Life Recorder Natural
Instincts EP

Dennis Quin is a Dutch talent who does it all from thumping tech to deep house on labels like Defected, Madhouse Records and PIV. He now steps up to the Slabs label run by Dungen Meat duo Brawther and Tristan Da Cunha with a swinging garage two-tracker. 'Farmette' has nice sleazy bass and drum combinations with razor-sharp hi-hats and rolling bass that never quits. 'Ode To Todd' has a more skippy rhythm but still keeps you locked with a fat low end. Some vocal chops and percolating synths bring further energy to this irresistible club cut. Another fine outing from Quin.

You're hardly going to believe this, but Ebullience is yet another new label from Burnski. The tireless Brit already heads up the likes of Instinct, Pilot and Constant Sound and makes music under various guises for all of them as well as recruiting plenty of interesting and like-minded producers for their own releases. This one kicks off with Bedfordshire's Danny Snowden, who brings the vibes across four cuts of minimal, garage and tech. 'Sky Is The Limit' is a feel-good and sunny cruiser, 'It's Not Over' has 90s soul and depth and 'Stick To What You Know' comes with retro-future basslines and big pianos. 'Ri Thum' shuts down with some timeless US garage that is always going to get the 'floor going.

Sub Basics's Temple Of Sound is back with new music from Henry Greenleaf who appears under his new moniker, Greenteeth. It is a project he is clearly using to cook up smart back room minimal sounds going off this evidence: 'Loxton' is a slow motion and prowling groove but one with deep, menacing bass and nice louche percussion. 'Jungle Love' is another subversive sound with a snaking rhythm and dubby low ends, dusty hi hats and late night mischief. Last of, 'On & On & On' plays out over all of the flipside with shuffling drums that are light and airy and topped with wispy drones. It's delightfully hypnotic.

dO iT nOw Recordings makes its debut in the world of vinyl with a various artists' sampler that shows just what they are all about. First up is Pigsie's wonderful 'Silk' which sets a fine tone with lush jazz-inspired keys, dreamy pads and intricate drum work that make it well suited to those late-night sessions. Wearing Shoes then offers 'Finding Your Words' with buttery Rhodes licks and looped vocals over fat bass, and the B-side begins with Michael Oberling and his deep jazz grooves, trumpet solos and swinging drums. Massive R closes with the lovely, jazzy house of 'This Feeling' complete with snappy drums and a catchy piano hook.

Interweaved yields the first volume of a new series curated by Brawther and one that underlines its credentials as an outlet for fresh new underground talent. Three producers here - Frederik Anthony, Mahar, and ICTV - were finalists in the 2023 "Minimal" Producer Challenge judged by Cassy, Losoul and Daniel Paul. Anthony opens with 'Interiddim', a lithe broken beat here through with warm chords. Mahar's 'Relaxed' is a silky and minimal dub tech cut and Omar Fayyad's 'A Mutual Thing' offers trippy late-night charm. Finally, ICTV's 'Oracle Night' is also deep and dubby but a little more menacing.

20/20 Vision is doing a fine job of digging into its archives and reissuing genuine treasure. Next up is a Spirit Catcher classic from 2007 that has been long out of print. The Belgian pair of Jean Vanesse and Thomas Sohet really hit on a fresh sound with their blend of electro-deco and deep house and this double pack still sounds hot all these years on. From the mid-tempo and seductive boogie of 'Motown Spring' to the cosmic tech of 'Search Is Over' via the dazzling disco radiance and sleek Metro Area style vibes of 'Rollercoaster', these are sophisticated sounds that marry dancefloor clout with great sound design. Check 'Voodoo Knight' for a playful and well-worked party starter, by the way.