Leo Pol
IILE 04

Since returning to action a couple of years back following a near two-decade hiatus, 1990s deep house survivor Ewan Jansen has barely put a foot wrong. With this in mind, it's perhaps unsurprising to find that this outing on IILE is packed full of evocative, melodious and floor-friendly gems. The Australia-based producer begins in confident mood via the darting synth bass, sun-kissed chords and melodious positivity of the wonderful "Reefing 101", before exploring slightly deeper pastures on the huggable warmth of Motor City influenced bumper "The Blackhawks". On the flip you'll find the Larry Heard style lusciousness of "Twinpole" and "Swarbourne", a jazzy and percussive workout smothered in deep space chord progressions. All killer and no filler: job done.

Lisbon continues to thrive musically and Violet is one of the city's most active artists. Paraíso is her natural habitat - she contributed to the first-ever record on the label and has remained in its inner circle.'New Visions' is Violet's testament of a love for ever-evolving sonic languages while doing a notable job in encapsulating her myriad influences. From the acid-tinged, moodier palette of the One Eyed Jacks days to the jungle-influenced sounds expressed in her latest works to the very early influence of 90s portuguese dance music, this EP embraces it all - and then some.The title track seems to speak of hope and resistance, layering oneiric arpeggiated bleeps with deconstructed breaks and a heavy sub that morphs into a drone wave, washing emotions anew. Kaos V, admittedly a homage to the sound of the iconic label Kaos that pioneered a local, stripped down dance sound in Lisbon, sounds like a mysterious prophecy, equal parts ancient and futuristic.Junqueira is a left-of-centre roller that resorts to metallic synths, raw drums and even a digi cello to manifest a sense of club unity. The record closes with the slower-paced syncopated groove of High In Forest Hill: a dancehall-referencing bass sits under acid modulations, eerie vocal synths and a snare drum that just won't stand still.

Hard at work for over a decade now, EDND is one of those artists whose influence on her local scene rolls deep and yet feels subtle - she's been silently honing her craft surrounded by a healthy mix of VSTs, classic drum machines and second-hand synthesisers of all kinds in her home town of Portimão. She's also never stopped playing a part as an important cultural agitator in the south of Portugal and Lisbon alike, taking part in jam sessions or community-led parties in all sorts of DIY venues, as well as gracing established clubs and festivals with hers and her duo's Roundhouse Kick mesmerising live acts.For her first solo EP 'Rupture of Plane', EDND finds a fitting home at Paraíso, where she explores the border between inventive experimentation and dancefloor effectiveness. The opener 'Quartz Composer' layers a bouncy bassline with mystery-drenched melodies and carefully sound designed percussive elements while the sparse vocal inspires a state of loving ecstasy. The infectious rawness of 'Field Effects' follows; its visceral, playful kickdrum pacing a dizzyingly trippy synth and an enticing suggestion of the rougher side of acid. 'While Sleeping Watch' ensues, bringing an even moodier, industrial-leaning piece of top-form EBM and techno. Paraíso regular Photonz steps in for a powerful rework of Quartz Composer, infusing it with a tough, whole new broken electro groove and an addictive synth re-design.