Review: Stepping onto the dance floor with confidence, the collaborative effort between techno veteran Sakro and Chicago's Max Jacobson, "Walking Into Mirrors EP," delivers a potent dose of driving rhythms and hypnotic soundscapes on Rawax. The title track opens the EP, establishing a deep, pulsating groove that locks you in from the start. Layers of synths unfold with a touch of mystery, building tension and anticipation throughout its near seven-minute runtime. This is a track built for late-night warehouses, expertly crafted for maximum impact on sound systems. "Planet Arium" takes a slightly different path, offering a more stripped-down, almost industrial feel. The rhythmic core remains relentless, but the focus here shifts to a hypnotic melody that snakes its way through the soundscape. It's a darker, more atmospheric journey, perfect for heads-down dancing. The EP closes with "Chapter 16 Remember To Go Home," a track that injects a touch of hopeful euphoria into the mix. Soaring synths and a more playful melody offer a sense of light at the end of the tunnel, a reminder of the joy of dance music even after a deep dive into techno's darker corners.
Review: Star_Dub follows 2021's initial Voodub release on Rawax with a tantalising follow up. Fans of dub techno labels like Basic Channel and Echocord will find much to love here. "Voodub 6" is an offbeat, understated groove. Meanwhile, "Voodub 6" is also in reflective mode as Star_Dub conjures up mysterious textures over rickety drums. There is also a more club-focused side to this artist's output: "Voodub 5" unfolds to the sound of cavernous sound scapes and deep kicks. On "Voodub 8", a similar approach is audible. While the rhythm and drums are more stripped back, its choppy groove and subtle builds will work with discerning DJs.
Review: Rwax has handed Brian Garrett AKA Javonntte his own 'Trax Series' of releases on their Motor City Edition offshoot - an honour previously only afforded to Gerald Mitchell AKA Los Hermanos. This series debut is a predictably strong offering, with Garett bouncing between rubbery, jazz-flecked deep house positivity (the starry and infectious 'Alone With You'); sub-heavy, synth sax-sporting chunkiness ('Deep...Into You', a variation on the EP's opening cut); smooth and classy deep house sensuality ('Every Body's a Star'); and intergalactic-but-underwater excellence ('Neptunelove', where raw analogue sub-bass, spacey synth sounds and tactile chords catch the ear). In other words, it's another rock-solid outing from one of deep house's most reliable producers.
Review: Rawax goes deep again with some more sumptuous finds, this time from William Caycedo, dropping the Bag of Boom EP for Rawax in 2018. Kickin it with the lowly gangster groove of "Cuban Linx" it paints a good picture for what that might actually look like in a club. "Steppin' Razor" keeps it tight like a dope Baby Ford jam, whereas "Roasted" toasts the kicks a fraction for that extra heaviness in the beat. Throwback to some spacey kick and percussion combis in "Dirty Dancing" - with hi-fi and lo-fi trips in effect, "Cella Dweller" keeps it radically raw too for some subby under-beats best heard on a boat somewhere in Berlin.
Review: Polyfan Polyphenix aka Matthias Schildger returns to Rawax, the label that released his Poly Schematic series. Navigating a path between electro, break beat and IDM, this four-track EP teems with sweet melodies and deft rhythms. "Polyvalent" resounds to warbling acid and crisp back beats, while on "Polychor", he seamlessly integrates ghostly chants with rolling drums to create a spellbindingly hypnotic piece. "Polyamorie" sees Polyfan Polyphenix focus on Detroit influences as warbling 303s and dreamy synths unravel over a wiry, pulsating groove. Meanwhile, "Polymorph" is more stripped back and involves this individualistic artist deploying a woozy bass and doubled-up claps to create a wonderfully hypnotic dance floor track.
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