Ibitsu: Foolproof betters fools bettering foolproof (Editions Mego) - CD

My cat Louis doesn't like this one bit. Severe sub-bass rumble wreaks havoc with my woofers whilst a swarm of piercing high-end musical wasps hover overhead. All for 25 minutes. It sounds pretty intense; maybe file under 'noise'. But most of the time the EQ barely registers. The usual phrases spring to mind when listening to music of this ilk: menacing, eerie, unsettling. It might seem to do very little, but you can't ignore it when it's on.

Gebr. Teichmann: Brothers in Arms (Festplatten) - 12" released 2003
Leo Cubanero: Bugfix (Festplatten) - 12" released 2003

These two 12"s were given to me by my friend Nick. Nick was responsible for introducing the Junior Boys to the world. Soon after he released their debut album, Nick died....

Never was too overly impressed with this label or the musical activities of the Tiechmann brothers. Ever since seeing a dreadful show-offy perfomance at Sonar years ago, they seemed to encapsulate 'knock 'em out, fly by night' attitude of the German house scene. Whilst there are moments in the first 12" that might have turned my head on the dancefloor (namely the opening shuffle of 'Landluft') the rest is totally forgettable.

Cubanero's effort is shitloads better. Employing spatial awareness and a less raucous approach to build ups and break downs. The shiny warm globule of love that is emitted on 'Grabb' is pleasureable and immersive.

Tigerskin: Nix-Nox EP (Floppy Funk) - 12" released 2005
Mossa: Scat Attack (Floppy Funk) - 12" released 2005

Launched in 2005 as an offshoot to the excellent Morris Audio label from Switzerland, Tigerskin had the honour of being the first release. And pretty decent it was too, with a couple of affectionate homages to house of old. 'Kiss' recalls Lil Louis' "French Kiss" whilst 'Snow Warmth' sounds like it's been held captive in a Manchester rave since 1990.

Mossa interprets a more playful and carefree approach to the 4/4 school. Charleston inspired inflections on 'Scat Attack' prove catchy and quite effective but the tedious sex house nature of 'You wanna what?' prove uninspiring. Flip it over and how can you not resist a track entitled 'Wanker's Paradise'?

Dave Aju: The Unorthodoctor EP (Circus Company) - 12" released 2003

Dave Aju aka San Franciscan Marc Barrite debuted with this release on the Paris-based Circus Company way back in 2003. It's taken me this long to actually put the bloody record on the turntable....Less rigid than the output of its teutonic neighbours, the evidence of the artist's passion for jazz is clear. Rhythms skitter rather than pound and melodic motifs sound light and improvised.