Toy Tonics At Juno Download

Review: New German imprint Toy Tonics launch with panache and style, scooping up the instantly familiar Hard Ton for the hard jacking, high pitched action of the Not Again EP. According to the press release, Toy Tonics' remit is to focus on Berlin-centric artists whose music references 90s house and German electrofunk, which makes Hard Ton an obvious candidate. The title track "Not Again" is a glorious combination of fully primed drum machine funk, rich analogue bass, raved up keyboard stabs, deviating acid lines and of course Hard Ton's singularly unique holler. The ever dependable Snuff Crew are a perfect choice to remix the track, stripping down the melodic excesses and introducing their own unpredictable acid refrain and uber raved stabs to give the track a fresh look. Hard Ton's "In This Moment" throws down expansive keys and pads over rigidly framed "Set It Off" drums and it's given a looser, uplifting, almost 90s freestyle sheen by Dimitri From Paris and DJ Rocca.

Review: Fledgling Gomma offshoot Toy Tonics arrive at their third release, reaching out across the Atlantic to take in an excellent EP from Mexico City duo Moon Runner. Formed of La Royale and Juan Soto, Moon Runner specialise in a raw brand of house music that relies on thick analogue bass lines, disjointed melodies and heavily funked out rhythms, which is best demonstrated on EP opener "Cultural Track One." It bears obvious comparisons with the Central American branch of Matias Aguayo's Comeme and it's little surprise that Daniel Maloso has been called on to add his mind bending production idiosyncrasies to the track.