Drumcode Sweden Vinyl & CDs

Review: In the four years since he delivered his debut album, Save My Soul, Italian musician Joseph Capriati has done a lot of developing as a producer. Whereas that aforementioned debut rarely broke away from the confines of heavy machine music, this belated follow-up takes a more widescreen approach. Of course, straight-up techno is still his bread and butter - see "Easy Come, Easy Go", "Basic Elements" and the robust "Naked" - but it's arguably the album's more downbeat offerings that really stand out. On the rare occasions that Capriati does break away from his darkroom formula, such as on the picturesque futurism of "Fratello" and dreamy electronica of "Self Portrait", the results are never less than spellbinding.

Review: While albums have never been the focus of most techno producers' careers, it's still surprising to find that Satellite is Sam Paganini's first full length. Given that veteran Italian producer released his first 12" back in 1994, it's been a long time coming. Happily, Paganini has decided to stick to what he does best, filling Satellite with the kind of throbbing, floor-friendly tackle with which he's becoming accustomed. Of course, there's plenty of variety within that, from the rave-inclined pump of the Dubfire-ish "Down" and smooth, deep house-influenced sweetness of "Silver Panorama", to the cacophonous jazz fills and thunderouds bottom end of "Lotus" and deliciously melodious "Sunflower".