Review: Kompakt's annual label sampler returns for a 15th year, gathering together another 24 highlights from the long running Cologne imprint's ever growing back catalogue. As usual, there are numerous styles represented - from the spiraling dancefloor synth-pop of Kolsch and punk-influenced techno of Audion, to the soft focus melodies and hypnotic beats of Gui Boratto, and the intoxicating global electronics of Jurgen Paap - as well as much-played tracks from some of the imprint's most notable talents (see the contributions from Rex The Dog, Superpitcher, Matias Aguayo and John Tejada, whose "Two O One" is a tuneful techno delight).
Review: Kompakt's Total compilation series - an annual round up of gems from the imprint's tightly packed release schedule - must be one of the longest-running in dance music. Amazingly, this latest installment is the 14th volume in the series. For those who enjoy Kompakt's generally positive approach to electronic music - think tactile techno, ambient pop and skewed, synth-laden house from the likes of Michael Mayer, Thomas Fehlmann, Partial Arts and Gui Boratto - there's much to admire, including a slew of previously unreleased cuts. These include Superpitcher's "Delta", a sublime chunk of hypnotic e-tronica that's almost too melodic for its own good. Arguably even better is Weval's live recording of "Something", which is near perfect in its wide-eyed pop simplicity.
Review: Superpitcher's honey-dipped techno gets remixed and who better to do it than deep house doyen Lawrence? The first version is testament to what the Hamburg producer does best; over eight minutes warm, layered chords unfold over drizzling percussion. But just as the listener is sucked in, Lawrence changes focus and introduces sensuous strings that melt back into the melodic chords. The ambient remix is even more impressive; free from the need to satisfy the dance floor, he presents an atmospheric sequence of melodies. There is also a Gluteus Maximus version, which, as its title suggests, features some serious low end and sees Superpitcher's rich strings and ethereal melodies supported by a purring bass.
Review: Once upon a time, ambient was one of electronic music's boom areas, but sometime in the late 1990s vanished up its own chill out room. In recent years, the sound has made something of a comeback - thanks in no small part to the efforts of Michael Mayer's Kompakt imprint. This latest volume in their annual Pop Ambient series showcases more high quality contemporary ambience, offering up glacial, atmospheric cuts from Superpicther, Magazine, Simon Scott, Morek and Triola. In truth, it's far more ambient than pop, but there's a certain Balearic charm to the sublime contributions from Marsen Jules and Loops Of Your Heart. The latter's "Riding Your Bikes" is particularly spellbinding.
Review: As its predecessors had done, this latest instalment in Kompakt's annual compilation series gives a good snapshot of where the label's at in the summer of 2011. There's the usual mixture of melodic ambient pop, techno club hits, shuffling deep house and expansive electronica, with familiar favourites (Michael Mayer's brilliant remix of WhoMadeWho, GusGus's "Over", Matias' Aguayo's lo-fi dance-rock groover "I Don't Smoke") being joined by a smattering of unreleased cuts. Highlights come thick and fast, with Superpitcher's previously unheard "White Lightning", Jargen Paape's dream-like "Pray" and Mohn's slo-mo wonk-fest "Tiefnatal" most impressing. If you're after a high quality collection of emotion-rich, cutting-edge electronic music, look no further.
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