Clone Classic Cuts Holland

Review: Last year's excellent Drexciya retrospective, Journey Of The Deep Sea Dweller, was rightly heralded as a must-buy for anyone with even the smallest interest in the history of underground dance music. This second volume offers more of the same, conclusively proving - though few would argue otherwise - that Drexciya remain one of the most forthright, intriguing and forward-thinking acts ever to emerge from Detroit. The material here largely centres around their own peculiar take on proper electro, from the liquid synths and bouncing grooves of "Anti Vapour Waves" and "Journey Home", to the excitable, steel-hard rhythms and naked funk of "Positron Island".

Review: Since its initial release on Warp Records in 1995, the Elecktroids sole album has become one of the most sought-after electro sets around, with original vinyl copies changing hands for vast sums online. This is with good reason, of course: not only is "Elektroworld" a brilliant album, but also the (un-credited) work of the late, great Drexciya member James Stimson. The set itself is a tribute to Kraftwerk, with Stimson and his mysterious associates delivering ear-catching blends of punchy, "Computerworld" style electro beats, funky basslines, spacey sounds, ear-catching melodies and, on some of the eleven tracks, vocals. It's much more "pop" than your average Drexciya-related project - in terms of its' richness, warmth and accessibility, at least - but still weighty enough to sound suitably heavy on club soundsystems.