VARIOUS — 123.ro - Va01

Various – 123.ro - VA01 opens the 123.ro catalogue with a 12-inch minimal house statement, catalogue number 1RO001, issued in May 2022. The release gathers original cuts from ix3m and ghertz and immediately follows them with fresh reinterpretations by Herck and Minube, offering a concise yet potent glimpse of the label’s curatorial direction. Within the 123.ro roster, this record precedes a series of subsequent compilations: VA02 (1RO002, 2022), VA03 (1RO003, 2023/2024) and VA04 (1RO004, 2025), before the label’s next numbered entry appears as 1RO005 in 2026. Positioned at the start of this sequence, VA01 establishes the label’s habit of pairing original productions with veteran-led remixes, a formula that will be revisited on later releases. Side A begins with “ix3m – Missdream”, a track that carries the title’s suggestion of a fleeting, nocturnal mood, setting a restrained groove that leads directly into “ghertz – Granular Thinking”. The latter, by its name, hints at a textured, intricate approach, complementing the opening cut while maintaining the record’s overall minimal house aesthetic. On the flip side, “ix3m – Missdream (Herck remix)” re-imagines the original through the lens of Herck, whose own Stradivari EP (Untitled Musica, UNMUS002, 2022) demonstrated a knack for subtle deconstruction, and the remix adds a nuanced shift in rhythm that deepens the track’s hypnotic pull. Closing the record, “ghertz – Granular Thinking (Minube remix)” offers Minube’s take, foreshadowing the producer’s later output on Kooky Music (Flip EP, KKYV07, 2025) and SOSrec (SOS Rec 005 VA, SOSREC005, 2026). The remix extends the original’s granular concept into a darker, more driving atmosphere, rounding off the side with a subtle increase in tension. The record functions as a compact showcase of the label’s ability to bridge fresh material with seasoned reinterpretations, situating the two original pieces alongside their respective remixes in a way that encourages DJs to weave the cuts together for a cohesive mini-set. The sequencing invites a natural progression: the original pair can be mixed back-to-back for a clean, minimal groove, while the remixes provide deeper, more textured alternatives for later in a set or for a darker mood shift. For collectors, the release offers a snapshot of early 2022 minimal house output from 123.ro, capturing both the raw compositional voice of ix3m and ghertz and the seasoned perspective of Herck and Minube. The four-track format makes it an efficient addition to any vinyl-centric library, especially for those tracking the evolution of the label’s compilation series. The record arrives as a standard 12-inch vinyl, matching the format of the label’s subsequent releases and the EPs of the involved artists. Its straightforward presentation aligns with the minimal aesthetic of the music, delivering a clean, analog listening experience. Various – 123.ro - VA01, 123.ro, catalogue 1RO001, 12-inch vinyl, four tracks, minimal house, released 24 May 2022. Tracklist: A1. ix3m – Missdream A2. ghertz – Granular Thinking B1. ix3m – Missdream (Herck remix) B2. ghertz – Granular Thinking (Minube remix)