Various Artists
15 Years of Butter Side Up (2xEP)

We travel back to the early days of proper Tech House during 2003. Picture the scene, in Online Studios, Croydon, London UK and Evasive label boss teams up with his friend Simon Copleston (Iteration X).Following on from the success of Timecheck by Iteration X, Rob & Simon create this new collaboration to fuse their distinctive production sounds together as one unit under a new moniker 'Rob & Si'. They delivered their first record together with Roll One Up / Zebras which became the 9thEP in the Evasive Records story.

An ever-present name in underground house, Alex Celler is back once again on Baby Ford's cult Trelik label. This is his third and maybe best outing yet with 'Twilight Firedancer' being a long and extended dub tech workout with wobbly bass and off-balance drums topped with glowing chords that bring occasional relief to the pressure of the groove. 'Mescaline' is much more busy with abstract pops and squeaks, synth modulations and an urgent, tightly programmed minimal tech groove that you would expect of this label. It's high-class music for mind and body.

We rewind to 2004, revisiting a quietly influential moment in the Evasive Records catalogue. Following earlier collaborations with Asad Rizvi and Haris, UK producer Chris Pascoe steps out solo with Mong Juice / Trippy Breakfast— a release that captured his deep, late-night take on tech house at the time.

Reliance is one of the many labels in Burnski's orbit. Its sixth outing comes from Philip George who seems to be a newly emerging producer. His sound doesn't suggest that, though, as it's an accomplished, fulsome blend of bassline, garage and house that is full of character. 'Bad Thing' brings hefty low-end power with bounce to spare and the slightest of vocal touches to set things aflame. 'Labyrinth' is a little more roomy with space for the pads to breathe and the drums to get you locked in. 'Irresistible' has a cool retro undercurrent with bright neon colours and endless vibes in the garage-house grooves. Another useful weapon.

Spincycle are back on Coin-Op with a new 4 track EP. First up is “Minty Fresh” with tight old school chord stabs punching through a swirly vocal sample. Dinky Fellas is reminiscent of the West Coast sound of the 00’s, a proper groover with a glorious string breakdown. On the flip “Could This Be” opens with some fresh synth chords sounding like a beach-side drive in an open top car, before bringing in looped vocals, chunky bass and a kicking drum groove. Closing the EP is "Cinders", a slow-burning deep house track, featuring Phil Koerver on bass adding some subtle funk to a soulful journey.

Hidde Van Wee hails from the Netherlands and is an emerging house talent who does it all from electro to minimal, always with a future-facing outlook. After outings on PIV and Heavy House Society, he lands here on Ebullience with four stylish and fresh house sounds. 'Seduction' is sleek and synoptic with cosmic pads and space-tech energy, 'Use Me' layers heartfelt chords onto crispy and softer-edged drums with a balmy mix of bass and pads. The flip brings the bouncy tech of 'Another Day,' and 'Dig This' shuts down with some moody bass but radiant synth smears that hark back to early Gs like Danny Howells.