MICHAEL MAYER Vinyl & CDs

Review: Michael Mayer's fourth album, The Floor Is Lava, arrives after an eight-year wait, following his collaborative & album on !K7. Mayer's solo output has always been selective, with each release feeling like a significant moment. His previous albums, Mantasy and Touch, were similarly spaced out, but with good reason. As the head of Kompakt and Imara, a globe-trotting DJ, and a highly sought-after remixer, Mayer wears many hats, and it's no surprise his own productions are more sporadic. Yet, this also ensures quality. His name on a record sleeve signals music that's both forward-thinking and rooted in the past, deftly balancing the demands of the dancefloor and more reflective listening. The Floor Is Lava showcases Mayer's talent for threading together genres and eras while keeping a distinct sense of purpose. Whether it's designed for late-night clubs or a contemplative listen at home, Mayer's sound continues to evolve, pushing boundaries while remaining firmly anchored in his established style. As always, his knack for combining the exploratory with the functional shines through, and this latest offering is no exception.

Review: Michael Mayer's new one is a bit of a surprising one, stylistically. The Cologne-based mature techno champion and boss of the Kompakt label has always dealt in polite and pleasant, tuneful and tuneful sounds. Here he goes super deep and atmospheric with 'Brainwave Technology' a subtle tune with cosmic radio waves, sci-fi life forms and deeply rooted, rolling drums getting you in a trance. 'Gamma' is another futuristic and fresh-cut with heady pads stretching off to infinity while crunchy, scuffed up drums jack the groove. 'Alpha' is a scintillating cut of otherworldly ambience and Kraftwerk style grooves updated for 2021 and 'Device For The Young At Heart' is a pensive and downbeat soundscape. Great work.

Review: Michael Mayer's Kompakt label has managed to help shape a number of niche sounds, from ambient with its excellent annual compilations, to a mature and melodic take on techno through countless LPs and 12"s. This new remix EP sits somewhere in between. Running Back don Gerd Janson goes first with his take on 'Follow Your Line' which has zoned out and filtered vocals of a nice and languid electronic disco rhythm. Ada then brings some signature melodic beauty and whisky to a remix of 'Talking Man' that has Balearic potential and the boss himself dubs out 'Follow Your Line' to perfection.