Joolmad
Hakuna EP

James Burnham aka Burnski aka Instinct aka a UK production powerhouse is back with another sure-to-sell-out release, this time on his new label Gravitate. It comes under a new alias of the same name and is pure dance floor heat with the opener layering up silky tech beats with some nice playful synth lines and chords adding the fun. The second cut is a disco-tinged and low-slung sound and then some garage vibes influence the drums of the B1 next to freaky vocals. Things close down with deeper sounds for late night and cosy back rooms.

Picasso has been going from strength to strength in recent years and his debut on NorthSouth represents another side to his ever evolving sound. Opening up the EP is Robbie Growler, a tried and tested dancefloor ripper, drums with an infectious groove and THAT bassline, this ones destined for those big 3am moments. Next up is Superstylin’ Glidin’ - bouncier in nature, the arpeggiating bass and melodies have this one suited perfect for both earlier or later in the night when the crowd needs a little lift. On the flip side we open up with Bounce 2 It! Those familiar with Picasso’s sound of late may feel a strong affinity with this one, dubby, housey & hazy. The EP is rounded out with Sixth Sense, on a similar tip to the track before, this is one for those deeper moments, warm, lush pads and smoky groove - close your eyes and nod away!

The thinking person’s tekkers. Release your release.

Burnski's Pilot takes flight once more with another journey into the heart of minimal and tech house, this time with Joolmad at the buttons. He is a UK artist making bold moves on the likes of Pillz and TSOL where he has showcased a contemporary take on the classic tech sound. 'Superlative' opens up here with bouncy drums and steel percussion to get things moving then 'Wobbler' gets more playful with some twisted acid lines and silky synth wisps that keep things trippy. 'Gone For' is more of a straight up driver with thudding kicks and warped sirens and 'Yurgen' has a woozy late night fluidity to it.

Originally released in 2004, Moneyshot EP marked the debut of Drugsex Recordings — a short-lived but cult New York-based vinyl label born out of the creative partnership between UK producers Rob Pearson and Simon Copleston. Having already worked together on several projects, the duo had begun carving out a distinctive sound that bridged classic tech house grit with a sleazy, after-hours sensibility. Moneyshot EP would be the first full expression of that vision — a raw, late-night three-tracker oozing groove and attitude.On the A-side, the title track ‘Money Shot’ wastes no time setting the tone. Built around Pearson and Copleston’s signature percussive swing, it’s driven by an infectious rolling bassline and punctuated with muted horn stabs and tight, clipped rhythms — perfect for peak-time dance floors with just a touch of filthiness.Flip it over, and ‘Surface Static (Fuzz Mix)’ dives deeper into the haze. A chugging, low-slung groover with a hypnotic pull, this one’s aimed squarely at the heads — late-night dancers who like their tech house laced with texture, grit, and a little mind-bending edge.Rounding off the EP is a remix under Simon’s Iteration X alias: a dubbed-out, sax-infused reimagining of ‘Surface Static’ that leans into the deeper end of the spectrum while keeping the groove tight. Soulful, spacious, and subtly psychedelic, it completes a package that’s as varied as it is cohesive.A rare find on the second-hand market, Moneyshot EP has become a prized artifact among collectors of early 2000s tech house — a slice of underground history finally getting the wider recognition it deserves and continuing to share the musical legacy that our much loved friend and collaborator Simon left behind.Vinyl Mastering by Marco Pellegrino at Analog Cut (Berlin).