New releases last four weeks: Electro House

Review: Spain's Tensegrity Records makes its debut with a release that locks together rhythm and atmosphere like well-fitted joints in a wooden lattice. Founded by Babu, the label takes its name from the concept of tensegrityistructures held in equilibrium through tension and compression. That same principle underpins these five tracks, where restraint and release shape the groove. 'Tensegrity' sets the foundation, interlocking elements with a patient, tensile flow. 'Erase una vez' nods to electro and new wave, its synth lines tinged with nostalgia, while 'Meritocracia' stretches out into lush, contemplative territory. On the flip, 'Romi' leans into shadowy, percussive minimalism, its tribal pulse threading through negative space. 'Structural Stress' closes with a rawer energy, drawn from personal upheaval yet channelled into something direct and resolute. With only 200 copies pressed, this first transmission from Tensegrity Records feels not just meticulously crafted, but necessary.

Review: The song 'Satisfaction' by Benny Benassi is not just a song, but a scandalous brain-imprinting; whether it elicits groans, shocked gasps, or recognitive gleeful smiles remains irrelevant, past the simple fact that you remember it. And we know you remember 'Satisfaction'. This is a song whose effect on the dance music scene is unavowable to some, and many a deep-head producer will not allow this fact to themselves. But now Dance On The Beat Italy enshrine its impact at last, not with a direct look back at the original but with three new dubs from Isak, Greece and Sfact. Each new mix brings out the original song's farting, taunting bassline to squeezed but snazzily clear effect - the cheeky, almost criminal minimality of the melody is not once sacrificed - with the emphasis on the "extended mix" affirming that total satisfaction isn't ever again achievable after the original experience - only in incomplete doses. Repeat, reissue, ident perceptions... Sfact's version of the rarer B-side 'No Matter What You Do' is introductory to Benassi's robo-voiced, 21C outlook on style at the time, though it adds extra womps and sidechain effects for an added up-cheeking.

Review: Amasser of over 100 million streams in 2024, 'Ora che non ho piu te' ('Now I No Longer Have You') was one of Italy's top electropop hits of 2024. Attracting a panoply of remixers for use in their own DJ sets, Mondo Groove now commit four of the choicest of said redoings to a vinyl press, enlisting such first magnitude stars as Benny Benassi and DJ Ralf. Progressing through fine layers of burbling synth and cooing sentiment, we're most taken, however, by Samuele Sartini's closer, which the roar of crowds into descending synth beneficences, causing all heaven to break loose.

Review: SQNC's debut release on Sequence Records delivers an electrifying clash of styles. Hearthug's playful energy opens the A-side with 'Beep Blump Beep (Sex Mix)', a bouncy track that effortlessly commands the dancefloor. 'Moonrush (Original Mix)' follows, taking a more acidic approach while maintaining that signature groove that's undeniably infectious. On the B-side, Cybercafe - Adam Dirk'heim's brainchild - establishes its cybernetic identity. 'Hyperdrive' is an immersive experience with deep kicks and distorted synths, creating a pulsating rhythm that draws listeners in. 'Katorza' takes things further with a retro-futuristic edge, adding a hypnotic energy that makes it perfect for late-night sets. It's a dynamic fusion of playfulness and intensity, showcasing the unique approaches of both artists while setting the tone for Sequence Records' future. This release is full of depth and dancefloor potential, marking the start of something exciting for the label.

Review: Kitchen Plug is a Parisian trio that seeks to combine "the rebellious energy of punk and the synth-driven chaos of electro." This new EP on Chat Noir does bear that out with some playful and quirky cuts packed with fresh sound designs and charming vocals over some effective drum programming. 'A New Kind Of Peace' is a hooky opener with a carefree vibe, 'L'amante (feat Vica)' brings some disco licks and 'La Nuit' gets more raw and direct. 'Confusao' is a balmy and widescreen number that encourages you to daydream and 'Captain Nikouze' shuts down with some pixelated synth madness.

Review: Who know what Ian Dury would make of this? Uabos delivers a robotic electro-techno interpretation of the Blockheads' very own 'Reasons To Be Cheerful'. On the new Loud Enough A1, 'The Future' translates Dury's quite reasonable refrain from "cheerful" to "dismal", and his admittedly imperfect list is replaced with a monotony of calculative and computational ends: to "calculate (our) own future", for example. Over-dutiful future planning is indeed perhaps the only reason at all to be dismal! The EP unfurls over two further mechanoid tracks, with 'I Need A Freak, Hear What I Say' intuitively likening bodily movement with Q-filtered modulars; both tracks are new favourites indeed.