K7 At Juno Download

Review: As an accompaniment to his wild and downright ace DJ Kicks mix, Gold Panda offers up this EP that takes his own "An Iceberg Hurled Northward Through Clouds" track and accompanying versions to shimmer under the microscope by itself. The original is a gloriously rich combination of ethnic instrumentation and awkward house groove, punctuated by a piano stab. "Through Clouds" distils a few of the key elements down to a short and punchy take, while Peaking Lights take an equally psychedelic stance on their two remixes. Of the two, the vocal cut wins out for pure stargazing loveliness.

Review: What's so striking about the tracklisting for Gold Panda's entry into the DJ Kicks canon is its diversity, erring towards a more stripped-down, experimental kind of techno but ranging across Drexciya, Zomby and Bok Bok. Despite this erraticism, the flow of the mix is relatively smooth to begin with, but around Christopher Rau's "Do Little", the mix drifts off into a strange and sparse minimal hinterland. By the time the wall of chords in Giuseppe Ielasi's "2" hits you, it's hard to remember where it all began. In that sense, Gold Panda has served up one of the most daring DJ Kicks compilations in a long time. Recommended.

Review: Belgian indie-electro rockers Goose are back with this excellent second album on K7 which sees the band taking influences from the first generation of electro pioneers - Moroder, Vagelis and Tangerine Dream - and re-rubbing them for 2011 dancefloors. With artwork by the same designer used on Dark Side Of The Moon, Synrise kicks off with the storming title tune which features Peaches adding some beautiful, cooing melodies over an urgent Goblin-meets-Vangelis beat, while the snarly "Can't Stop Me Now" draws echoes with Soulwax. With a pleasing range of tempos and grooves scattered over the album, Goose avoid the trap of repeating themselves too much - even going for a beatless freak-out on the excellent "Hunt".

Review: Following their lazer-guided recent album of the same name, Goose get exposed to four fantastic cutting-edge electro wizards on this huge remix collection. Boys Noize associate Housemeister smashes "Synrise" into fragments before reassembling them into a delirious new sequence, adding menacing flange noises as well as timpani drums, whilst also keeping the original's distinctive vocal refrain. Paul "Yeah Techno!" Chambers creates a driving tech-masterpiece that raises the pitch subtly but explosively, while Ed Banger's Feadz drops a mighty mix of album track "In Cars" that's a masterpiece of icy drum sequencing.

Review: Taken from their recent album of the same name, Goose's "Synrise" gets a single release on K7, backed with a new mix by Paul Chambers. The Belgian indie-electro quartet take in Soulwax's floor-stomping drums, as well as a touch of Vangelis/Moroder's spacey feel on this edit, with a cooing vocal loop that'll suck you in instantly. Chambers, who dropped the enormous "Yeah Techno" jam last summer, strips things down a touch to create a driving tech masterpiece, replete with heavy pitch-bending on the vocals and a build that'll fell an elephant.

Review: Back after a lengthy absence, Belgian crew Goose return with the stellar "Words" as well as an excellent remix set. While the original has an eerie '80s sci-fi vibe to it, the always on point Boris Dlugosch hypes it up massively on his mix - replaying some of the creepy arpeggios while also adding icy snares and hard kicks for maximum bubbling dancefloor energy. The excellent Joe & Will Ask? smooth it out a little, turning in one of their trademark funky-tech mixes, while The Living Islands take things down even more with an epic cosmic mix that's a must-hear for modern disco fans.

Review: Border Community head honcho, James Holden has always maintained a kind of DJ free spirit which has enabled him to work outside the usual constraints of techno as we know it. This, alongside his dedication to new production talent has made him the perfect choice to compile the next instalment of !K7's long serving DJ Kicks series. Out later this month, the compilation is, as usual, accompanied by a single from the UK producer. "Triangle Folds" is Holden's first release in four years yet still feels like a logical progression from his last effort, 2006's debut The Idiots Are Winning.

Using his extensive modular synth collection to mould tripping mid-tempo sequences which sway, bobble and bounce with Holden's typical lushness and acute sense of melody, "Triangle Folds" has a delicate but unmistakably danceable feel to it. The track is a glittering combination of analogue synths arpeggios and buzzing drum pads that tick away in their own inimitable and curious rhythm patterns. These rhythms are loose and have a live feel, typical of Holden?s trademark sound, as are the quirky time signatures. His ultra detailed approach to techno once again manifests itself here, so much so that it?s 115 bpm pace would even refrain many from even calling it techno. B-side, the "Inside Out" version is even more unconventional, slowing things down yet more and turning proceedings into a folk tinged, psychedelic tambourine Schaffel rework. Focusing on the sounds and atmospheres that surround the slowly pulsating beats, we are left with an intoxicating mix of arpeggiated bass and trickling synth lines. Both tracks show James Holden at his individual, unconventional and wonderful best. It is his ability to avoid dance music?s most tired cliches, as once again proved here, that makes James Holden the singular producer that he is.

Review: Studio K7's long running mix series, DJ-Kicks, continues with an instalment from NYC disco head Juan Maclean (former hosts include the likes of Hot Chip, Booka Shade and Henrik Schwarz). Sculpted with a combination of classic tracks and more recent cuts, the mix displays a diverse collection of songs that are more focused on the club than past mixes.

Although Maclean is mostly known for his productions and live performances, he is also a DJ of some repute and his inclusion in the series is no surprise. What is somewhat intriguing, however, is his decision to make a straight up house mix. Over the running time of seventy-two minutes, Maclean keeps the energy levels high as his unleashes his collection of records meant for the club. Selecting from a rich tradition of house music with a disco twist, he includes a combination of classic tracks like Rick Wilhite's "Get On Up" (remixed by fellow house don Theo Parrish) and recent disco cuts from the likes of Shit Robot, Still Going and 6th Borough Project.

The mix has a free flowing feel throughout due to Maclean's raw method of producing: the whole compilation was mixed live using only two turntables, a couple of filters and a tape delay, placing the emphasis squarely on the sprit and excitement of the mix as opposed to its sound.

Review: Anyone with any preconceptions about this album had better read the small print first: this is an album concept that beggars belief! After getting back into the seductive soul of Mavis Staples, House legends Ashley Beedle and Darren Morris made a 58 bpm ballad in the style of their new obsession, and sent it to Lambchop's Kurt Wagner (previously a guest on X-Press 2's Give It).

Thankfully, the idea snowballed into a whole album. The boys sent the same beat to a host of other vocalists, and made adjustments to each backing track over the course of the whole album. An amazing idea, and more importantly, an album full of brilliant and beautiful songs.

The album starts appropriately with the original, complete with Kurt Wagner's smokey vocals. But despite the apparent limitations, every song is fresh, unique and essential. Candi Staton's Revolution is anthemic, string-laden genius and absolutely dripping in soul (also included is a well-earned extended mix). The stripped-down Ed Harcourt track Puzzles and Riddles is also a gem, made up of his smooth vocals, some piano and some mesmerising effects and production. Cerys Matthews also turns in a wonderful performance on Nemesis Required, which has the brilliant chorus "Things been awful quiet, nemesis required". Other vocalists to lend their talents for the love of Mavis include Chris Coco, Crazy P's Danielle Moore, Edwyn Collins and St Etienne's Sarah Cracknell.

As a tribute to a legend, this is top notch. But don't let the novelty fool you - Ashley and Darren have unexpectedly made one of the most sweet and soulful albums in recent years. Highly recommended

Review: Given her current popularity, it's no surprise to see all-conquering house hero Maya Jane Coles mixing the latest instalment of !K7's long-running DJ Kicks series. The diminutive DJ/producer is in fine form, too, mixing up typically atmospheric house cuts and clandestine deepness with saucer-eyed late night faves and forgotten B-sides (see Bozzwell's surprisingly emotional "In My Cocoon"). As a mix it's as deep, melodic and groovy as you'd expect, with a strong vocal theme running throughout. As it progresses, it tiptoes further into bleary-eyed darkroom territory, via stand-out cuts from Marcel Dettmann, Caribou (his thrilling remix of Virgo Four), Gerry Read and T Williams. Available digitally as individual tracks or one continuous mix!