Lauer At Juno Download

Review: Arto Mwembe man Lauer has enjoyed considerable plaudits of late for his solo work, and it's not hard to see why. "Mascat Ring Down" shows him in fine form, sketching out the sort of twinkling space disco shuffler that would once have been the preserve of Oslo's Scandolearic set. Throughout, it urges us to gaze skywards towards a blanket of glittering stars. New York native Lee Douglas takes this theme and runs with it, turning in a blisteringly heavy (but still gorgeously spacious) rework that seems to stretch on towards the far-reaches of the galaxy. The digital-only Backwoods remix, meanwhile, introduces some spine-tingling piano action amid a near-Balearic sense of wide-eyed jubilation.

Review: As one half of acclaimed German duo Arto Mwambe, and half of the Chicago-inspired Tuff City Kids alongside Gerd Janson, Philip Lauer arrives with his debut solo album for Janson's Running Back. Displaying a wide range of influences, it nevertheless offers a typically melodic German take on early Chicago house, electro and disco. Opening with the 80s TV theme styles of "70000 AC" the album moves through the deep electro flex of "Sheldor", the guitar led pop soundscape of "Frontex Slowfox", the slo-mo grooves of "Sandalscene", before finishing with the deep Chi town grooves of "Trainman". Essential stuff.

Review: While the recent news from Gerd Janson regarding a decision to slowly peel back on his duties as a music journalist is certainly a blow to the art of composing sentences, it will undoubtedly free up more time for him to focus on ensuring standards at Running Back HQ don't slip. This second 12" off cut from Lauer's recent LP is a clear example of these standards with Runaway and I:Cube employed to sprinkle their own production ideas on the punky chugger "Tentatious". Jacques and Marcos Runaway call shotgun with a heavily percussive and decidedly more energetic rendition than Phillip's original, while I:Cube flexes his synth playing muscles with a Turkish disco pumper of a remix. Heck Lauer even slips in two prime slabs of all new house on the flip - need anymore enticement?

Review: Marco 'Tensnake' Niemerski is infuriatingly talented. Here, he shows off his capabilities with two vastly different remixes of Philip Lauer's "Trainman". First up is the "Franceman" mix, a sprightly, funk-fuelled disco-house take propelled by an insatiably infectious live bassline. It is, of course, tops. Next he attempts to reinvent trance (yes, trance) via the "Tranceman" mix - seven minutes of rush-inducing Balearic trance at a house tempo. It's actually excellent, coming on like a trance-inspired version of a classic Bobby Konders production (with, of course, Niemerski's cherished synth-xylophone riffs atop).