tomoki tamuras holic trax label has long been renowned as a canny exporter of clued in house and techno. their latest continues in this regard, as tamura again calls on a series of renowned label friends to bring the heat. with names such as mr.g, satoshi tommie and tuccillo all appearing it here alongside tamura himself, it s no surprise that this 3 x vinyl record, celebrating 5 years of the label, is filled with drama and high points throughout. this is immediately obvious from mr.gs soba shioyaki. titled in homage to the label s japanese heritage, it s a dark and dexterous workout that marks another high point in a career filled with big records. deep but tough, it s a perfect of why the tech house master is so revered in underground circles. gs komorebi- puts a tough emphasis on the drums, as well as a weaving, subtle baseline that adds a further dynamic to his work here. ht24 comes from satoshi tommiie & tuccillo, two producers whose sounds are perfectly suited to holic s output. their four-track contribution starts with do it, a spiky catchy number that s exciting from the off. -what row- sees the boys inject some added funk into the equation, before to ray ups the intensity with a raw, pulverising aesthetic that takes no prisoners. wrapping up their side of the bargain is the digital only you know, a real bumper of a track with chicago-inspired synth stabs that help bring it to higher planes. it s the left to tamura himself to close the offering via ht25. a1, the appropriately named -5ive years is a techno workout of the type that s notable for its off-kilter motifs and a stubborn, industrial feel. unforgiving and full of atmosphere, it s the sign of a producer who clearly knows his way around he mixing deck. polyphonic six displays the producer s more introspective sound thanks to a melancholic perspective that s hard not to embrace. all things told, this is a wonderfully diverse package from tamura & co. here s to the next 5!
