Pulled from the frozen database entries of absorb.org. Blog filler? Me, with my reputation.....

Hieroglyphic Being: Machines For Lovers (Spectral) - 12" EP
Unashamedly retro in its manifesto, the press release states that Hieroglyhpic Being (aka Jamal Moss) is carrying on the torch of Chicago house. Now some might argue that the flame was extinguished a good decade ago. Certainly the jack hammer rhythms and laissez-faire approach to melody evoke memories of Ron Hardy, Farley Keith et al. I think the reason that those records still sound great is because they were inventive, innovative and have since ingrained themselves into the stuff of legend. Merely trying to accurately re-create that sound, as on this EP, just makes me want to go back and revisit those old records instead.

Various Artists: city2city part 1 (Morris Audio Citysport Edition) - 12"
Possibly the best statement from the Morris Audio offshoot: the brilliantly named Citysport Edition. Propelled urgency on the beat front makes for engaging listening at home and in the club. with a standout cut by the erstwhile Jeff Samuel, showing him to be on fine form. And a surprisingly techno offering from Noah Pred; 4/4 dynamics tussle over the complex riffage. but it's Theodore Zox who makes the most strides with his contribution; stopping off at the altars of Chicago and Detroit to bring us an overtly uplifting addition to the click house folder.

Osborne: Bout ready to jak Remixes (Spectral) - 12"
I envisage the artists on the Ghostly roster as a band of modern day vikings. targetting musically-rich American cities and pillaging their heritage for their own ends. Osborne's target seems to be Chicago for this 4-track excursion. the grinding, lo-fi jackin' house sound prised up, dusted down and forced to dance for his own sick amusement. Unfortunately the results aren't too amazing. sure, it throbs, squiggles and stomps to immediate effect, but it's all been done before.

Quenum & Lee Van Dowski: Extension (Cadenza) - 12"
Could get lost in the sea of click house releases that are currently flooding these shores, if it weren't for the fact that its so fucking good. Understated and less flashy when compared to material on the Perlon or Kompakt labels. But in its whisper, it makes the loudest statement. 'Extension' quietly and unhurriedly builds up over its allocated timeframe, dropping the killer moment midway when the previously muted drums turn into pounding and immediate rhythms. 'Oregon' on the other hand, doesn't mess around and goes straight for the jugular.

Rod Modell: Sacred Geometry (Echocord) - EP
Echocord continue to tread the same hallowed path as the likes of Basic Channel. Some of their catalogue even coming up to par with those revered Berlin releases. But if dub music was all about the space between the notes, then Rod Modell seems intent on filling it with subtle blink-and-you'll-miss-'em melodies. Everything on this typically understated release is high-calibre dub techno. But there's something quite eerie and beautiful about the way 'Psychic Attack''s background chords can still be heard long after the record has finished.

Mathew Jonson / The Mole: Moss Rocks (Arbutus) - 12"
Not a bad start, if a new label kicks off with an offering from techno wunderkind Mathew Jonson, then we must be in good company. His further explorations in deep techno result in some melodic flourishes that move uncomfortably towards trance. But enough dissonance and diffusion to keep it street. the B-side is by The Mole and is best left untouched.

Echopilot: Deeper Function (Morris Audio Citysport Edition) - EP
Ruthlessly efficient, satisfying deep house. Skittish melody dances around dominating basslines and shuddering rhythm, punctuated by occasional vocal bursts. This formula works well on the opening 'Be like me', but falls flat on 'Wurm'. The title track is a stunning marriage of phased guitar and sub-bass mantra, before the subdued ambience of 'Faith' rides us out electra glide in blue.

AM/PM: The Ends (Dreck) - 12"
As Secondo, he makes clicky disco and minimal house. But this is something more refined, thoughtful, melancholic. evoking a similar mood and palette to recent Murcof material, this fuses classical themes to a digital framework....conceptual too. All the samples are taken from the final notes of other records and it's a concept that works well. Organic fuzz, hums and drones underpin subtle and intricate loops; both rhythmic and melodic. Treated piano's stretched to snap to a timeline whilst beats emerge from behind the shadows. like music viewed through a photosonics camera: suspended to slow-motion.

Akzidenz Grotesk: The future is vintage (Mental Groove) - 12"
Slick Swiss house....try saying quickly a few times. After listening to minimal noise for like an hour, this was given a most warm welcome on the absorb system. Moving from dreamlike ambient-infused territories ('Dry clean only' ) to bleep-ridden detroit homages ('Haka'). this is superlatively palatable dance music.

Anders Ilar: Treasure Gardens (Echocord) - EP
Currently not putting a step wrong, Anders Ilar takes miminal techno to icier extremes. Without ending up sounding like some second rate Monolake chancer. If, like a lot of music dullards that I run into, you're not aware of his work then this is a pretty concise intro. Start here and work your way back. This is a good record.