Back catalogue: Minimal House/Tech House

Review: Anthony Georges Patrice's Ausblick label has trod a fine path over the course of its first five releases and the good work continues on its sixth outing which is a new various artists affair. It is Berlin based Ephem who kicks off with 'Dizzy' and all its bumpy beast and raw perc, then Koln's Hidden Sequence follows with 'Optical Drive' that is more stripped back and powered by warming sub bass. Anthony Georges Patrice himself then completes the hat trick with 'Easy To Love' (Tunnel Vision Mix) which over ten sublime minutes brings some more airy, double doit flavoured and has already been getting plays from Mosaic boss Steve O'Sullivan.

Review: Fazack, Not Even Noticed, NairLess and Henrik Villard battle it out on the fourth Terrazzo disc, unleashing a contagious arsenal of acid and proggy tech house in the process. From the opening hip-swangs and filter-pinched laserblasts of 'Slung Low' to the more ecstatic midi-synth plucking ends of 'Zuzswang'; and last but not least, the more overt acidifications of 'Reflective Tears' and 'S11'; there's something on here for every raver.

Review: Halvtrak is hardly prolific - this EP is just his fourth solo vinyl outing in a decade - but what he does release is invariably excellent. The Finnish producer's trademark sound is rooted in the past, referencing British breakbeats, ambient techno, bleep, Motor City futurism and Chicago house, but always sounds fresh, pleasingly melodic and analogue rich. Opener 'X-Pressed' is probably the most peak-time ready of the strong bunch of tracks on show, with glassy-eyed chords and spacey melodies riding a thrusting bassline and sweaty breakbeats, though the house-tempo melodic techno strut of 'Rhythm Overture' pushes it close. Elsewhere, 'Phase Distorshun' is a more angular, deeper and lo-fi techno excursion, while 'Doubt' sounds like a cross between deep bleep minimalism and hypnotic, mid-90s Detroit techno.

Review: Mysticisms continues its global search for amazing music, hitting gold again with an EP of four previously unreleased house meets IDM with a dreamy edges by Romania's HAN aka Dan Handrabur, culled from early studio recordings between 1991-95. After getting into record store culture he began building a studio and eventually gave up studying in favour of production, relocated to Vancouver, Canada, where his debut release (as X Drone with Adham Shaikh in 1993) began to establish Handrabur's role as an integral part its electronic scene. Appearances with Harthouse, Exist Dance, Eye Q Records and many more followed, plus collaborations with the legendary Phil Western. The four tracks here haven't aged at all, with nimble beats, action-packed arrangements and dreamy atmospheres, 'Give In & Resist' coming on like Rising High-era Mixmaster Morris crossed with the playfulness of Air Liquide, and 'Phantasme' revelling in the same cross-rhythmic fun that informed The Black Dog's classics.

Review: REPRESS ALERT!: Burnski's superb Pilot label is back with more club-ready gold and this one is from Hatori Hanso. He opens up by covering the gorgeously deep and soul enriching sounds of a Pepe Bradock classic but reworks the pads into a more thumping breakbeat rhythm. 'My Chorus' is a soft acid delight with surging breaks heading off into the cosmos and 'I'm A Taker' then has a squelchy bassline to die for that dances about between snappy snares and lively kick drums. 'Kraulen' shuts down with some boogie energy, radiant chords and more crispy drum patterns for good time fun.

Review: After a decade-long break, Herbert returns with 'Part 9', a continuation of his influential Parts series that has been a cornerstone of leftfield house music since Part One debuted nearly 30 years ago. This release marks the beginning of a renewed focus on Herbert's innovative sound, with 'Part 10' scheduled for later this year and a new album expected early next year. Part 9 introduces collaborations with Momoko Gill, known for her work with artists like Tirzah and Coby Sey. The EP kicks off with 'Fallen,' where Gill's vocals meld with Herbert's minimalist, 90s-inspired production, creating a track that's both haunting and deeply rhythmic. 'Find Me' strips things down with an instrumental that showcases Herbert's skill in blending subtle grooves with engaging beats. The release closes with 'Curt,' a track that feels like a nod to Herbert's roots, fusing minimal elements with house vibes that are both nostalgic and forward-thinking.

Review: Luke Hess delivered a stunning, dub techno masterclass with this rather unexpected gem on the FXHE label back in 2017 with fellow Motor City great Omar S on production. The superb title track opens with shimmering dub chords and hypnotic rhythms that evolve slowly but powerfully. 'Renewal' offers a more direct approach by channelling the spirit of Brendon Moeller's Beat Pharmacy. On the flip, 'Sacred' strips things back with a staggered groove, airy pads and a one-note bassline circling deep into the night. Closing track 'Motor Dub' nods to Deepchord with its swirling delays and spacious, bass-heavy mix. For fans of Basic Channel and immersive, textured techno, this is irresistible.

Review: Will Hofbauer returns to Wisdom Teeth for another addition to the label's Hessle-esque vision for the fleshing out the more playful side of 'bassy techno'. Hofbauer is a firm fixture and favourite of the sort of quasi-underground UK DJ circuit that has cut the teeth of the likes of Moxie, Rhythm Section, OK Williams and Ben UFO - and these four new ones are bound to cement that favour, with bare-essentials bits like 'Subtracing The Egg' blending with mischievous audio-hijinks like 'Hiccups' for a humorous, yet no less powerful EP.

Review: Homebase's latest release 'Everlasting Love' is a joyous celebration of love that transcends time and musical boundaries. The captivating original track is a romantic minimal lullaby with feel-good melodies full of innocence that do a fine job of conveying the moments that make hearts race and memories that last forever. Whether dancing or reflecting, this track connects deeply with the soul. Then comes remixes by renowned artists Phonique, Marc Spieler, and Richard de Clark, each adding their unique touch with some perfect for dreamy after-hours and some a little more ready for the club.

Review: On his first release of any sort since dropping his debut album, 'The Serve of the Abnormal', last year, Denis Horvat makes his bow on Afterlife with an EP that drags tech-house and minimal house in dark, trippy new directions. For proof, check opener 'Cha Cha', a menacing, EBM-influenced affair that peppers a chugging, early morning groove with rising and falling lead lines, creepy counter melodies and rasping, trance style stabs. The EP's inherent sense of clandestine atmosphere comes to the fore once more on shuffling, moody vocal number 'Precious Unica', before the Copenhagen-based producer opts for a more forthright darkwave meets-peak-time-tech-house flex on 'Momentum of the Arapaima'. Closing cut 'Majstor', meanwhile, is an incredibly trippy, K-hole trance number underpinned by a wonky triple-time beat.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


Hostom is both an artistic moniker and a record label, controlled by producer and mastering engineer Varhat Veliere, acting under the aegis of their very own distribution company, based in France. Veliere has kept the Hostom arm of their craft since 2015, dropping myriad creative works centring on weirdo atmospheric house. This latest, seventh edition to the imprint hears just four new untitled ones hit the worthy shelves and all of them are unusually serene, off-guard-catching forays into unseen psychedelic worlds, whether evoked simply by the weird, wondrous and bubbly sounds heard throughout; or literally narrated by pop-psychedelic guru Terence McKenna (Track 3).

Review: Mole Music branches out for the first time to vinyl here and shows it has a great wealth of talent to call on with a various artists' EP that is presumably the start of a new series. Holy Guacamole Vol 1 kicks off with JHNS keeping it deep and lively with 'Nevermind' while Steve End and Colau hook up for 'Back Spin' and lay down some magnificent drum loops that are silky and infectious. El Funkador's 'Shame' brings some 90s New York vibes with lovely snare sounds and warm bursts of chords. On the flipside, Alben & Laje & Errat, Hot DLVRY and Craftsmanship all cook up more fresh fusions of old and new school house.

Review: A second round of equine tech-funk from Alexander Skancke, Foehn & Jerome and Henriku, none of whom present solo tracks, but rather collab as a trio on every number. Following up May 2024's debut edition of 'The Black Horse', we're met with a fleshed-out sophomore amble come gallop here. Opener 'Maximalism Minimalism' bowls us over with its muted flutes and hip-house samples, while 'Satt' moves more fay with its wind chime tinkles and festive woodwind riffs. On the B comes 'Hungry Beat' - by now, our steed is raveonous for a bite to eat and an oasis to drink from, lest it perishes from dancefloor thirst - and 'Eins' - on which said colt (a work-horse from a hobby) - is finally let to graze, and rest.

Review: Dub techno don Steve O'Sullivan's Mosaic label is back with a new dubs series and vol 1 kicks things off with a real doozy on lovely red wax. The boss himself offers up a Bluetrain special edition dub of Hidden Sequence's 'Synapse' which is all icy lines and liquid rhythms which make you think of some frozen lake on a misty morning. Sub Basics (Temple of Sound, Lion Charge Records) opens up with a fresh dub laden track with rippling chords, tons of echo and rolling drums on 'Quarters.' Both are timeless dub outings, as you would expect from this label.