Artist: Charlie Powell Title: Act A Fool Label: Toolroom Cat. #: Tool1314 Format: Digital Release Date: 10.01.2025 Tracklist: Act A Fool
Charlie Powell makes her debut as producer on the notorious Toolroom with the single ‘Act A Fool’. Her main interaction with electronic music is related to deejaying and to work as music selector for Capital Dance radio. ‘Act A Fool’ is a great cut of phat house, it features a somber mood which creates a superb but dark vibe.
Artist: Dana Ruh Title: This Journey So Far Label: YECAD Cat. #: YECAD005 Format: 2 x vinyl, digital Release Date: January 2025 Tracklist: A1 – Case Of V A2 – Bruv B1 – KMA54 B2 – Babel C1 – MF Now C2 – Grey With Some Light D1 – The Look D2 – Song For The Lonely
Album number four for Dana Ruh, a respectable name in the house scene who has been able to continuously innovate her sound and make it appealing with each release, while maintaining a solid identity and a remarkable sound. In the past she touched styles such as minimal and tech house, then moving to deeper interweaving mixing house and Detroit inspired motifs. YECAD label will release soon ‘This Journey So Far’, to be available on two vinyls and digital format: 11 tracks of introspection and exploration. The overall sound is gloomy and rich of elements that contribute to making it dense and enveloping, distancing itself from mainstream contaminations.
Artist: Mihai Popoviciu Title: Puzzle Box Label: Bondage Music Cat. #: BOND12077 Format: Digital, 3 x vinyl Release Date: 11.11.2024 (vinyl), 10.01.2025 (digital) Tracklist (vinyl): A1) They All Say A2) Video B1) Frankfurt B2) Routine Check C1) Batiscaf (Vinyl Only) C2) Storm Rider (Vinyl Only) D1) Far Gone (Vinyl Only) D2) Where You Are (Vinyl Only) E1) Puzzle Box E2) Kinetic F1) By My Side F2) Skye Tracklist (digital): 1) They All Say 2) Video 3) Frankfurt 4) Routine Check 5) Puzzle Box 6) Kinetic 7) By My Side 8) Skye 9) Body Count 2 (Digital Bonus)
Bondage Music hosts the fourth Mihai Popoviciu’s album titled ‘Puzzle Box’, putting under the spotlight the artist’s trademark sound. Mihai started his path into electronic music in far 2001 with the first productions, making significant creations and label appearances step after step on labels such as Poker Flat Recordings, Highgrade Records, Dessous, Time Has Changed, just to name a few. Shifting the focus on the nowadays composition, the whole album sound is round and warm, which imprints into the listener’s mind a club situation: the party is starting and spicy productions are being played on big soundsystems. A less is more approach and a modern touch are put into this classy deep house, elements which help to arouse welcoming and mild sensations.
“With Puzzle Box, each track unlocks something deeper with every listen” – Mihai Popoviciu.
Artist: Tony Romera, Crusy, Low Steppa Title: Watch Out Label: Toolroom Cat. #: tool1313 Format: Digital Release Date: 3.01.2025 Tracklist: Watch Out
Tony Romera, Crusy and Low Steppa are three well known and established names in the tech house scene, who recently delivered on Toolroom a great collaboration titled ‘Watch Out’. Anchored by a catchy instrumental, the whole production synthesizes a dancefloor mood with a radiant energy, symbolizing one of the most interesting ways to express this contemporary style.
Artist: Roberto Pagliaccia Title: Nobody House Label: Gain Records Cat. #: GR370 Format: Digital Release Date: 03.01.2025 Tracklist: 01. Nobody House 02. Nobody House (Mark Reeve Remix) 03. Happen Illusion
Sisko Electrofanatik’s record label, Gain Records welcomes the return of Roberto Pagliaccia who drops a dark and smouldering peak time techno release, which alongside his two original tracks, also features a remix by Mark Reeve.
Roberto Pagliaccia is a Gain Records regular who with this release, features original material on the imprint for the 6th time, and he has also released exhilarating techno tracks via other respected outlets such as Future Techno Records. Roberto Pagliaccia is an Italian artist from Firenze, who produces an eclectic range of styles. His techno tracks fuse explosive percussion and intense synth lines with dark atmosphere.
On remix duty, Mark Reeve is a revered techno artist from the UK who now lives in Germany. He first burst onto the scene as a young prodigy discovered by Sven Väth, and has spent the last decade establishing himself as one of the world’s most dynamic techno producers. He has released on record labels ranging from Terminal M to Drumcode, and also runs his own imprint, SubVision. Mark Reeve’s hypnotic style focuses on stripped-back percussion and mesmerising synth lines.
The release’s title track, “Nobody House” opens proceedings with a hammering kick drum and rumbling bassline forming a foundation for its hard-hitting groove. It’s tantalising arpeggio slowly filters in as the track progresses towards the breakdown’s captivating vocals, before the drums slam back in and the track lifts to the next level, with the help of spiralling synths and tense pads.
Mark Reeve’s remix of “Nobody House” toughens the percussion, and adds an electric bassline with pulsating energy. He also extends the breakdown section to build heightened suspense before the drums hit back in to deliver a moment of maximum impact.
“Happens Illusion” is the second of the two original tracks, and it combines acid synths with soulful vocal textures with high-octane percussion. It’s a hands in the air slice of techno with uplifting energy shrouded by dark atmosphere.
Khristina Vavrzhina a.k.a. Xris Vavrzhina debuts on TH Tar Hallow with a four tracker, a release available on digital format and also on 30 limited and numbered (vinyl) lathe cuts. The artist strikes with a unique underground and dark signature, presenting a track selection that will drive the listener into a deeply engaging journey. ‘Suspicious’ and ‘Basilic’ (respectively the A1 and B2) are the standouts of the whole release: both feature a timeless and transcendent style which make them appealing and vibrant.
Artist: Somelee, Jakke Title: Peace Of Mind Label: Bar 25 Music Cat. #: BAR25-220 Format: Digital Release Date: 17.01.2025 Tracklist: 01 Somelee feat. Jakke – Peace Of Mind (Original Mix) 02 Somelee – Magnifique (Original Mix) 03 Somelee – Bizarre (Original Mix)
Bar25 Music has some nice stuff ready in the pipeline, in January the label will host a small EP made by Somelee titled ‘Peace Of Mind’. The title track, which is created in collaboration with Jakke, opens with a mellow mix between afro house and deep house, setting the sound boundaries of the whole composition. Truthfully, the hottest productions come later: ‘Magnifique’ reveals a warm vibe and a carefree feeling, a sensation aroused by some interesting ethnic vocals, while ‘Bizarre’ closes the release going deeper, introducing a nice bassline and organic house influences that play a glue role during the playback.
Tech house dj and producer Davide T debuts on Loco Dice’s Desolat, an artist who’s going to set another important career milestone, while his brand new three tracker ‘6.00 AM’ closes the label’s 2024 catalog. Taken as it whole, the release encapsulates a catchy take on contemporary and fresh sounds. with a gorgeous dancefloor design and attitude: contaminations followed by a set of nowadays rising talents.
Based in Amsterdam, PHYC is a dynamic Portuguese DJ and producer who is well versed in the evolving Dutch techno scene. Launching his career in London with sets at the iconic venue Ministry of Sound, he has since brought his high-energy sound to audiences worldwide, including Turkey, Italy, and Vietnam.
In Amsterdam, PHYC has performed at OT301, 8sixA, and others, solidifying his presence. As the founder of the UNNOTED podcast series, he spotlights emerging local and international talent while his productions have found homes on respected labels like [R]3volution, Diffuse Reality, Krad Collective, and Elberec.
The opening track “Alice’s Lift Off” dives straight into a sci-fi realm of a bubbling bassline, rising sonic pads and stunning, bleeping atmospherics.
“Percocet” has a sweeping intro that descends into rubbery bass notes and skittering percussion, while spacious synth stabs add a dramatic edge.
Third of five tracks, “Iroquois” has a more driving feel where the kick leads the way amidst tubular effects creating a raw, analogue groove with a dash of weirdness.
“Dharma” draws you in with a metallic texture drone before dropping a stuttering kick pattern that throbs with menace to begin an engaging and psychedelic groove.
Ending with “Flauzino” and an onslaught of techno purism, the relentless, hypnotic rhythm has an interesting broken beat that grows in intensity with additional sounds and abstract character.
DBFB is a dj/producer duo from Croatia, who’s set to get released again on Planet Rhythm with ’91 EP’. They propose a unique dub techno infused style, bringing some freshness and mentalism through a less is more approach to the sounds. It’s a four track project that deserves to be listened and played: a true testament to neverending and timeless techno.
