I really don't have the time or energy to try to even cover the flood of minimal house / techno immigrants that seem to be clogging the record shelves up and down the country (well, I mean London. Ok, Soho. Actually just the shelves of Phonica and Soul Jazz).

Whilst dubstep releases seem to have come to a grinding halt (the two vertical racks at Black Market haven't moved for months), miminal seems to be the new euphemism for 'churning them out'. I don't think the music's losing it, but in the face of being overwhelmed, I always end up running the other way.

I'll quickly whizz through them a label at a time. First up Cologne's Traum Schallplatten....

Extrawelt - Doch Doch - 12"
The title track is efficient, to-the-point and therefore adheres to minimal branding guidelines. But it just isn't as good as their 'Soopertrack' business on Border Community. The B-side dispenses with the populist effects and goes for an orthographic approach to rhythm and riffs.

Dominik Eulberg - Der Buchdrucker - 12"
Yeah, more of the same propulsive reverse kick effect that he seems to use on every other record he does. But unlike some of his other works, there's no immediate melodic pay-off. The title track does take its sweet time to reach its euphoric string breakdown though.

Minilogue - The Leopard - 12"
The title track prowls through city-emitted basslines, trying to avoid the glare of street lights. If Michael Mann ever needed to lace a soundtrack with techno, he'd have to look no further. Tense, taut and loaded with sex.

Lars Wickinger - Blutrausch - 12"
Twangy strings and dense disco occupy this 12". Bit too gloopy for my liking. As if everything has been doused in syrup. But the B-side 'Gleitflug' does seem to shed off its sweet skin in the 2nd half.

Adam Kroll - Godzilla - 12"
Thematically lacing everything with samples from Japanese monster movies gives these driving, motorik sequences a distinct flavour. Still, not as good as 'Gallop' off Traum 61 or 'Yngoor' off Traum 50.

Dominik Eulberg & Gabriel Ananda - Harzer Roller - 12"
Two heavyweights come together for a surprisingly restrained affair. Initially non-plussed then realised (according to last.fm) that I'd listened to the title track far too many times. Subtle, under-the-skin techno for today's youth.

Dub Kult - Twelve - 12"
Yet to be impressed by anything from Dub Kult. This release hasn't changed anything.