric elements that refracted shows across the four tracks on along a ghostly trail make a perfect match for silent season, as the berlin based newcomer joining some illustrious company in the shape of stl, djorvin clain and edanticonf in contributing to the canadian labels rise. clouds of sub bass meld rhythmically with the stripped back percussive lilts of enlightenment as they traverse a scenic back drop of textural atmospherics, whilst the title track is similar in tone if imbued with a spectral feeling that justifies the name. contrasting this, both oo-koo-he and hyperdimension are gloopy bassline lead arrangements that slowly swell around the senses.

the revenge has created a devilish duo of *lose my head* dub remixes to contrast against the funky original from brooklyn synth-pop quartet body language. relentless builds, tight drum kicks, and a hypnotic 303 bass-line create a perfect detroit house beast named dub 1. his equally naughty brother dub 2, will transfix you with throbbing chords and tight percussions, building up to an epic swell of dance-floor mania, beware of the insanity-causing drop!

2012 repress !! recognized as one of the main techno pioneers and influential artists of the recent time, shlomi has the kind of impact usually reserved for inbound meteors, the reason for which is buried in a ground swell of genre-defying appreciation and support.

chicagos steven tang (emphasis) with four brand new tracks, with tangs unique trademark blend of raw jacking chicago beats and detroit-inspired atmospheres. one of the few contemporary techno artists that truly delivers music for both body and soul. hot release!

next michel cleis masterpiece , this time on dj kozes pampa records... >mir a nero< begins with a steady, upbeat kick underlying a simple piano arpeggio - like if philip glass make dance music - but then some accents of vibrant hand percussion loosen up the vibe, soon progressing into rhythmic layers that cause the energy to swell. by the 4-minute mark, a subtle, buzzing synth permeates the background, contrasting the tracks overall organic feel, leading into the playful piano chords and colombian vocal hook. simply put, this is latin house with that anomalous pampa records swagger, drenched with flavor like sangria-soaked mango. flip that baby over and you get >amaranthus<, named after the famed flower that represents immortality. this piece stands as a color-negative of >mir a nero<, an unwavering stomp with just shadows of the piano sample heard earlier. freeze-dried rather than sun-ripened, >amaranthus< is a dubby, more technofied counterpart to the a-side, crafted for deeper and darker moments on the dancefloor.

tireless producer, tronic boss and top international dj christian smith here steps up for his first release on plus 8. over the years christian has offered up a high volume and high quantity of techno inclined singles for myriad labels (bedrock, systematic, 100percent pure, soma), so it only makes sense he now finds himself on one of the scenes most reliable outposts for such material. the two track ep kicks off with house is house which is, as the name suggests, a little house-ier than the flip, but still deals in plenty of heavy bass weight and slick repetition. the devil is in the detail filtered, dark voices, rattling cowbells, washes of white noise synths and long, thin, forward looking pads - all of which are married to a mid-tempo groove. the more forceful indulge me then follows. taught kick drums start immediately as claps and subtle synth stabs swell in volume until they eventually fill out the whole airwaves. squirming behind are thin and icy steel lines until the first drop when the deliciously bouncy groove sets in proper. far from aping the usual detroit and chicago tropes, christian smith has once again crafted two classy dance floor joints that are not only exquisitely produced, but that bare all the usual hallmarks of christian smith, one of the most consistent producers in the game.

the hotly tipped out-er label returns with a superb new single from andrea santoro aka santorini, featuring 4 tracks of deep techno and broken beat electronica, italys out-er label has made quite an impact in its first year, dropping stellar singles from the likes of analogue cops, luciano esse as well as two standout various artists eps. the label has received support from djs as diverse as craig richards, ben sims, tazz, m50 & 2562 and has received critical acclaim from the likes of dj mag, resident advisor, de:bug & raveline. out-ers musical outlook has been extremely open with an emphasis on quality techno and post dubstep electronica and its in that vein that andrea santoro takes up the mantle for his latest single the smooth ep.

anton mayers debut on rawax - simply amazing!

after some time spent entertaining from distant lands, the circus company brings it all back home with a release purposefully written to pay tribute to the breeding ground for their unique strain of house music, paris. seuil stands proud as one of her most cherished creations, a man ever evolving as an artist from the structure and function of minimalist dancefloor music through to the esoteric expression and ambience of jazz, channelling that same swinging spirit that has characterised much of the work on circus company. the release of his -chamaeleonidae- album proved to the world that there was a strange musical spirit in seuil that manifested itself in live drums and languid keys, character traits you could associate with his fellow parisians dop. the collaborations between them have been many in recent years, and once again they come together to both complement and test each others styles in a surprising vision of what pop music could sound like if crafted with soul and imagination. the beats stay tight and steady throughout the three tracks that make up -fluctuat nec mergitur-, driving a foggy brew of strings, synths and drones into a commanding groove. meanwhile the composition gently rises and falls on waves of melody, as particular harmonies swell in to carry you away to a very blue kind of euphoria. such drama and passion captures the essence of both seuil and his beloved city in one heady brew of dancefloor excellence.