Review: Over the course of the last decade, Swiss stalwart Deetron has been responsible for a string of impressive remixes. Happily, these - and many others you may have missed - have now been collected together on the decidedly epic Re-Creation: Remixes Compiled. As you'd expect, the 25-track set flits between full-throttle, peak-time friendly techno futurism, bustling deep house goodness and more downbeat explorations that defy his reputation as a maker of killer club cuts. Highlights include the loved-up synth breakdowns and jacking, Chicago-style groove of his Juan MacLean remix, a wonderfully retro-futurist take on George Fitzgerald's "Every Inch", a thrusting, stab-happy revision of Quarion and a lusciously jazzy take on Todd Terje's "Alfonso Muskedender". That said, on another day we could have listed another five or six highlights: it really is that good.
Review: Making their mark on Smalltown Supersound, the nine-piece Norwegian Jaga Jazzist ensemble have earned their place on Ninja Tune by supplying the label with five albums and a clutch EPs over the course of five years. It's clear the collective hold a special over at Ninja Tune which perhaps explains why the label have commissioned a remix from fellow countryman Todd Terje who keeps the original's classical theatrics in tow, while also adding his trademark disco touch in a 10-minute production that traverses many genres - and cosmic galaxies.
Review: Norwegian disco beard Todd Terje launches this epic (and unmixed) collection of some of his best remixes. Ranging from the rare to the ubiquitous, the underlying theme here is quality. There's some killer cuts under his different aliases (Duliatten Disco Dandia, Kacic Kullmann?s Five), which includes an unashamedly awesome reworking of Ace of Base, erm, classic "All That She Wants" under the Chuck Norris moniker. Throw into that remixes of Jose Gonzalez, M, Rogue Cat, old chum Lindstrom and of course Shit Robot, and you have a compilation not to miss. Indeed, unless you have followed the Terje's career with an incredibly hawkish eye, there's sure to be a few gems on here that you missed the first time round. And there's even an hour long mix of Terje classics at the end to round it off.
Review: Cheekily, Todd Terje has decided to put out these remixes of forthcoming album track "Jungelknugen" before we've had a chance to hear the original version. While it's hard to know how revolutionary these remixes are - or otherwise - it's fair to say that both Four Tet and Prins Thomas have brought their A-game. Keiran Hebden steps up first, layering up looped, kosmiche style synthesizer refrains, wide-eyed piano motifs, low-slung analogue bass, and the kind of jazzy, off-kilter drum machine beats that simultaneously feel loose and sturdy. While undoubtedly impressive, it lacks the hustle and bustle of Prins Thomas's interpretation, which is drive forwards by heavy, bleep techno style sub bass and the producer's own groovy disco drums.
Review: The choice of Tony Humphries to mix Running Back's first label compilation is a significant one. Getting his big break in the early '80s as an understudy for the legendary Shep Pettibone's Kiss FM show, Humphries went on to become one of the defining DJs of house music's formative years, with residencies at New Jersey's Club Zanzibar and London's Ministry of Sound. His previous mixes illustrate his continuing ability to bridge dance music's past and present and his new one for Gerd Janson's imprint will mark its fifteenth anniversary. It is a timely reminder of what has made the Frankfurt powerhouse remain on many favourite label lists for over a decade. It's a mix of golden oldies and recent classics alike: from Todd Terje's smash hit from several years ago "Ragysh" and the anthemic "The Voice From Planet Love" by Precious System, through to more recent bombs. Two by Running back alumnus Shan ("Bassline Party"/"Work It") and the legendary Mr G's Motor City ode "Ben & Gerd" (Killin It M Day).
Review: No one does contemporary disco like Dimitri From Paris. And no one has the compilation licensing clout like Defected. Naturally this is a match made in glitterball heaven as DFP spans 40 years of grooves with a spotless collection of his own edits and upfront jams. Ranging from his own twists on standard disco gems such as "Le Freak" and "Lost In Music" to the likes of Disclosure's "F For You" and Todd Terje's "Delorean Dynamite" this is, without question, one of Defected's most extensive, expansive and exciting collections to date - which really is saying something. A natural fit for all house, disco and funk fans young and old.
