Hello,
We wish you a great 2010! If there are still no spaceships clouding your skies or robot maids cleaning up last night's mess, we are hoping to ease your disappointment with our zero" New Year sale:
From today on until the end of January, we are offering 50 of our favourite albums of 2009 for a special price. If you have missed out on last year's classic releases by Moderat, Redshape, Martyn, and many more, here's your chance to fill the gaps in your collection.
Enjoy! |
TECHNO & HOUSE ESSENTIALS
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If it had become a bit quiet around masked techno avenger lately, here's why: Redshape's long-due debut album combines eight of the finest tracks we have heard from the man yet, carefully balanced between the slow meandering techno we know and love and a few surprises thrown in. Epic.
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Album released 26-10-2009 on Kompakt
Matias Aguayo's second solo album since his Closer Music days has received much advance praise, and 'Ay Ay Ay' has indeed been worth the 5-year long wait: Aguayo fully casts the spotlight on his vocal artistry, combining his Latin influences, dreamy techno and pop romanticism. Special.
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Hell finds his crossover potential with this ambitious two-part album. 'Night' dominates the first half with jacking beats, dirty electro grinds, and vocal tracks with P. Diddy and Bryan Ferry, while the 'Day' part combines Krautrock and experimental avant garde electronics.
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As the first full-length artist album from any of the resident DJs of Berlin institution Berghain, Ben Klock has delivered an amazing album that's indelibly stamped with the club's trademark sound and offers a worthwhile journey through several flavours of techno.
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Compilation released 10-08-2009 on Kompakt
Once again a highlight of the year, Kompakt's Total compilation collected 21 amazing tracks for its tenth installment. From DJ Koze and Matias Aguayo to Ada, Reinhard Voigt and The Field, most of the label's friends and mainstays contributed tracks to this essential compilation.
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After EPs for UK house champions Buzzin' Fly and Freerange, Stimming has returned to his Diynamic base for his album debut. With tight production, a variety of sonic moods, and his signature punchy kick-drum tying this album together, 'Reflections' is an accomplished and cohesive debut.
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Dubtechno at its finest! Reminiscent of Rhythm and Sound, Sven Schienhammer a.k.a. Quantec combines timeless chords with reduced and minimal grooves. His lustrous soundscapes and broken textures enchant not only techno lovers, but also sound aesthetes and dub enthusiasts.
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Linkwood steps up with a superb debut album release for Prime Numbers, the first ever artist album on Trus'me's imprint. Crispy, analogue production is featured throughout, drawing influences from early electronica, Funk, Disco, and House; creating a varied, yet cohesive experience.
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Album released 19-04-2009 on Soma
The Black Dog have returned with 'Further Vexations', their most politically-charged album to date. A response to and criticism of the surveillance society that is modern Britain, the album wears its militant heart on its sleeve with titles like 'CCTV Nation,' 'You're Only SQL' and 'We're Haunted.'
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Cassy's mix for Sven Väth's label Cocoon shows her excellent taste of music and devotion for contemporary house. Keeping it soulful and rhythmic the Panorama Bar resident also presents her own tracks, notably the exclusive 'Magnificent Cat'. Exceptional Compilation!
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With the to his acclaimed 2007 debut 'Working Nights' Trus'me manages to exceed all expectations with an audibly matured effort. Staying true to his funk and soul sample-based sound, Trus'me takes things to a whole new level with an array of talented live musicians and prominent collaborators.
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Album released 30-06-2009 on BBE
The elusive Pepe Bradock is known as much for his sporadic productions as he is for his excellent remixes, and the latter have been collated by BBE. The compilation's tracks, including remixes of Greenskeepers and Iz & Diz have all been reworked by Bradock, to differ slightly from his original interpretations.
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The first label compilation since 2005's 'Planet Delsin' is filled to the brim with tracks from the last four years of the label, with an emphasis on renewed versions of classic tracks. With 24 tracks there's plenty of bang for your buck on this solid overview of one of techno's most important labels.
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Marek Hemman's first solo full-length does not disappoint his many fans: After releasing numerous EPs he delivers an irresistible album that emphasizes his attachment to groovy and funky minimal house. Also being Freude am Tanzen's first longplayer, 'In Between' is a sure highlight of 2009!
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ELECTRONICA & EXPERIMENTAL ESSENTIALS
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Moderat managed to please almost everybody with their self-titled album, fusing ecclecticism and pop appeal for some of the most advanced translations of current dance music trends into the realm of pop music. Add Pfadfinderei's outstanding videos and you got one of the biggest releases of 2009.
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A pioneering work based on original master tapes by Herbert von Karajan has Basic Channel mastermind Moritz von Oswald and Detroit techno legend Carl Craig rework music by Maurice Ravel and Modest Mussorgsky. Unmissable.
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Also known as Atom Heart and Señor Coconut, Chilean-based Uwe Schmidt's latest album as is an uncompromising trip through leftfield electronica, leaving no style untouched with the use of otherworldly vocoder vocals, rumbling bass soundscapes, cell phone disturbances, digital distortions and deep ambient pop.
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The grey area between classical music, pop and electronica has been one of the most exciting fields of experimentation this year, and 'XVI Reflections' compiled some of it's most interesting music: From Lawrence to Hauschka and Arcade Fire. Essential.
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2009 has seen the return of Vladislav Delay and the advent of the autumnly electronica masterpiece that is 'Tummaa'. Rooted in organic jazz and improvisational music just as much as it is in contemporary electronica,'Tummaa' is one of the most engaging listening albums of the year.
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Compilation released 31-03-2009 on BBE
Innervision's core members collect minimalist recordings from from doifferent genres and eras on this compilation - from John Carpenter to Robert Hood, from To Roccoco Rot to Raymond Scott. Essential package!
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Overshadowed by the tragic death of Telefon Tel Aviv member Charlie Cooper, 'Immolate Yourself', the group's debut full-length for Berlin's mighty BPitch Control label, was released at the beginning of 2009. Melancholy electro-pop grooves take a turn for a more rock and song-oriented approach on this fine album.
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Jazz pianist Roman Gerold and sound artist / drummer Richard Eigner blend the best of the Vienna downtempo electronic jazz sound with cinematic production and flashes of free jazz instrumentation on their debut collaboration. Includes a remix by Sonar Kollektiv's Dimlite.
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In contrast to her minimal techno productions for Spectral, Kate SImko scored a beautiful soundtrack for a PBS documentary on Fermilab, the most powerful particle accelerator in the US. A perfect neo-classical/electronica album.
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In honour of the 400th anniversary of the city of Mannheim, Alvo Noto and Ryuichi Sakamoto were commissioned to develop an audio-visual performance. In collaboration with Frankfurt's chamber music Ensemble Modern, 'Utp_', derived from 'utopia', is the arresting orchestral result.
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Album released 19-01-2009 on Type
Belgian composer Sylvain Chauveau combined strong neo-classical elements with field recordings, ambiences and occasional pop-vocals for this excellent album on Type.
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An album delivered on a tide of hype and expectation, 'Vertical Ascent' justly deserved the praise - jazz impro meets dubbed-out sythns meets clockwork percussion on this supergroup effort by Von Oswald, Loderbauer, and Ripatti.
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R&S Records presents a great collection classics from their legendary Apollo ambient sub label. Featuring 4Hero's Afronaught, Sun Electric, Speed Jack and many more. Highly Recommended.
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An exquisite soundtrack album by the always brilliant Notwist, 'Sturm' is a reflective instrumental journey, but not without some sweet pop melodies thrown in for good measure. Lovely.
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DUBSTEP, HIP-HOP & BREAKS ESSENTIALS
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Viennese keyboard wunderkind Oliver Johnson a.k.a. Dorian Concept was one of the shooting stars this years with his heavily-anticipated debut album released in February. His music is situated at the more melodic end of the wonky spectrum, with loose 70s-influenced keys recalling the best space funk of that era. Fantastic!
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Album released 01-12-2009 on LuckyMe
Long-time Hudson Mohawke partner in the Heralds of Change, Mike Slott has finally released his album debut this year as well. Brittle, stumbling hip-hop tracks, just how we like our wonky business. Perfect.
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Zomby's 8-bit dubstep was all over some of the best labels this year - Werk Disks, Hyperdub, and Ramp Recordings for his excellent 'One Foot Ahead Of The Other' album. Video game sounds, crazy syncopations, insane tempo changes, this album has it all.
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Compilation released 17-05-2009 on All City
Irish label and record store All City has long been one of the world's finest purveyors of wonky & instrumental hip hop. 2008's popular '7x7' series of limited edition 45s has been collected for this digital-only compilation, which includes tracks from beatmakers Mike Slott, Hudson Mohawke, Onra and Dimlite.
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The debut album of young Londoner Paul White blew us all away this summer: 21 brilliant sketches of highly original, sample-heavy hip-hop breaks that are over far too soon. Constant replay recommended.
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ALTERNATIVE & POP ESSENTIALS
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For their third album Nouvella Vague take their cover concept one step further with the addition of some of the songs' original artists guest starring on their acoustic interpretations. Enter Martin Gore for 'Master & Servant' or Ian McCulloch for 'All My Colours' - Perfect pop.
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Lindstrøm and the Prins take some twists and turns on their lovely second full-length, incorporating disco, space rock, funk and pop into a fantastic album that should not be missed.
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The heavily anticipated album from the precociously talented Soap&Skin, 'Lovetune For Vacuum' is an enveloping listen, mixing gothic sensibilities, with light melodies, heavy piano chords, and haunted vocals.
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Icelandic post-rockers Múm return to Morr with a great new album of fragile electronica-tinged indie pop. 'Sing Along To Songs You Don't Know' is Múm's fifth full-length and surely one of their most refined efforts.
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Raz Ohara and his Odd Orchestra embark on a journey of warm, organic, open-hearted pop music, with their aptly titled second album 'II'. Composed and recorded out in the country-side, 'II' is perfectly suited to make you forget your winter blues. Top quality from Raz Ohara – no less than expected.
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Berlin's Morr Music label turns its attention to the far side of the globe, with this extensive collection of cover versions of tracks from the land of the long white cloud. New Zealand's finest has been reinterpreted by artists like Lali Puna, ISAN and Sin Fang Bous on this collection of melodic electronic pop and indie rock.
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Album released 16-10-2009 on Gomma
The Phenomenal Handclap Band has been one of this year's greatest discoveries, their excellent debut album combining 70s funk, psychedelic disco and indie pop for a delicious blend. Groooovey!
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Album released 05-10-2009 on Italic
The Phenomenal Handclap Band has been one of this year's greatest discoveries, their excellent debut album combining 70s funk, psychedelic disco and indie pop for a delicious blend. Groooovey!
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Female electro-punk outfit Cobra Killer are backed up by an all-star cast featuring Thurston Moore, J. Mascis and Jon Spencer for their new album 'Uppers & Downers' - great offbeat glam rock on Monika Enterprise.
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Inspired by Krautrock, early Detroit sci-fi techno and Italo disco, London duo Subway have created a sprawling debut for UK label Soul Jazz Records. Equally futuristic and retrospective, Michael Kirkman and Alan James utilise analogue hardware to create their psychedelic and sonically rich indie-electronica soundscapes.
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Sally Shapiro's sophomore album once again brings back those super-sweet 80s pop moments we loved on her debut, but this time around they're a little less Italo-flavoured, and display a bit more versatility all around. Guilty Pleasures indeed.
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Danish experimental poppers Efterklang revisit their wonderful 2007 album 'Parades', backed up by the Danish National Chamber Orchestra. Get this for some inspired epic pop moments.
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