It's over 25 years since Baby Ford decamped to the studio with, alternately, Mark Broom and the late Ian 'Eon' Loveday to re-examine the depths and possibilities of collaborative underground techno. The result, as we now know, was a giant step forward into a new sound, with a new label, Ifach, that would go on to define the blueprint for a more minimal sound it would take others a decade emulate. Monolense, four bittersweet, emotional, stripped bare explorations of techno has long been sought-after, commanding high prices on the secondhand market, and is finally getting a re-release. This is not just a moment in time, but a bookmark in UK techno history. More

Seminal reissue alert! Baby Ford had already been a chart-baiting acid house superstar by the time he launched the PAL SL label in 1996. He'd left behind the major label scene and moved firmly back into the underground with exploratory techno releases on Ifach and collaborations with Mark Broom. This new label marked a shift for Ford though, setting him up for the trips into minimalist club tracks that have been his bread and butter for decades now. From the machine soul trysts of "Slow Hand" to the woozy techno thrust of "Tall For His Height" and the atmospheric house wriggle of "Kez", this release is a classic through and through. Beat the sharks and nab a copy of this long out-of-print gem.
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In classic Baby Ford style the A-side opens with "Mystery Falls" a deep melodic housey workout with shuffling percussion and sublime top line strings. Meanwhile on the B-side, shaker hustlin' "Spooked" conjures up a more stripped down moody grooving chordal affair. Both tracks cut at 45rpm for maximum quality and effect on the floor.
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Baby Ford has been making electronic music since the late 1980's and is regarded by most as having been one of the key players in the UK acid house scene. Since then he has steadily released countless numbers of compositions ranging from the chart topping Oochy Koochy and Ford Trax to the blissfull underground walks in space that have recently appeared on labels such as Perlon not to mention the work he has done with fellow collaborators such as Ian 'Eon' Loveday as Minimal Man, Mark Broom and Thomas Melchior on his own highly respected Ifach, Trelik & Pal SL imprints.2009 See's the man himself open a Tin Of Worms for London's Autoreply with a classy, versatile 2 track EP that sums up the present & future on the A side + tells a story of what once was on the flip.The title track Tin Of Worms showcases crisp, tight linear drum programming - a ribcage shaking sub base & supernatural sounding synth sounds which build & drop in a question & answer format over its 8 minute cycle displaying the original principles of minimal techno alongside forward thinking sound design.For the flip side we proudly introduce Westway which is original Baby Ford material written on the eve of the millennium, recorded on Ford's now defunkt hardware set up and mastered from DAT. This track conjours images of smoky late night jazz clubs with its smooth intermittent piano chords & strings that seem to float in an out of the mix like the warm breeze on a long summer's evening - set starter, nightclub techno lesson, afterparty showpiece the choice is yours!This EP has been mastered by the legendary Kevin Metcalfe of 'The Soundmasters' who has worked as an engineer at RCA Records, CTS and Townhouse Studios. Kevin mastered Bford 9 and the entire Ifach catalogue not to mention 'Diamond Dogs' by David Bowie as well as countless projects with Lee 'Scratch' Perry & King Tubby.
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Seminal reissue alert! Baby Ford had already been a chart-baiting acid house superstar by the time he launched the PAL SL label in 1996. He'd left behind the major label scene and moved firmly back into the underground with exploratory techno releases on Ifach and collaborations with Mark Broom. This new label marked a shift for Ford though, setting him up for the trips into minimalist club tracks that have been his bread and butter for decades now. From the machine soul trysts of "Slow Hand" to the woozy techno thrust of "Tall For His Height" and the atmospheric house wriggle of "Kez", this release is a classic through and through. Beat the sharks and nab a copy of this long out-of-print gem.
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In the field of minimal house reissues, this is a big deal. Perlon main man Dimbiman doesn't appear on wax often, but when he does he makes it count. This early release on Baby Ford's seminal Pal SL was originally out in 1998, when minimal house was a vague concept at best on the most outer reaches of dance music. "Iso Grifo" itself remains a masterclass of spine-chilling space and perfectly strange sonic matter, while "Lava" pushes the notion of reduction dance music to its absolute limit. "Round" is an even more immersive affair that hides many subtle layers within its seemingly simple construct. Quite simply groundbreaking stuff, and highly sought after so don't sleep on it.
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Desert Sky debuts for London's PAL SL. Having previously stepped up for Assemble Music and Giegling he lays down two unique studies in unhurried rhythmatics, space and depth. "Be Part Of" sets the mood with layers of living, seemingly breathing atmospherics eventually channeled into a bouncing kick with shuffling percussion and echoes of distant worlds. "Lets Stay" picks up the tempo with a sharper groove featuring persistent voices building tension and mystery as the track rolls on. Long, playable cuts for adventurous DJ's - Not to be missed. " More

Following on from his 2010 "Dickens Tracks" EP for London's PAL SL, OCH drops the eagerly awaited 2nd edition to the series. As a producer his sound stands out through fusing stripped-back, jackin' drums with sharp, swinging hats always adding an injection of analog warmth through sparse, synth arrangements.A A1's "Cross Check" stays true to the labels early roots by using the bare essentials of house music to create a hypnotic, highly effective floor-mover.A On the flip, "Star Of Hope" is an interlude, set-starter or vinyl DJ tool. B2's "The Magic Flute" has a relaxed, sunny chicago feeling teasing with lush samples, driving bass and rock-solid beats. Mastered at D & M.
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Pal SL returns with another highly playable yet artist orientated 12" from L.D.Nero (aka Alex Cortex) who returns to the label after a nine year hiatus. His fantastically received Nite Out 12" for sister label Trelik showcased the more subtle depths of his production style whereas "Washback" grabs the bull buy the horns with an infectious analogue bassline, bold upfront percussion patterns alongside Perlon-esque guitars and organic synth washes. "Simple" picks up the pace with a more mathematical soundscape, driving the speakers whilst teasing with intermittent vocals. "Give Credit" completes the package tipping its hat to the early UK acid sound showcasing retro sound design, lo-fi vocals and historic drum loops against a deep synth and bass back-drop. Mastered By Lopazz. More