Switchbox – When It's Hot

Three very different mixes on offer on this newie from German duo Switchbox.

In its Original form, When It's Hot is a midtempo, lolloping deep/tech groove with one of those currently trendy treated vocals ("when it's hot, you must go outside"), while a remix from Australia's Jamie Stevens takes us into more plinky-plonky wonky experimental techno pastures. The reason it's here, though, is the remix from French twosome Solead, which transforms the track into a squelching synth bass-astic nu boogie workout, then puts the vocal from Rick James's Give It To Me Baby over the top.

It's only reasonably clever, perhaps. But it is definitely is BIG.

Out: This week

About: This comes on Open Records, who can be found here or on Facebook.

Hubert Kirchner – Gamma

And from the deepest of D&B, we move on to the very deepest of techno.

Based in Amsterdam, Hubert Kirchner is a new signing to Aussie label Open Records, for whom he serves up two corkers here. Gamma itself is deep, melodic and a little bit epic, and a FINE piece of thinking man's techno… but even that's eclipsed by Pupil on the B, which goes even deeper and in doing so transcends genre definitions. Forget worrying about whether it's house, techno, minimal or whatever, it's just a thing of sparse yet constantly evolving atmospheric beauty.

Yep, it's fair to say I'm enjoying Pupil immensely. If you like it deep, you will too, I think.

Out: This week

About: You can find Open Records, who are based in Cairns, on Facebook or at their own website.

A.Balter – Vintage Lovers Unite

Off on a somewhat unusually techno-fied tip for TIWWD. What we have here are two remixes of a track from a couple of years ago, and the clue's in the name… this is one for the old ravers. Or alternatively, for the many youngsters who are now digging into the house, techno and rave sounds of yesteryear for inspiration.

I must have heard the original versions of Vintage Lovers first time around but I'll put hand on heart and say I don't honesty recall, so how this compares I'm not in a position to tell you. Of the two rubs presented today, though, Erphun's mix is dark and uncompromising techno with a Belgian/R&S kinda feel, so unsurprisingly its the more melodic and groovy take from Child that's earning it a mention here.

Not a million miles from the kind of epic progressive house/techno workouts turned out by the likes of Leftfield or Spooky in the mid-90s, it's a bit different for TIWWD, sure… but, y'know, it's actually rather enjoyable.

Out: This week

About: This comes atcha on a label that haven't featured on here before, Australia's Open Records. Based in Cairns, Australia, they describe their remit as "deep, intelligent dancefloor-oriented electronic music"… click the link for more info and all their social media pages.