While Hardfloor's Oliver Bondzio has long been on record as an avid fan of Detroit-style electro, this release still comes as a bit of a surprise.

In preparation of their forthcoming 20th anniversary album the Düsseldorf-based duo of Bondzio and Ramon Zenker has teamed up with no other than Gerald Hanson, better known as Convextion and - when it comes to deep and moody electro - E.R.P.

It's a moniker Hanson hasn't been using all too frequently lately, and we're happy to see it return.

The single starts out with two slightly distinct E.R.P. mixes that strictly adhere to the Detroit electro formula of 808 beats, funked-up basslines and melancholy strings, but it's a recipe that Gerald Hanson has refined to perfection and which sees a flawless execution here.

The track's original album version employs a slightly straighter beat and adds a few melodic textures, some unsurprisingly originating from Hardfloor's insane collection of Roland TB-303s. Prominent acid lines however do not surface until Dynamik Bass System's remix, which features additional vocals by the Motor City's notorious electro crew Detroit-In-Effect.

All four mixes are equally recommendable for their distinct quality takes on classic electro, and if '4th Dimension Of The 5th Ward' is anything to go by, Hardfloor's forthcoming album could be well worth looking forward to.

Oliver Bondzio and Ramon Zenker and their worship of the Roland 303 (known for using up to six of them at once!) has paved their prolific career, various chart successes as well as a large fanbase. Now reflecting on twenty years of pioneering acid techno, this compilation says it all - Hardfloor is hardfloor!