A Sun Life vinyl

With his preferred tools of a 707 and a Nord Modular, Benjamin Brunn is unquestionably devoted to the out-of-the-box approach, but fortunately for him it has been many a year his fluid and exploratory sound has emanated from Hamburg, the place he calls home. As such, an album such as A Sun Life gives new light to the possible places you can go with such tried and tested sounds as these. Expect brave forays into the unknown as the album progresses past lively and colourful techno into such beatless dubby space as exhibited by "Pankhom Memories" with its pneumatic bass hits and gently building percussive harmonies, moving through distinguished key changes and dynamics that require the most wisened of touches. "ISS" is similarly bold in an entirely different way, oozing refinement as a single synth fills the dynamic range with an engrossing melodic progression. If there was any proof needed that Brunn's employment of old-skool hardware is rooted in something deeper than hype, it would be in the quality of production on the whole album. There's never a moment of distortion or fashionable scuffing, instead aiming for quite a pristine end result (albeit more attractive than a similar end pursued without the benefit of analogue gear). It's quite refreshing to hear a distinct lack of tape hiss behind the gorgeous swathes of synthesiser and machine beats, whether they intone a dancefloor message or extol an experimental virtue.

Jane Fitz, Domenic Cappello, Owain Kimber (Owain K), Taelue, Marcelo Tavares(Deep Space Podcast), Sai Aka Blend Architect, Andy Hart, Tommy Finger Jr., Teshno, Steevio