Martin Solveig
Destiny / On My Mind

His five years at the helm of IDO (Intercontinental Dance Organization) have provided Valentino Mora the outlet to explore his concept of "active meditation", through the lexicon of deep and organically-textured ambient house and techno. Now with the inking of sub-label imprint EDO (Exothermal Dance Organization) Mora's newest output finds direct, molecular inspiration from deep in the aquaverse. Taking its name from the chemical release of heat, EDO's exothermic first EP delivers four tracks of heady, transformative techno atmospheres. Charting Mora's evolution from multi-channel acoustic recordings, samples and digital-analog hybridity, Hydrosphere EP continues his production complexity yet arrives at this point via the singular expression of modular synthesis. "Erosion" opens as a cryptic transmission from submersed entities, with haunting tone tendrils emerging from within the indigo unknown. A subtle echo of reverb softens the edge of its propulsive kick drum, creating an entrancing, enticing and unsettling journey into the deep. The snaking minimalist shimmer of the title track "Hydrosphere" evokes a landscape of frozen tundra, with a backdrop of shifting, urgent techno precision. Bewitching through endless motion and slow deliberation, chimes and pings are stretched out and warped to mind-bending effect. "Doppler Shift" takes a forthright approach, leading with prominent looped bass tones, percussion and rhythmic sweeps. Rounded shapes move rapidly through the inkinesss, forming repetitions that only intensify in pace and energy. To complete the resynthesis, "Solarized" embodies the life-giving warmth of it's name, beaming irregular shafts of illumination into dark, bass-heavy, chugging terrain, forming melodic wisps of tonal condensation.

Detroit house purveyor Norm Talley has been particularly busy over the past few years, pushing a brand of deep and hypnotic grooves that keeps dancefloors happy. His 2010 track 'Cosmic Waves' is now an evergreen bit of club tackle - "a crisp drum machine bump, teasing strings and dubbed out melodics precision built for maximum immersion" we reckoned last time round and we wouldn't disagree. Remixes from Delano Smith and XDB make this reissue one to catch.

Lush and adventurous melodic electro/techno tunes in his wellknown style by Carl Finlow! Combining robotic melodies and smooth rolling drum machines in a Kraftwerk meets The Other Peoples Place meets Underground Resistance kinda way. 3 new tracks and a reissue of the lovely 'Anomaly', originally released on Device in 2003 as part of Carl's Electrilogy + album. The first artists release on the Craigie Knowes label after their sweet War Child fundraiser compilation album. Recommended!!