KOLTER 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: Kolter, hailing from Cologne, Germany, delivers a fresh - we don't use the word lightly - new four-tracker, 'That Was Fresh'. Centring nominally on the infamous literal breakbeat vocal sample, this EP plays out as a contemporary take on the breakdances and funk backbeats come electronic dance bangers of yore. Beginning with an impossible-missioned eponymous A-sider, before moving into flat beat electro house of 'This Is It' and the cascading metro-synths of 'Feel', before finally concluding on the retro trance rejoinder, 'I'm Fine, Thanks!', there's really something here for everyone.

Review: London's Mindhelmet label continue on strong with the whopping 14th top-up to their vinyl-only 12"s series. This time they welcome Cologne's very own Johannes Kolter to the fore, for four originals compared to his usual penchant for edits. Glitzy sonic skylines come portrayed on the likes of 'Euro Night' and 'Eternity', with hints of Italo and electro-pop conjuring mental glimpses of high-end fashion houses and handbags, while 'Crashy' revels in a skilful use of speed garage swing reminiscent of MJ Cole's production approach; finally, closer 'Lion, Ne Kaufen' indulges a muted chord sequence for a eventidal rave vibe.

Review: Kolter has been busy, as always, and has a couple of fine outings dropping at similar times. This one on Bristol's always-wealthy Shall Not Fade is on nice orange vinyl. It opens with the feel-good synth chords of 'DX7 Together' which also has something of an early Chicago house feel to the cowbells, but plenty of future-facing tech vibes too. The pace picks up for the warm and breezy 'Please Come To My Show' (feat Leo Pol) then it's more chord-laced joy that comes to the fore on 'Up In The Sky'. Berlin fav Cynthia makes those chords have a distinctly old-school feel with her remix.

Review: The first release on Johannes Kolter's (f.k.a. DJOKO new imprint, Koltrax, is a supremely funky mixture of tech house and funkstep helmed by the tongue-in-cheek 'Please Don't Call Me', that features multitudes of goofy vocal passages and telephone samples. The Cologne native has a unique blend of goofy late-noughties electrofunk sensibility combined with an undeniable German groove, somewhat reminiscent of Ryoji Yoshitomi and the ever-influential Hideki Naganuma with a sprinkle of Fatboy Slim. Tracks like 'Bust a Beat' are versatile jams to cut up on the dancefloor to - just as impactful on your home speaker system as it would be on a festival soundstage. This initial release has set an extremely high bar for Kolter to follow.

Review: Johannes Kolter is Kolter and is also a producer who went under the name DJOKO. He's been busy this year with plenty of goodness dropping including an album and three EPs. Now comes hit sone, again on his home label Pilot. It is inventive stuff that functions well on the floor as it straddles the worlds of breaks, house and plenty more. 'Got High Again' is lively and dynamic with its squealing leads and dusty breaks, then 'Weirdo' layers up leftfield melodies and blurts of playful synth modulation. 'Prospekt' is a wild fusion of rock riffs and high-speed funky breaks and 'Duck Concert' closes with hardcore drum breaks and soulful synths next to mad scratchinG.

Review: Johannes Kolter is Kolter, an artist formerly known as DJOKO, and now a hotly tipped breaks and garage head who has already got plenty of attention. Here though he makes a grand and widescreen statement with the first release on the all-new Pilot label. It is a stylish and adventurous record with plenty of killer cuts from the downbeat hip hop opener to the deep house delights of 'Journey' via the elastic and energetic future house kicks of 'Roboflow.' Showcasing both a knack for well craft synths and expert drum programming precisions, this record plays out like a mini DJ set with all the twists and turns you need to keep you on your toes and fully engaged.

Review: The next release from Mindhelmet features another stellar cast of operators in the more playful end of the minimal tech house sphere. Kolter leads the charge with the full-fat, punchy 90s stylings of 'New Generation' before Agustin Barbei brings some sassy energy to the table on the shoulder-shaking 'Altare'. Henry Hyde shifts the focus to broken beat rhythms without losing the upfront melodies on his cut 'Covered In Purple', and Wink drops some cheeky organ chords and boxy drums aplenty on 'Cod, Chips N Curry Sauce'. If you like your 4/4 up for it and more than a little bit naughty, this record is a must-check.

Review: Cologne's Hoove label makes a welcome return here with more fresh and contemporary house offerings from a range of interesting names. The always reliable Kolter is up first with 'U Make Me Feel' - a nice and inviting, well swung and mid tempo tech cut with some astral pads. J. Feierabend & Rami's 'OK, Captain!' is just as smooth a cruise through space and Thalo Santana then offers something a little different with a more drum led sound - 'Duradura' has pristine kicks and snares with incidental melodies unfurling up high. D&J's lovely 90s throwback deep house sound 'So We Danced' might be the best of the lot.