Review: Big one here this week on the ever reliable Knee Deep in Sound, with label chief Hot Since 82 teaming up with the legendary Miss Kittin on new single "Naboo" taken from last year's Recovery LP. The deep, late-night mood music of the original featuring Kittin's sensual vocal is backed up by Dance System's loopy and funked-up rework calling to mind DJ Sneak, Cecille label chief Nick Curly teams up with ascendant Londoner Jansons for a riveting funky house makeover reminiscent of the late '90s, and the surprising addition of Dorothys Fortress - who follow up their great release on Southern Fried last year here with a neon-lit synthpop rendition.
Review: Despite major setbacks such as a pandemic and economic decline, it's been another massive year for Hot Since 82 and the Knee Deep In Sound label. Just as it says on the tin, this is 2020: The Review - and where to start? Maybe with the label chief collaborating with acclaimed UK pop outfit Rudimental on the evocative acid drama of "Be Strong", the ever reliable James Solace with the infectious tribal house of "Time", Denney serves up the soulful melodic house epic "Reflections Of Time" and likewise Sam Holland provides some killer funky house on "Disco Dancer". Oh, and who could forget the punchy peak time tech house of ItaloBros' massive "Spacey".
Review: Most labels and collectives are challenged to last a decade in electronic music's fleeting landscape, but so far Kompakt has endured for twice this lifespan. This is largely due to the fact that the Cologne operation boasts a tightly-knit group of artists who continue to release on its many labels. For the twentieth edition of the annual Total compilation series, many of those producers come correct; Robag Wruhme and founder Michael Mayer both deliver ponderous deep techno tracks, while Jurgen Paape goes even farther, veering into guitar-spangled melancholia on "Vox Acris". This introspective mood seeps through to more overt dance floor tracks, with Sascha Funke's eerie "Atze" and Voigt & Voigt's "Schopper Da Leu" delivering understated but impactful results.
Review: Recent Kompakt signing Anna Miranda teams up with Miss Kittin for this frenetic, visceral ode to raving. In its original format, "Forever Ravers" resounds to a grinding bass, peak-time rhythm and Kittin's own unmistakable vocals about being eternal ravers. On the flip side, there's a fine reshape from Anna; the 'Raving In Space' remix sees her deliver a peak time arrangement, this time with wave upon wave of cold bleeps building up to an unforgettable climax. It's great to see Miss Kittin back releasing music, and Speicher 112 also provides the platform to showcase the production skills of her Brazilian collaborator.
