Johannes Albert

Review: Frank Music look to main man Johannes Albert for the second volume of their Rarities series and he covers plenty of musical ground in the process. First up, Benjamin Frohlich's 'Tivoli' gets a super upbeat and summery 4/4 disco re-treatment to kick things off, before Albert steps up again to tackle Kayroy's 'Identification Unknown' with future-facing disco synths. The version of 'Fomo' he serves up is more dirty and danceable, with acid lines and twinkling arps. Last of all, Albert's remix of Leon Revol - 'Acid Is Rolling' is an undulating cut with muscular beats and crispy snares.

Review: Needs (not-for-profit) is a new label that aims to raise awareness about different issues within society with each release. Their first offering highlights the importance of mental wellbeing, with all profits being donated to mental health charity Mind, and calls upon a strong cast of deep house producers to impart the kind of Smallville-friendly sounds that discerning heads should snap up in a heartbeat. Hubie Davison's "I Know" is a melancholic affair with heart-nagging strings, while Johannes Albert injects a little spice into proceedings with a choice breakbeat and some excellent bird song on "Vigilia". DJ Swagger's "21st Century Slow Jam" is a peppy little shuffler with warm acidic bass and a kick ass swing in the beat, and then Bobby Pleasure finishes the record off with the wistful but tech-edged "Cloudspotting".