Kompakt has been running for nearly 30 years. In electronic music terms, that's not quite archaic, but it's hard to think of many other German labels that have survived for so long – and evolved from experimental house and early minimal techno to all kinds of dance music, into a cohesive but widespread hub of distribution, booking, publishing and management. Founded by Wolfgang Voigt, Jurgen Paape, Reinhard Voigt and Michael Mayer in 1993, Kompakt is looking back at a past dominated by a discography of surprisingly large variety. Much-acclaimed and highly distinct artists like The Field, Kolsch, DJ Koze, Gus Gus, The Orb, Superpitcher, Matias Aguayo, Justus Kohncke, COMA, Gui Boratto, Kaito, Robag Wruhme or Saschienne have shaped their careers via the iconic imprint, just to name a very few. The complete story is surely much more complicated than that, but Wolfgang always says it best: “Forward ever, backwards never."
Review: When the hitters are as big as Maceo Plex and Kompakt, there's no need for trite B side distractions and so this single-sided release comes forth with exactly the kind of anthemic, pop-straddling tech house that you would expect from such a combination. There may be edgy arpeggios and chunky drums powering the rhythm of the track, but with the straining emotional vocal and romantic pad sweeps, this is a track to garner appeal across the board, and not at the expense of the impact this will have in a club. It won't take long to learn the words, so before the summer is out you can expect plenty of people to be cooing along dreamily to this bright and bold belter.
Review: Danilo Plessow aka Motor City Drun Ensemble and Marcus Worgull of Innervisions fame serve up the first single from of their second album as Vermont. "Nordeney" is a smooth, cruising, balearic tinged drifter with mellow guitar notes, synth bass and uplifting key tones that will appeal to fans of Gaussian Curve or Claremont 56 style exotica.
Review: You know it's a god week when Germany's mythical Kompakt label signs a new artist to their roster, not to mention one that has never released anything before. With their ability to suss out new talent on the digital circuits, the imprint have given us countless new artists which have made a name for themselves over the years, and Lazaros looks set to follow in those footsteps. "Trigono" kicks the two-tracker off with a steady kick and subtle swarms of pseudo acid before transforming into a deep, molecular techno cut for the night time. "Tetragono" is even lower down in the depths of space, bringing forth a minimal sonic drift for the tool users. Simple yet effective.
Review: LA producer John Tejada has always been a consistent artist, but "Condition" is one of his most memorable releases in the past few years. Instead of focusing his efforts on intricate sound design, Tejada has decided this time to play solely to his greatest strength - his sense of melody. The title track is based on a purring melancholic bass that builds gently yet which contains a hint of menace, like "Snivilisation"-period Orbital in techno mode. However, it's "The Living Night" which really impresses: over a rolling yet more understated bass, its mournful, trancey hooks build and ebb in that effortless manner that only Tejada is capable of.
Review: British musician Lake Turner (aka Andrew Halford) previously made music in post-punk and indie groups such as Great Eskimo Hoax and Trophy Wife. He was introduced to the Kompakt family by his sometime collaborator Yannis Philippakis of Foals. The lush 'ambient-disco-techno dreams' of his new album 'Videosphere' were constructed and completed in his London studio and at his parents' sheep farm in Worcestershire - which added to the LP's serene atmospherics. The first single taken from the album here is "Outland", a driving and energetic expression in deep house that is equal parts ethereal and hypnotic, and absolutely in line with Kompakt's distinct sound aesthetic.
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