Ricky Montanari
H.O.M. Vol. II EP

Release info: Dana Ruh offers up the aptly titled ‘This Journey So Far’ 2x12’’ project via Yecad here, comprised of eight original cuts. As a long standing and widely respected figure in the world of underground house and techno through her releases on the likes of Slices Of Life, Ostgut Ton, Cocoon, Cave and of course her own Brouqade, Dana Ruh’s reputation stands tall as one of the finest purveyors of this sound. Amongst her releases, Dana maintains a heavy tour schedule taking her across the globe each year to many hotspots in key cities, here she marks another milestone in her career with a 2x12’’ release, entitled ‘This Journey So Far’, as a musical reflection on all that’s led to this point.Across eight tracks Dana presents her distinctive style which often straddles the lines between house and techno, opening with the airy, swinging dub aesthetic of ‘Case Of V’, while diving into deeper, murkier realms on ‘Bruv’. The B1 ‘KMA54’ then shifts focus towards choppy breaks, textural tension and hypnotic voices before B2 ‘Babel’ lays down a true dub techno feel across ten minutes of crisp drums, spiralling echoes and expansive reverberations.Kicking off the C-Side is ‘MF Now’, stripping things back to a shuffled, bumpy rhythm section, resonant synth chimes and billowing textures. ‘Grey With Some Light’ then leans into a more experimental glitch realm via twitchy oscillating percussion, unfurling atmospherics and drifting keys. ‘The Look’ leans back into House territory with raw stabs, sax lines, metallic chimes and vacillating low-end tones before ‘Song For The Lonely’ concludes the project, encapsulating the essence of deep house with ethereal pad swells, circling stab sequences, low-slung drums and cossetting subs.

"The Spanish crew Skip Audio roll out another fine EP of smart minimal sounds to end a fine year. This one has DubTape behind it and his 'Nimbus' gets things underway with icy hits and ghoulish vocals over rubbery beats. The percussive edge remains on 'Perfect Circle' which is deft drum loops and abstract synth sound in perfect harmony. 'Riverdale' then gets more twisted and brings some freaky afterparty vibes to the fore, while a Macarie remix closes down with lithe synth work and well treated vocals that pan the mix and keep you locked" Juno Review

With 3 previous albums on L.I.E.S. we welcome Tom Carruthers to Emotions Electric! Taking inspiration from the golden era of early 90s house & techno he has proven himself to be a new artist mastering that old-skool sound we all love. For fans of early Nu Groove, Transmat etc.. TIP!

The wait has been long… Hostom strikes again!

This Biscuit is built for the bold. Brimming with attitude, four trippy, hard-hitting productions. No filler here - every track a peak time head-turner.Opening the A-side, we have France’s BOOH, co-founder of BOOOoo! Records. Seamlessly blending rich EBM, techno and electro influences, Hidden Between Two Ferns is an ever-evolving weapon, pulsating with intrigue and intensity.A2 brings some straight-up electro business from Argentina’s Micro.Tron. Rhythm focused with a dark essence, Microclima Robot hits hard and commands attention.At B1, the devastatingly epic Then I Dropped It, masterfully delivered by longtime label friend JJ Fortune. Signature sounds from this hugely talented artist.Closing out this powerful piece of plastic, Vloon steps up with a growling, menacing electro weapon - raw and unrelenting.As always, this is a strictly plastic affair. No digi release, not ever.

Third release for Musek with another various artists showcasing the wide musical approach of the label. On the A side, label heads Francesco Farfa and Hamsa offer their remix of a minimal wave hidden gem by Swedish 80’s band Art Fact. On the B side, Hamsa teams up with Luca Piermattei for a deep and introspective techno cut. Roberto Manolio closes the EP with a powerful classic Acid track to keep the energy high on the dancefloor.