IORI 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: Infamous Tbilisi club Bassiani is one of the hallmarks of the emergent Georgian party scene, and its in-house label is adding to the respected reputation of the place with a strong cast of characters occupying each release. There's a distinct Japanese bent to the third volume, leading in with Wata Igarashi's verdant synth-fest "Stratosphere", a truly cosmic slice of modern techno. Takaaki Itoh takes things in a darker direction with the super-linear "Monobehaviour", while Iori breaks things up with the atmospheric offbeat kick of "Mist". That leaves it to scene leader DJ Nobu to complete the circle with a tripped out set of twinkling notes and off-kilter grooves like only he can do.

Review: The latest installment of the occasional Phonica White series comes from a familiar favourite, Berlin-based Japanese producer Iori. This is his third contribution to the series, all told, and is every bit as impressive as its' predecessors. He begins with "Monsoon", an atmospheric and percussive affair that blends the big room bounce of tech-house with the quietly evocative chords and tear-jerking melodies of gentler deep house. It feels rather tribal, all told, though arguably in outlook rather than the way it sounds. Flipside "Rainfall" is similarly tech-tinged in design, but a whole lot dreamier and deeper. It's melodies, in particular, are luscious, lending the whole thing a blissful, eyes-closed vibe.