Gaiser: Eye Contact [minus54]

“Yet another essential Minus emission, this time in the shape of a stunning new double-pack from Jon Gaiser. As with all the best so-called Minimal releases, this succeeds because of the depth and richness of detail. The title track is a thing of a great cavernous emptiness, framed by panning percussion and the odd appearance of something that sounds not unlike a whale in distress. The track finishes with an upsurge of sonorous, metallic resonance, making for a pretty outstanding piece of techno production. The other five tracks maintain this sort of standard, with more weird whale song cropping up on ‘Chlorine’ but this time shaped into a sort of riff, bobbing and weaving between spring-loaded beats. The sound designs here are uncommonly inventive, sounding a lot more physical than your standard issue preset-heavy compositions. ‘Sightblock’ is skewered with an odd rusty gate-like squeak, whilst ‘Withdrawal’ exhibits something approaching a melody, seemingly made out of sonar. Highly recommended.”

in boomkat.com

a1: Eye contact
b1: Chlorine
b2: Slightblotch
c1: We contents
d1: Out of sort
d2: Withdrawal

Catz N’ Dogz: Armadillo EP [leena02]

“Hot on the heels of its first release, mobilee’s new sublabel LEENA returns with another 12-inch single designed to thrill. Berlin’s Holger Zilske launched LEENA with two creepy-crawly tracks; now Catz n’ Dogz rain down upon us with animal intensity. You already know Catz n’ Dogz as 3 Channels— aka Szczecin, Poland’s Grzegorz Demiañczuk and Wojciech Tarañczuk—with releases on Trapez, Trenton, Crosstown Rebels and most recently, Claude VonStroke’s Dirtybird label. For their first release as Catz n’ Dogz, they continue their tradition of combining minimalist structures with full-bore sound design, turning out a twisted double A-side single. “Searching” wastes no time looking for its groove: it digs in right away with a bottom-heavy bounce that rolls unstoppably through thick and thin. In keeping with its title, it’s something of a two-part proposition. The first half is all about pushing forward, ducking distraction, and maintaining speed as stray noises and schizoid samples blast from every angle. The second half is all about revelation, in the form of a deep, pumping synth pattern that cuts through the darkness like a beacon drawing the faithful back to Detroit. From here on out, intrepid explorers, we are at home in the temple of house music. The search concluded, all that’s left to do is celebrate, long and loud, hands held aloft by a single string note that threads all the way back to disco’s heyday. Halle-fuckin’-lujah. “A Tribute to Kolfun” is a more cryptic affair. Beginning with a demure keyboard arpeggio draped in delay, it builds slowly, spinning in the wind like a pinwheel, twisting between minor and major keys. Dancefloors these days are full of anthemic melodies, but this one is different. It doesn’t force its emotions upon you, it just filters and amplifies your state of mind. Two and a half minutes in: a subtle bloom of color. Three minutes: a burst of movement in the shadows. Four and a half minutes: a rush of blood to the head.”

in cliquebookings.com

a1: Searching
b1: A tribute to Kulfon

Paul Brtschitsch: Hook Up [leena03]

“For its third release, mobilee´s sister label LEENA presents an artist who needs no introduction: Paul Brtschitsch. In the 12 years since releasing his first 12-inch single, Brtschitsch has established himself as a key player in virtually every corner of the techno world, releasing nine albums and over 30 singles, most notably for the labels Frisbee Tracks, Force Inc., Ongaku, Music Man and the Berghain club’s in-house imprint Ostgut Tonträger. Alongside André Galluzzi he runs the Taksi label, the platform for their collaborative productions. Brtschitsch has become particularly known for his live sets, as captured on 2004’s Live CD for Taksi; rather than giving in to laptop convenience, Brtschitsch distinguishes himself with a hardware-based set brimming with the richness and the spontaneity of live machine music. This isn’t Brtschitsch’s first appearance on the label: he co-produced Anja Schneider’s recent single “Loop de Mer”/”Belize”, which has captivated dancefloors and top-10 charts since its release in September, and the two are currently at work on Schneider’s debut album. “Hook Up” and “Rotate 1976″ find Brtschitsch picking up where “Loop de Mer” left off, crafting two deep, generous tracks that balance trim melodic loops with tightly coiled rhythms tailor-made for the peak hour. “Hook Up” jumps out of its grooves with a rare immediacy, announcing to all within earshot that this is a big, big record. Flush with shakers and a demure standup bass line, it quickly catapults itself from an easygoing groove into a white-knuckled thrill ride, thanks to steely chord flashes as sudden and unexpected as sheet lightning. The track is held aloft by ringing, echo-soaked chords that float on dub reggae’s updraft, marked with his unmistakable signature as master of a vibe that’s a little bit dreamy—and a little bit nightmarish.”

in soulseduction.com

a1: Hook up
b1: Rotate 1976

Italoboyz: The Vietnamese EP [treibstoff 2061]

“This certainly is not Italo disco but these Italoboyz from sunny minimal london know how to make a spacious oscillating click-house track. With one previous release on the new ‘einmaleins musik’ imprint these guys are keeping it very underground for now, but expect them to blow up this year with this second release on the reliable and ever prolific Treibstoff label. The italo boys have made two sides of the massive empty music that cologne has now made world re-knowned…the usual high class Treibstoff business.”

in boomkat.com

a1: Programmer
b1: No army

Rekids mixed by Radio Slave

Rekids chief Radio Slave mixes up the label’s back catalogue on a compilation for Japan’s P-Vine Records. ‘Rekids’ mixed by Radio Slave is out now.

In the last eighteen months, Rekids has become one of the UK’s most respected and consistent dance labels with a string of releases ranging from Edwards own hypnotic techno to the nu-disco of Toby Tobias and electrohouse of Audiofly. The label’s also known for its hot B-sides often calling in rated remixers such as Josh Wink, Roman Flugel and Marcel Dettmann. These days the label is edging towards its twentieth release as well as prepping a debut longplayer from London player Luke Solomon.

‘Rekids’ is a single CD compilation that includes past label big hitters from Matt O’Brien, Spencer Parker and Radio Slave. It also features two brand spanking new Radio Slave cuts, ‘K Maze’ and ‘What Happened?’, as well as a remix of Luke Solomon’s newie ‘Space Invaders’. But if you want to get your hands on these Rekids, there is a slight catch: The album is only available in Japan so far.

The entire Rekids back catalogue is available for streaming at the Rekids website.

Tracklist

1. Toby Tobias - A Close Shave (Brontosaurus Remix)
2. Audiofly & Paul Harris - Miscalate (Partial Arts Remake)
3. Radio Slave - My Bleep (Roman Flugel Remix)
4. Radio Slave - K Maze
5. Luke Solomon - Space Invaders (Andomat 3000 Remix)
6. Radio Slave - Screaming Hands (Wink Interpretation)
7. Radio Slave - Screaming Hands
8. Matt O’Brien - Serotone (Radio Slave’s Panorama Garage Remix)
9. Radio Slave - What Happened?
10. Radio Slave - Modena
11. Mr G - U Askin’? (Marcel Dettmann Remix)
12. Spencer Parker - Beautiful Noise (Tiger Timing Remix)
13. Kenny Hawkes & David Parr - Gemini (Original Mix)

‘Rekids’ mixed by Radio Slave is out now on P-Vine Records.

ANDOMAT3000 & JAN: Amygdala EP [indigo raw 001]

“Barcelona/Ibiza based new electronic label INDIGO RAW is composed of Norwegian Petter Dia aka Mirus Love ,Ibiza resident Jaime Fiorito & L.A resident Stuart Patterson(Colorola). They now proudly launch with first release and what a release! German producers Andreas Wiegand and Jan Iwanitz aka Andomat 3000 & Jan who have alreadyreleased several tracks on labels such as Cadenza, 9 Voltand more.. are now presenting one of their best records sofar; Amygdala Ep. Producing together for the past three years the Frankfurt duo has got the ability to mix the funk of house into the punch of techno. Sexy beats for girls and powerful rhythms for boys. “Salvarsan” is a percussive rhythmic and powerful minimal house tune grooving with a hypnotic ethnic voice that can be used as perfect warm uptool for any dancefloor. “Sobre Ebrietas” is more of a peaktime record for all our minimal lovers. Keeping the perfectbalance with transitions adding the warm house feeling that makes you groove!”

in timewarpon-line.com

a1: Salvarsan
b1: Sobria ebrietas

Takuya Morita: Fruits Basket [plot002]

“”Fruits Basket” is Plot rec. second release! Takuya Morita, from Tokyo, brings his exotic sounds and Japanese perfection to every detail of his production. “Fruits Basket” will make people want to listen while dancing, as the track continuously brings new elements and new scenarios! “Green Shoes” is another surprise! Reverberation and tempo flirt as Takuya’s low tone voice shouts mysterious words. On the flipside, Oliver Hacke presents the same exoticism - clean sounds are explored over panoramic stereo. A hard kick, a solid groovy bass and squeaky sounds make you wonder…”

in phonicarecords.co.uk

a1: Fruits basket (Oliver Hacke Remix)
b1: Fruits basket
b2: Green shoes

October: Three Drops / Homo Sapiens [cvan001]

“The clued up among you will have been eagerly waiting for this twelve to drop - the debut release on the Tectonic/Multiverse affiliated Caravan label. The emphasis here is on 4/4 variants that have more in common with Minimal techno than with anything you could reasonably label as dubstep, but those of you (and there are many) who have been wowed by the 2562/A Made Up Sound series of releases will really wanna drop in on Caravan from the off. This debut release comes to us from the elusive October, the working alias of Julian Smith who lists a long line of influences as impressive as it is varied on his rather opaque myspace site. “Three Drops” opens the twelve in classic hiccup style, bubbling percussion and vocal edits lifted straight from the Perlon textbook dominating proceedings for a good couple of minutes. Things get more interesting the further the track develops, by its last third heavy pads and Basic Channel style chords underpin proceedings, keeping things suitably bottom heavy and with enough swing to dominate Berlin dancefloors for the next couple of months. “Homo Sapiens” on the flip has a more Schaffel-esque signature to it, the staggered, off-key arrangement soon demented by some totally killer snares and a reverb-doused delay that turns proceedings totally upside down. Forget about any lame dubstep meets 4/4 excursions - this is really where the stylistic fusion between bass awareness and dancefloor savvy starts to get interesting, and boy is this a cracking start for this label. Killer twelve - Buy!”

in boomkat.com

a1: Three drops
a2: Homo Sapiens

Ada: Fizzmann [areal045]

“Genius sleeve to this latest twelve from Ada, a brilliantly moustached puppy crayoned to life in that inimitable Areal style. Fizzman is an archetypal Ada track, Michaela Dippel once again bringing to life a perfectly honed configuration of pristine and plastic sounding instruments for a kind of funkedup. peak-time 8-bit killer. “Barren Space” on the flip sounds incredibly analogue, a heavy layering of frayed synths riding on top of a squashed bassline and beautifully spacious hi-hats. A massive return to form for Ada - and another excellent twelve for Areal.”

in boomkat.com

a1: Fizzmann
b1: Barren space

O. Deutschmann: Siem Reap EP [vidab 04]

“This 12″ is only the fourth release on the Vidlab label, and comes from one half of Gowentgone (who snagged the label’s second ever release), namely O. Deutschmann. The title track is a hyper-glossy piece of tech house with an ear for minimalism, the crisp, steady drum patterns holding together a murmuring undulation of bass. It’s all very precise, and frankly doesn’t do a lot that’s not to like. The B-sides are a little more forthcoming, with both ‘Ninho Das Aguias’ and ‘Constanze Rick’ calling on pulsing stabs and warm keys.”

in boomkat.com

a1: Siem Reap
b1: Ninho das aguias
b2: Constanze Rick