New releases last eight weeks: Minimal House/Tech House

Review: This is the 13th release for the Czech Republic techno label Harmony Records and sees a return of a regular contributor in Alfred Czital plus Ayu. This joint EP sees two pieces that are co-produced and then a single track by each, which gives the record a unique flow. 'The Robbery' is an upbeat breakbeat that strides the line between techno and trance. We like how these songs stay in the sweet spot and don't go overboard into a cheesiness like with 'In The End'. For a more psy-trance and techno track to keep in the groove is the refreshing. 'Body High', giving us big flashbacks of warehouse raves in 1994. We love the energy these sustain. With a psy influence throughout, fans of futuristic techno will love these darker bangers.

Review: Tal Fussman's new EP 'Focus' is a dazzling experimental techno gem. Following up releases on the likes of Survival Tactics and Innervisions, Fussman this time crops up on Drumpoet Community's catalogue for a stylistically fragmentary, but still somehow unified, five-tracker. It's hard to put our fingers on the je ne sais qoui of this EP's charm, though one thing we can nod to is its overarching glassy feel, whether evoked by the brittle front cover or refractive synthwork throughout. The arc of the EP is dub techno-ish, then IDM and breaksy, and back again, reflecting a stylistic unpretentiousness despite the producer's clearly, unusually cogent talents.

Review: More proper tacker makes it way to vinyl here courtesy of the blow label who enlist four more producers of this latest various artists EP. Kitchen Plug's 'Cheat Code' marries the best of tech, garage, dub and house into a kinetic bit of body music that oozes warm and lo-fi soul. CYMKA brings kaleidoscopic colour and squelchy acid to 'Sweet Peach' then it's all pout old school piano rave madness from Batenko on 'Inside Summer 21'. Last of all is the searing electro funk of Les Hauts with 'Passing Clouds', a blisteringly quick trip into another dimension with some rueful chord work. Sensational EP.