Review: This German label has a reputation for putting out tribal house-based party music, and as contributions from Oliver Klein and Jay Lumen to this compilation show, it is not without some merit. That said, the most interesting moments here occur when the artists go off script. Thomas Schumacher and Martin Eyerer's "Jigo" is a tripped out, spluttering acid house affair, its filtered vocal and noisy riffs creating an oddly engaging tone, while Namito's "Flaming Youth" sees shimmering trance elements combined with heavy tribal rhythms. However, the standout cut comes from the label boss and Rainer Weichold's "No Sleep till Kling Klong" is a wiry, jacking techno workout, like Kling Klong's tribute to classic Dan Bell and Cajmere.
Review: Belgium's Hermanez is back on Lapsus (out of Florence Italy) with some warm and emotive tech house that packs a punch at the same time. The funky and hypnotic "Most Likely" rolls along nicely supported by tribal drums and a killer drop towards the end! "Pocket Groove" gets even tougher on you with its dark and trippy sound design drowned in the right amount of reverb on this finely tuned groove. Finally "9 O'clock" features Davy Dee on this deep and atmospheric tribal house cut with booming toms and throbbing bass which is perfect to get things weird at the afterhours.
Review: Hot on the heels of the recent Butch album, Plastic Confidence suggests that more of the Great Stuff stable has rediscovered 'real' house. Admittedly, there are remnants of the minimal wave on the stripped back, slinky title track, but these references disappear on Hugo's remake. Deploying linear tribal drums and hissing percussion, the centrepiece of the remix is an insistent, infectious disco filter. The same approach applies on "Grasso"; over a rolling groove, Hermanez adds in an insistent vocal sample, but the arrangement reaches a crescendo with a building disco riff. It might be hard to appreciate in the depths of winter, but come the summer, this could well be the dominant soundtrack.
