Freude Am Tanzen Germany Vinyl & CDs

Review: Following the release of his 2009 debut album, Studio 10, Mathias Kaden seemed to disappear from view, re-emerging at the tail end of 2013 with a trickle of new 12" singles. Here he finally delivers his sophomore set, Energetic, which seems largely focused on inserting some soul and melodic warmth into the often dry and metronomic world of European tech-house. For the most part, this achieved by the use of sparkling synthesizers and quirky vocals, both of which add a level of looseness to Kaden's otherwise tight grooves. Highlights are pleasingly plentiful, from the skittering late night pump of "Korokana", to the twisted electronics and mangled textures of "Tangerine".