This overview of the Holic Trax label celebrates an imprint still in its infancy. Started in 2012 by Tomoki Tamura, the label has a focus on the deep and more minimal side of things if this is anything to go by – but has a very high quality threshold too. In truth there isn’t a single dud on this survey, whether it’s the tougher, chunkier sound of JMF, Le Vinyl & Javi Bora or Dudley Strangeways, or the more laid back approach of Rico Casazza. His is a name to watch out for on the basis of ‘Rollin’, a very subtle piece of bass-led music that tempts you into clapping along with it at the start somehow! Nicson offers a bit more grit and attitude on ‘You, Me And All The Rest’, where samples move in and out of a deep groove, while Micha Klang & Kuroneko also show how things are done with ‘If I Were You’, which brings in a short vocal sample, a nagging piano hook and bass line to good effect. All of which makes a worthy contender for compilation of the week, especially if deep and minimal house floats your boat!
5 out of 5
Reviewed By Ben Hogwood
