Review: Dutch party brand Dekmantel celebrates a good innings for 2021, continuing its label operations despite the setbacks of the pandemic and looking forward to a more optimistic 2022 where they can return with their flagship festival in Amsterdam, as well as the Dekmantel Selectors series in Croatia. Best Of 2021 features several catalogue highlights such as Louise Freeman's old school Italo disco goodie "Mirage", the evocative broken beats of Alberta Balsam's "Cascade", in addition to local artist Upsammy's hypnotic polyrhythms heard on "Spat", Phillip Jondo delivering a typically oddball groove on 'Whowhuwho' (feat DJ Plead) and deep house favourite Frits Wentink serving up something a bit different than usual (with Erik Madigan Heck) on the classical ambient journey "What Joy To Breathe".
Review: While 2020 has not been plain sailing for much-loved Dutch label Dekmantel, the imprint has continued to release some superb music - as this sampler style round-up of their best moments of the last 12 months proves. It begins with a rare (and inspired) outing from Jan Schulte's more dancefloor-focused Bufiman project ('Sara Sara') and ends with the gently unfurling ambient brilliance of Laura Agnusdei's 'Fuga'; in between, you'll find such sumptuous treats as Upsammy's sparkling, warm and dizzyingly up-tempo 'Extra Warm', the toasty, quietly colourful brilliance of Space Dimension Controller's 'Planete contraire', the thrillingly-percussive heaviness of Mauskovich Dance Band's 'Extra Ventura' and the clandestine creepiness of Max Abysmal's 'Quod Libet'.
Review: Its festival operation may have enjoyed its most successful year so far, but Dekmantel remains true to its underground roots on this look back at 2019. There's the off beat disco of Freedom Engine, Mathew Jonson's new project, as well as left of centre curveballs from Lamellen and Epsilove. That said, the Dutch collective also understand what's needed to rock a dance floor. Fittingly, 2019 includes the electronic disco of Jex Opolis "Earth Boy" and Betonkust & Palmbomen II's acrid acid workout "Underground Dance Floor", which both appeared on the label earlier this year- as well as the timeless icy techno classic of Terrace's "Bewitched".
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