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Review: "Numerous elements from the Soviet era expressed through meticulously selected pieces of music." That is the sentence that describes the Berg Audio imprint, and it's pretty much exactly what is communicated through the medium of sound. House and techno are the two main ingredients here, but there is so much depth and diversity to everything that this label touches; this time we're treated with a collaborative affair, a VA LP by the apt name of Directions. Inside, you'll find your usual shades of house form an unusual bunch of artists, making this a novelty and something to boast about in the ol' DJ booth. Even US tech legends Delano Smith and Steve O'Sullivan make an appearance, acting as a guiding light for the rest of the newbies trying to make their name in the more minimalistic end of the dance spectrum.

Review: You can never have too much Point G right? Self-professed 'long-time galaxy traveller' and all round French production legend Gregory Darsa is never shy when it comes to putting out music, be it fresh cuts, alternate takes on classic or unreleased gems from his personal archive. This Classics & Unreleased Jams double pack is the latest in a long line of Point G releases in multiple platter format and will have the selectors out there salivating. Issued on Cabanne & Eric V's Minibar label, the seven cuts featured canvas punchy house workouts to deeper tracks and more minimally-minded groovers. Do check Cabanne's own edit of "Mister Dallas" in particular!

Review: Dial regular Efdemin returns with a third album of a respected career, with the autumnal theme of Decay inspired by the German producer's three-month artist residency in Kyoto, Japan. Sollmann immersed himself in the local culture while in Kyoto, attending ceremonies with monks at temples and visiting local instrument makers. This results in a ten track set that canvasses the sort of poignant, introverted house music that's characterised much of Phillip Sollmann's work as Efdemin to date. There are however a few stylistic surprises along the way - the stripped back, jacking "Transducer" or the fusion of jazzy licks and noisy bursts of percussion that makes up the title track - but overall you'd be hard pushed to think of a better label to house Decay than Dial.

Review: Poker Flat revisit Reasons To Be Dismal?, the Nu Groove classic from Foremost Poets, with some high profile remixers in tow. Released back in 1989, the track was a superbly lusty example of how disco had eventually mutated into something wholly darker and was dominated by that iconic socio-conscious spoken-word delivery of Johnny Dangerous. Dixon leads the way with a self styled Update on the track that fits in alongside his widely recognised canon of pared down, driving house music without losing any of the original's charms. The Extended Sight version from the original has been licensed too and offers some raw, detuned contrast to the polished efforts from Motorcitysoul and Steve Bug that occupy the flip.

Review: French artist Leo Pol is making some serious moves this year already. On top of a great 12" he now offers up this double 12", Be Mine, on Iile. It finds the Parisian step outside his usual milieu - which is loosely deep house - and explores some lush percussive and melodic material right from the off. There is also plenty of futuristic electronic rhythm in cuts like 'Track " (feat Bambounou) and icy electro that has you gazing into the cosmos on 'An Other One For Me'. The title track meanwhile is a hyper-speed jungle workout with smart vocal deployment that really tugs at the heart.

Review: Emanuel Pippin Presents Juju Disco on Delroy Edwards' LA Club Resource. The Chicago house legend known for his work on the seminal Trax Records brings you four unreleased tracks on this one, such as the deep down and dirty A1 cut, and the thumping percolator jack of A2 nailing that real mid-'90s Windy City vibe. Over on the flip, you've got some trippy Relief Records sounding madness in the same ballpark as contemporaries like DJ Rush or Green Velvet, and closing out with a classic first wave house groove that's unmistakably Chi-town.

Review: It's rare these days that you have a spare 90 minutes to focus on an album, but Techno Primitivism is one of those albums that makes you want to change your lifestyle accordingly. Everything about this new album from Juju & Jordash breathes class - released on Dekmantel with three slabs of 180 gram vinyl spread across a gatefold sleeve complemented by killer design from Orpheu De Jong, and brandishing a blend of music that's fully representative of the Amsterdam based duo's styles and influences. At 15 tracks deep, the full beauty of Techno Primitivism will undoubtedly reveal itself slowly, the cheeky misnomer of the title hinting at Gal & Jordan's often revealed humour. Opening in grand style with the triple suite of "Stoplight Loosejaw", "Diatoms" and "Backwash", the duo set a hazy, atmospheric tone that remains throughout, with brief machine funk interludes such as "Slow Boat To Haifa" and "Rogue Wave" in between longer improvised explorations. Favourites on this album change with every listen, but you can't deny the potency of tracks such as "Powwow" or the Magic Mountain High referencing "Track David Would Play" or the superbly titled "Dr Strangepork". One of the albums of this year, without doubt!

Review: Having initiated a return to action in fine style with Iron Curtis' debut album Soft Wide Waist Band, the Mirau label comes correct with this split release from Erobique and Alexander Polzin. "Warmer Bruder" signals a welcome return to the Hamburg imprint for Erobique, with the local lad having released on Mirau back in its early days and this new production is wonderful, all rich instrumental touches and glorious melodic flourishes that burst with a certain incandescence - a fine example of European deep house. To begin with, Polzin's "Fruchtchen" seems to exist in a darker realm, though it's gradually drawn towards the light in undeniably epic fashion.

Review: An essential part of the German Techno scene for more than fifteen years now, Johannes Heil is now in better shape than ever. With his eighth studio album "Loving", Heil draws both a modern and traditional balance of his life from and for the music, and thus sets one of the undisputed musical highlights this year. vWith this exclusive remix package, Cocoon Recordings is even topping that one: the Mainz-born Bülent Gürler aka Butch is known as one of the most versatile German Tech House producers, at least since his club smasher "No Worries". In his version of "The Ace", the perfect open air hymn for the modern House generation is emerging from a flute-like summer harmony. An essential contributor to the British Techno scene since the beginning of the nineties is Mark Broom. His Soul Mix of "Loving" combines the melancholy of Detroit techno with Ibiza House dubs and powerful handclaps, forming an intensive homage to the sensuality of the dance floor. Last not least, Gregor Tresher is celebrating the return of the melody with his remix of "Twentythree", after having released some stricter records for Break New Soil and Drumcode. The digital edition of the Loving remixes is completed by three more revisions: Amsterdam-based Bart Skils massively stresses the bass membrane with his pumping version of "Loving", while Mark Broom is pushing further into the depths of the Balearic Dub surge with his second Soul Mix. With "Seeded", the Cocoon Club House duo C-Rock/Matthias Vogt aka Motorcitysoul is finally exploring the occasionally menacing deepness of the House area with vibrating percussions and disco strings, just in the manner of their releases for Simple Records and Ibadan. After all, love wants to be shared.

Review: Get Physical drop a four track sample of what to expect from the Heidi curated Jackathon compilation of original jack music, which was borne out of her series of international club nights. The bar has been set high by the contributions here with Soul Clap, Deetron, Matias Kaden, and Lauhaus & Kabale Und Liebe. Boston duo Soul Clap commence proceedings with the decidedly sleazy bottom heavy bumps of "Incoming Bitch (Get Low)" whilst Deetron adopts a tighter approach to jacking house on "The Juggler". On the flip Vakant regular Matias Kaden drops the relentless, twisted pressure of "Jackathon" which features a winning vocal turn from Gjaezon. It's an all Dutch affair to end proceedings as Lauhaus teams up with Kabale Und Liebe to serve up "Who Called Kenny?" a clipper minimal jacker that features the whispered vocals of WKD.

Review: Following a trio of quietly impressive multi-artist EPs, London's Oblique imprint has decided to launch a new series, Jetty Sessions, as a vehicle for more mysterious EPs from artists who wish to remain nameless. The shadowy producer (or producers) behind this series debut certainly no what they're doing, opening with the driving, acid-flecked and low-slung dirtiness of 'Scubafunk' before joining the dots between spacey tech-house purism, acid and mid-90s progressive house on 'Night Demons'. 'Sound Picture' is the kind of metallic-sounding and pleasingly trippy excursion that helped Swag rise to prominence in the 90s, while 'Chewing Gum' is pleasingly intergalactic, saucer-eyed and hypnotic in tone.

Review: Ben Hixon has steadily released house gem after house gem on his Dolfin imprint. The label in just a little over eight years has created quite a robust discography with no signs of letting up. The newest 'Work', almost goes without saying that it reminds of us classic Chi-Town tracks from the heyday. But as the track moves on, you quickly forget the comparison as those beautiful keys play and the atmosphere sets in. Both 'Work' and 'Movedat' feature vocals from Rami who is co-credited on this wax. 'Movedat' is a bit more a minimal house banger but still is full of soul. Both tracks are strong winners and are sure to get a big response from patrons of the dancefloor. This 7" is limited to only 200 copies so grab one quickly!

Review: The SND reissue programme reaches its midway point with the focus on Newtables, the 12" that Mark Fell and Mat Steel released a year after their debut Tplay. Once again, this new edition comes in fully remastered form (cheers to Mr Rashad Becker) and is expanded to twice its original length. Across the 12 tracks Fell and Steel continue to strip house and UK garage to its barest form and it's intriguing to hear some of the studio recordings that didn't originally feature. So seasoned SND enthusiasts will probably head for the second plate where these six tracks are spread with the C2 "Untitled" a particularly luxuriant delight.

Review: Originally released back in 1999, SND's self-released Travelog LP was originally crammed onto one vinyl disc and has sat languishing in the domain of pricey second records ever since. This reissue spreads the music out over two records lovingly cut in blue and purple, with additional bonus tracks making for a more momentous release for some truly astounding minimal electronics. The delicacy of production on this early SND material is staggering, staying utterly captivating with the barest of elements and oozing soul with barely-there melodies in utterly mechanical configurations. With Mark Fell and his Sensate Focus project in high demand these days, it's fascinating to look back to the genesis of that distinctive sound when it was in its infancy.

Review: Enigmatic duo Alka Rex have slowly been cultivating their form of minimal electronics for almost ten years now, appearing on label like Wolf & Lamb, Brooklyn's Thema and London's Multi Vitamins. This Orleans Bardel EP, with fascinating artwork, is by far their best work to date and their sound isn't too far off the antics of what Ricardo Villalobos and Max Loderbauer can get up to. The burps of bass and reverberating clunks of "Bosca Brew" will make you feel as though you're in the closed closet of Chris Cunningham's "Rubber Johnny" video (the quieter periods), while "Koldun Ne Spit" is linear in comparison, but equally haunting. Twisted carnival themes make their way into the title-track which is given a clubber, more functional rework by Melchior Productions, while Kamran Sadeghi remix is as minimal as it gets!

Review: Dutch dub house engineer Roger Gerressen released his superb Monoaware EP four years ago, and as part of Sushitech's 15 year celebrations it receives a much needed repress. The Irenic chief's distinct brand of hazy and hypnotic house of the understated kind is prevalent throughout the EP's six sublime tracks, all dialed into generous amounts of delay and long trails of reverb that add to its overall foggy aesthetic. The second track is definitely the more upbeat option to move the dancefloor with its funky and polyrhythmic groove, while the after hours option is undoubtedly the fourth track - a back room dub which gets deep enough to keep the heads down.

Review: For their 86th release the mighty, mighty Perlon bring on board Margaret Dygas with a self titled not EP not album. Working her way through sparse and cosmic minimal spirals as we expect, "Missing You Less" shows her delicate edge with light piano keys and muffled strings giving a feminine touch to her otherwise driving style. "Soon" reverts to Dygas as we know her, with hitting drum patterns and reverbed tech goodness from the start. "Country Way Of Life" on the second disk is meandering and spooky, with indecipherable vocals popping up intermittently as a heavy kick and syncopated drums rise from below. "Ocbinh's Groove" meanwhile is dark and moody, as pads swoop and samples howl. Diverse, quality, pure minimal techno... Perlon live on.

Review: Ame have always been an inventive pair, but even by their standards this is a departure. Along with Amampondo, they've laid down a delicious chunk of ethno-house that just bristles with summery energy. There are infectious lead and backing vocals from the Cape Town based troupe, looped-up acoustic guitars, heavy electronic melodies and, naturally, some deliciously epic builds based around deep organ chords. While the first version is closer in style to much of their previous output, it's the second version that really hits the spot - if only for the sweetness of the production and the summery strut of the composition. It won't be everyone's cup of tea, but we think it's spiffing.

Review: The more discerning and concentrated electro head will be tuned into the work of Bot1500. It is an alias of Shinichi Kobayashi, a producer who since 2018 has landed on the likes of Analogical Force and Furthur Electronix with a unique mix of futurist sounds. This one is another brilliant EP featuring cuts like 'Chartreuse 8.' It's a propulsive rhythm built from silky breaks and overlaid with the sort of heart-aching and thought-provoking chords that will send you inward on the dance floor. The five other cuts are just as much a perfect mix of the physical and the cerebral.

Review: A Little Part Of Shade is the second album from Swiss producer Ripperton, arriving some three years on from his decidedly luscious debut long player Niwa. As was the case with that debut, A Little Part Of Shade sees release via Joris Voorn and Edwin Oosterwal's Green label, and this collaboration heavy album arrives with Ripperton having made moves to establish his own outlet via the fledgling Tamed Musiq label. This thirteen track set is a mature one from Ripperton, demonstrating all new levels of mood setting in an effort to deliver that most elusive of goals; a cohesive electronic artist album. Ripperton's talent for fluidly written, playful melodies is highlighted and the choice of vocalists really makes matters work - see Hemlock Smith's breezy turn on standout track "Tape Hiss".

Review: The Milano Undiscovered series has been expertly overseen by Fred Ventura and now clocks up a third installment. It again delves into Milan's dynamic techno and house scene between the years of 1988 and 1992. Unveiling a trove of unreleased demos, it highlights the city's burgeoning underground culture during this period. Influenced by the pioneering sounds of Chicago, Detroit, London, and Sheffield, Milanese producers embarked on a creative journey, crafting their own distinct interpretations of electronic dance music. These demos offer a glimpse into the innovative spirit and diverse sonic landscape that defined Milan's contribution to the global dance music scene during this transformative era.

Review: After a two-year absence, Aline Brooklyn - New York's surprise home of Romanian style minimal techno adventures - has returned with a bang in 2019. They've launched the "Original Series", with March's debut release from Mihai Pol being followed by this eight-track album from Nico Laa and Juan Cristiani. The pair begins in confident mood via the melodious tech-house funk of "Drastic", before wrapping chiming lead lines and spacey electronics around a low-slung groove of "Mars". More warm, deep house style motifs can be heard on "Good Morning Brooklyn" and the bumpin' goodness of "New York", while "Loop People" is a hazy, minimalist jack-track. Elsewhere, "La Rose" is woozy, dreamy and quietly picturesque (despite locked-in tech-house beats) and "Senor Lopez" is snappy and funky in the best possible way.

Review: Vancouver-based Segue is Jordan Sauer, who has become a fixture on the Vancouver Island Silent Season after several releases including 2013's brilliant "Pacifica" LP. His new opus "Over The Mountains" is another deep and dubby ambient excursion of dreamy and hypnotic glory, no doubt influenced by the serene surroundings of the Alberta countryside and his former home British Columbia. The entire album is beautifully consistent and cohesive, allowing you drift away blissfully over its full duration, but if we had to pick some great tracks at random, our suggestions would be the echo-laden glacial dub of "Celestial", "Deep Valley" where Sauer proves his deft hand at sublime and ethereal electronica, or the deep and dusty armchair techno of "Alpenglow".

Review: The success story of the two guys from Karlsruhe Kristian Beyer and Frank Wiedemann (aka Ame) is showing no signs of waning. Having led the annual charts of Groove and De:Bug magazines, provided Pete Tong with a single of the month and even making a DJ mix for said DJ's BBC show, the Essential Selection. Their hit "Rej" has been christened by Louie Vega and Danny Krivit (Masters At Work) as the "Plastic Dreams" of the new millennium. So here is their first official mix-compilation! Their DJ sets are currently being celebrated everywhere from Miami to Paris and Helsinki, so it was only a matter of time until they immortalized one of their kicking mixes for home use on an official mix album. Sonar Kollektiv label bosses Jazzanova delivered the first in this "...Mixing" series and in so doing earned worldwide thanks for making one of their eclectic DJ sets available in digital format for the first time. The duo from Karlsruhe selection is no less varied as they switch from old to new, through house, disco, minimal and techno. Synth pioneer Laurie Spiegel, who already presented a prototype of the Detroit techno sound in the 70s, sets things off with her "Appalachian Grove 1" which was written in Fortran (an old computer programme, long before Basic or C). The unusual track "24 Hours From Culture II" from 80s Dutch wave band New Musik is to this day a favourite of DJs like Daniele Baldelli and DJ Harvey. He later also used the classic "Woman Of The World" by Swiss group Formation Double on his legendary "Sarkastic Disco" mix. "Stand Up" from Nexus could easily be mistaken for a Metro Area number. Besides Ame another name that is often being mentioned with regards to the deephouse renaissance is Henrik Schwarz. His most striking remix to date is also his most timeless. The way he accentuates the voice of Robert Owens with opulent strings on Coldcut's "Walk A Mile" means it'll still give you goose bumps in ten years. Ben Westbeech is the star of Gilles Petersons new label Brownswood Records. His track "So Good Today" unites the typical Yoruba style with analogue Chicago sounds. God of remixers, Carl Craig's version of Jonny L's This "Time" was previously only available as a promo so for some the search for this jazz, house and techno hybrid ends with this release. The latest addition to the Innervisions label which Âme started with Dixon is Gilb'R & I:Cube (aka Chateau Flight). Their wide tune "Baroque" makes the perfect bridge to Luciano's "Stone Age" which has been a central part of the Ame DJ set for over two years so could not have been left out of this collection. "Flashback 86" sounds, as the title suggest, as though it might have been made in the late 80s, however actually it is produced by Jonathan Burnip who can otherwise be found behind the counter of London's Soul Jazz record store. Derrick May's Funtopia featuring Jimi Polo remix was also previously only available as a promo. It was given to Ame by Dominic Capello, manager of Glasgow's Sub Club. Of course Ame's own breakthrough track, "Nia", must be celebrated once more before it gets slightly quieter, although no less exciting, with Jump Cutz "Deep Introspection #5". This track is another true classic and favourite of Needs Crew that has long been almost impossible to get. And as true Manuel Gottsching fans Ame of course had to include an Ashra number in the mix. Their track "Sunrain" has been a big influence on the club music of today. As a whole, Ame's "...Mixing" is not just a bridge between old and new, club and home stereo. It also serves as an interesting connection between various musical genres which are currently dominating the good metropolitan clubs.

Review: Mr Dominik Eulberg is maybe one of the oddest characters in techno and house nowadays - but also one of the nicest and most down-to-earth producers. He combines sound and art research with solid and straight productions, which attracts fans from all fields such as techno, house and even trance. "Bionik" is a huge album, out on Cocoon, that should make every dance music fan smile.

Review: James T. Cotton (known also as JTC, Dabrye and his real name, Tadd Mullinix) has been an integral part of the Spectral family since its origins, and after a string of successful releases on the Creme, Nation and UDEK labels, we
are proud to unveil his new album, the fittingly titled, 'Like No One'. Cotton returns with his confident new album, taking his dark techno paranoia into new realms and this time he's brought a posse. 2004's 'The Dancing Box LP' was a
powerful look into the mind of this creative producer, tracks like 'Press Your Body' and 'The Drain' suggested a dystopian landscape, marrying Belgian new beat and acid into a classic melange. As part of a new wave of
producers exploring the "Jakbeat" sound, Cotton provides a re-understanding of classic house and techno rhythms, which steers clear of retro cheekiness. Cotton has paired up with scene luminary Traxx (as Saturn V) for the
bouncing 'Come Into My Life' and with his 2AM/FM counterpart, D'Marc Cantu, for the ecstatic 'Sensational Rhythm'. Cotton's solo ventures like 'The Boxx' and 'Got To Let You Know' are proof that 'Like No One' plays as a
document of the dance music moment, where genre falls away, and true energy and prowess thrives.

Review: Troy Pierce continues his mission up river into the heart of darkness, with arguably his most accomplished collection of tracks to date. Made up of music composed almost exclusively on the road, the "Gone Astray EP" is driven by choices and ideas that would not normally have surfaced in a typical studio environment. It's an innovative, ambitious project, not least because it tackles so many abstract themes in one sitting, often taking more than one mix to fully explore the hidden pathways that disappear off into this dense catacomb of sound. Minus present this deluxe package.

Review: Known most for his TC Studio work alongside Matei Tulbure, Traian Chereches has latterly taken to working in a solo capacity and demonstrated an equal degree of aplomb for unique rhythms and joyful sensations. Fans of the Romanian's work will delight in this double pack on his and Tulbure's prospering TC Studio label with the six tracks on Lobster Club really showing Chereches' full production range. Proceedings begin on an abstract note with "Wald 1975" memorable for some bold vocal sampling, though tracks such as the tumbling "A New Beat" and "Orchestra Rehearsal" will provide more than enough dancefloor satisfaction.

Review: Much of the press leading up to the release of Barclay Crenshaw's third album under the Claude von Stroke moniker (the last, Bird Brain, dropped in 2009) has concentrated on his rediscovery of his little-known drum & bass roots, and his flirtation with Juke-influenced rhythms. While you can certainly here these influences - check the pared-down synth melodies and skittering 808 rhythms of "The Bridge" and the jungle revival of "Oakland Rope" - Urban Animal is about a lot more than that. Its' influences are many and varied - deep house, UK garage, crunk, P-funk, even organ-heavy funk (see "The Clapping Track") - giving it a rounded, "proper dance album" feel. It's also arguably Crenshaw's strongest set to date.

Review: REPRESS: The British Columbia based label Silent Season properly issue Pacifica, the fourth studio LP from compatriot Jordan Sauer aka Segue - an album that seems destined to become this year's Voices From The Lake. Released originally in a highly limited CDr pressing earlier this year, Pacifica now arrives in a deluxe 2LP format that really does the vivid cover art justice! Adopting a pace that's immediately soothing, Pacifica's nine tracks are made all the more welcoming by the rich sense of melody that floats throughout, ensuring that the album has a sense of consistency that rewards the senses many times over.

Review: Celebrating his label's 20th release, Coldfish dreams up his debut album. He personally describes it as "a raw brotherhood of naive imaginations and experiments around the idea of techno" and he's not wrong: super deep and explorative, he subverts all preconceived perceptions of the genre and reconstitutes them at his own will. "Apollonia" and "Aino Lane", for example, come with a bitter aftertaste of Icicle style mechanical dubstep while the wonky, dubbed out shuffle of "The Ambassador" sounds like Tyrant on a moody day and the offbeat chants and obtuse timbre or "Noatak" aren't dissimilar to Villalobos circa "Fizheurer Zieheuer". Whether you use it as a collection of stand-alone tracks or indulge in it as a solid piece of work, this is an accomplished debut.

Review: TC Studio team up with Onur Ozer for a special 2x180 gram gatefold vinyl release. It's an EP for the DJ and listener that enjoy the finer fidelities of disjointed dance music. A lost piano that loops softly in the distance gives the smoky groove of "Untouched" a melancholic timbre and ill-bent sway, while the horror-thematic keys of "Totem" rise out of a ghostly mist to form a 1930s New York jazz cajole. The pitter-patter of "Lapona" features could-be street soundscapes and half spoken vocal snippets, while "Hotel Pelican" sounds like something that could soundtrack a quirky Jean-Pierre Jeune film.

Review: Instinct has been one of the key protagonists in garage's ongoing renaissance. Not only have his tunes given a fresh take on the much loved old sound, but there have been plenty of them, too. Now he's back with yet another full length, and once again it's packed with heat. There are deep shufflers that nod to the original US garage sound, as well as darker, 2-step tinged get downs. More so than before, there seem to be plenty of reversed bass stabs and MC vocals, old school signifiers and jungle breaks that pay homage to the roots of the sound while never simply copying it. The heart aching vocal of 'Don't Know' is our fave and a likely candidate for one of this summer's standout tunes.

Review: DJ Koze's label Pampa Records proudly present Gabor Schablitzki's long player Thora Vukk. Created in six short months and riddled with field recordings that range from his own drunken vocals to the sound of the summer rain, slamming drawers and even his nostrils whistling unintentionally, "Thora Vukk" is not quite as you would initially expect from the ex Whighnomy Brother and techno fuelled party animal. Its seven beautiful and varied tracks are separated by bridges - the album forming a story all of its own as it plays from start to finish. Whether it be from the groggy but intricate minimal basis of "Bommsen Boff", the wispy ethereal touches within "Tulpa Ovi" or the endearing choir wails on "Ende"; Robag Whrume's album is a standout of and we highly recommend you listen to it on repeat!

Review: Trentemoller's Into The Great Wide Yonder sees the Danish producer dipping his toe into new territory to deliver an LP that sounds wholly natural and unforced, showcasing yet another side to his musical prowess. Not that we should be surprised - 2006's critically acclaimed debut The Last Resort was a crisp dance record, while his first mix compilation, Harbour Boat Trips, came loaded with varying sentiments of indie, rock and pop. Into The Great Wide Yonder completes Trentemøller's transition from his roots as a dancefloor producer into the more instrument-led domain of pop and rock tinged electronica. Still using a driving kick drum as the core to the album, the In My Room head honcho is still very much part of the dance scene, just not in the club focused way that we're used to.

Review: Broadcasting timeless, route one techno from the heart of Berlin since 1996, Cabinet Records has come to epitomise the rough underground sound of a city like few others. Now, with this excellent compilation package, Plus 8 has seen fit to set this essential contribution to electronic dance music in stone. Indeed, over the last decade the relationship between the labels has come full circle, making the release of this retrospective package all the more timely. Reissue of previously released tracks from Berlin's Cabinet Records on 2x12".

Review: After being invited as 'the unexpected guest' on the label's top-selling 'Superlongevity 2' compilation (PERL23),
Marc Leclair (aka Akufen) returns with this mind-bending double pack. 5 brand new tracks, plus a remix conceived
by Pantytec's Sammy Dee & Zip, mark this first full-length release by Montreal's 'shooting star' Akufen - to be released
on Perlon. So please, enter the 'Quebec Nightclub' and be prepared for a long night.

Review: Guillaume & the Coutu Dumonts has constantly challenged people’s perception of dance music throughout a career that has seen him develop one of the most distinctive styles in contemporary house music. His sound has encompassed a deep, powerful and original fusion of afro and Latin percussion, instrumental melodies, soulful vocals, and intricate rhythm programming. His second artist album, which is released into an even more fragmented scene than his first effort, sees the Montreal native moving even further beyond the conventional definitions of house and techno.


Breaking the Fourth Wall meanders effortlessly between deep house, minimal techno and acid jazz. Inspirited less by laptops and drum machines and more by traditional Afro and Latin percussion, the album consists of almost entirely live instrumentation. Aided by a host of players, the album features several collaborations which includes Circus Company chums dOP and Dave Aju, who injects a Chicago feel into the project. Forward progressing percussive cuts such as "Can’t Have Everything" and "Mindtrap" sit alongside Pink Floyd-esque reflective pieces like "Intermède" and "Discothèque" that play out with guitar solos and horns whilst house tracks such as "Walking the Pattern" and slow burning afro-grooves such as "Radio Novela" slot into the album where they please. Their disjointed arrangement makes the tracks much more suited to listening to the album as a whole rather than picking out single tracks, another testament to the musicality held within it.


Striking a perfect accord with the eclecticism of Circus Company, Breaking the Fourth Wall is not only a wholly satisfying experience from start to finish, but will also cement Guillaume & the Coutu Dumonts' place in the worlds of house, jazz, minimal and everything in between.

Review: Sven Vath's long-standing Cocoon brand begins its second decade with this 12-track label collection. Cheekily titled Compilation K, it proudly boasts a deeper-than-average collection of Euro-centric tech-house grooves that should appeal to afterhours the world over. With Dinky, Henrik Schwartz, Argy and Sascha Dive involved alongside an coterie of lesser-known names, there's plenty to investigate. While highlights are perhaps not as plentiful as you'd expect, the standard is reliably high. Certainly, deep house minded DJs will find plenty of floor-friendly fodder, not least David August's comforting opener and Minilogue's delicious "Blessed", while techno heads will flock to Argy's retro-futurist gem "The Thrust".

Review: Sascha Funke has been a busy man this year. After several 12" releases and remix projects, he finished his second
album in his new studio. You can definitely hear, that Sascha still has the six months he spent in Aix-en-Provence in his
mind. Sacha's new album goes by the beautiful title 'Mango', out on the Bpitch Control label, and it is just great. Gernot
(one half of Modeselektor) was really digging the new tracks, when he first heard them he asked for a copy right away,
as according to him "this is the most mature music Sascha ever did". Like its forerunner 'Bravo', you can expect nothing
like 08/15 speed- techno with 140 bpm - but a fresh and direct, catchy sound. Sascha's demand for techno, amongst others,
is the directness that is created by the structure of his tracks. On the other hand, you can associate something with every
single song on the album. Mr. Funke definitely found his style and knows how to prevent boredom. Every track is full of surprises.
'Mango' is the perfect opener for this album, as it begins to slowly introduce the emotions of the further tracks.

Review: A deep and polyrhythmic Brazilian house excursion. 'Caminando' tore up many a dancefloor nine years ago, but it was not created in Rio De Janeiro but rather Frankfurt Am Main, and by one of the city's favourite sons - Frank Heinrich aka Reboot. Heinrich sampled a Geraldo Vandre production which featured vocals by Simone Bittencourt de Oliveira, and really added the dancefloor dynamics needed to turn a new generation onto this classic song. This repress on RBT Classic is sure to be in high demand, with the original fetching exorbitant amounts on the second hand market - don't sleep on this one!