DFA US At Juno Download

Review: By now, we should all know what to expect from messrs Benoit and Sergio - namely a delightful but melancholic blend of shimmering synth-pop and deep house. This new two-tracker for DFA adheres to those principles, offering two super-strong cuts to add to their fast-expanding repertoire. "Everybody" is a particular delight. Starting off as an unbelievably hooky, left-of-centre synth-pop groover, it quickly blossoms into a near-anthemic chunk of grin-inducing house. "Principles" is almost as impressive, offering a more cultured but barely less hooky dancefloor pop concoction. Both are, naturally, brilliantly produced, and sound like nothing else around - surely one of the highest compliments you can pay an artist.

Review: Black Van is the collaboration between two of dance music's most prolific producers and remixers, Kris Menace and KoweSix. "Yearning" is their debut track together and will showcase their combined love of dance music when it sees release on DFA Records this week.

Kris Menace is best known for his anthemia "Discopolis" as well as for his idiosyncratic remixes for the likes of Underworld, Depeche Mode, Air, Royksopp and of course, LCD Soundsytem, for whom he remixed "North American Scum." James Murphy was a particular fan of this remix, so much so that he has remained in contact with Kris ever since, ultimately leading to DFA's signing of "Yearning." KoweSix is one half of the Hamburg based duo, Moonbootica. After two studio albums, five compilations and over fifty remixes of acts such as Adam Freeland and Junkie XL.

"Yearning" is the beginning of the journey for the pair. An album is on the way but for now we have this track which effortlessly combines the past with the future. This disco twisted house track storms along with real vigour right from the beginning. Its 4/4 beat and relentless bass is joined by shimmering keys that wash across the entire track. Only faltering once, the tune is then built back up and beyond.

The only remix comes from Emperor Machine who delivers an eight minute long, mind bending fusion of disco, psychedelia, funk and electro. Its percussion and intense rhythm make it the full throttled, evil twin of the original that it is.

Review: Back in 2009, DJ Kaos surfaced on DFA with "Love The Night Away" with an accompanying remix from Swedes Tiedye that has become a classic in the modern disco canon. Now the boss of the Jolly Jams imprint, Kaos makes an overdue return to DFA with "From Inside", a resplendent cosmic jam that references his krautrock forebearers whilst retaining a modern disco lilt. Featuring a decidedly Hot Chip style vocal contribution from the producer himself, "From Inside" begins with rich synth detail and accrues ever more as it progresses. Tiago, a Portuguese producer par excellence, further proves his worth to the disco game with two remixes, both filled to the brim with analogue detail and percussive vim - though it's the Club Dub where Tiago is allowed the space to fully shine.

Review: Factory Floor make the leap from well-received underground releases to the dizzy heights of DFA. Their lineage comes from early 80s 4/4 grooves, all cold, hard synthesiser tones, and delivered with beyond-the-grave vocals to die for. There's no need to dismiss "Two Different Ways" as a throwback track. It's an eight-minute workout around a nagging arpeggio, using it as a launch pad for various kinds of good-time analogue experimentation. The flip side reinforces this notion, with the raw 'Second Way' mix. The hits are brittle, liable to splinter at any point, while the occasional dubby FX only add to the tension. Killer!

Review: As with much of Gavin Russom's work, "Night Sky" is a real spiralling epic - an electronic/fuzzy alternative rock fusion that relentless builds for 13 hypnotic minutes. The whole intense, near climactic composition is underpinned by a bubbling synth appreggio, upon which all manner of psychedelic elements are placed - think urgent vocals, twisted guitar licks, acid tweaks and extra-heavy Afro percussion. It starts off as an almost Balearic twinkler and ends in a breathless money shot. No wonder James Murphy loves it. For those in need of some respite, Mutant Beat Dance provides a sparse but clattering analogue house rework. Highly recommended.

Review: In recent times, veteran New Orleans house producer Walter Jones has enjoyed a new lease of life, thanks largely to a string of touchy-feely midtempo excursions on DFA. Here he returns to James Murphy's label with a new project: Graceful Exit. Noticeably more live sounding than previous releases, it's a collaboration with two musicians - a vocalist and a saxophonist. While there's merit in the soft-rock-goes-Balearic house vibes of "Let It Ride" and the groovy, organ-laden "Entrance", the real killer is "Revolve Disco" - a non-nonsense live, soft-focus disco-pop stomp that's almost impossible to dislike. You suspect there's much more to come from Jones and his new friends.

Review: On his DFA debut, Scandinavian producer Gunnar Bjerk impresses with two easygoing slices of kooky disco-pop. There's a nice shuffle to "Back Then", which comes on like a dewy eyed fusion of Stereolab, new wave synth-pop and E'd-up Balearica. The vocals are an acquired taste, but there's an emotive, almost pleading quality to Bjurk's voice which is attractive. "Stay" offers a similar approach, throwing in some Juan Maclean/Shit Robot style piano house influences for good measure. It makes for an interesting smorgasbord of styles and sounds, suggesting that Bjerk could be one to watch in 2011.

Review: A legend of NYC's avant-garde, Gordon (and his Love of Life pseudonym) has worked with Arthur Russell and David Johansen amongst many others and recently got the nod from LCD Soundsystem who included Beginning of the Heartbreak/Don't Don't on their Fabriclive mix. DFA have now returned the favour and released brand new mixes by Gordon himself. "Another Heartbreak" as it's now called features hypnotic Talking Heads style guitars, intense free-jazz saxophones and pulsing synths that take the listener on an incredible and unexpected journey. Trust DFA to unearth and reinvigorate such a forgotten gem.