Hello,
We wish you an amazing 2011! To start the celebrations we have compiled 200 of our favourite albums of 2010 for our biggest ever New Year Sale!
From today on until January 16 all selected albums will be available for a special price - including many of the year's definite musical highlights, from techno to dubstep, from electronica to pop.
If you have missed out on 2010's classic releases by Mount Kimbie, Efdemin, Caribou, and many more, here's your chance to fill the gaps in your collection. |
TECHNO / HOUSE ESSENTIALS
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With his Wax and Equalized series firmly established as DJ favourites, Shed dedicates his sophomore artist album to the abstraction of modern club music sounds. Techno, dubstep, ambient, and old-school jungle breaks are cast together into 14 sparse and atmospheric tracks. Class.
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The long awaited second album by Actress, who has been turning our heads ever since his brilliant 'Hazyville' album on his own Werk Disks imprint. This time on Honest Jon's, he drops a dazzling mix of classic Detroit, grime, dubstep, speed garage, Paisley rock and synth-wave. Ground-breaking.
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Album released 07-06-2010 on Dial
Efdemin names his second album after a city he's never been to, making 'Chicago' an album about utopian concepts rather than a literal tribute. Drawing on electro-acoustic music, jazz and - yes - jacking house beats for inspiration, this is a beautifully mature and highly recommended album.
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German techno grandmaster Johannes Heil drops his ninth album, his first via Cocoon, and it's a big one. 'Loving' perfectly epitomises what we like about Heil's style of techno: It's seemingly effortless, immediately danceable music, yet never lacks groove or subtlety. Recommended.
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Compilation released 29-04-2010 on Minus
The deluxe version of Minus' monumental MAKING CONTAKT project includes the documentary as separate HD video chapters, the CONTAKT SPECIAL bonus concert, as well as the complete 12 track audio soundtrack.
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Album released 14-06-2010 on M-Plant
Minimal techno pioneer Robert Hood returns with a new album, the first one since 2003's 'Wire To Wire'. With the exception of the jazzy introduction of 'The Plague', 'Omega ' is puristic 'Math Assassin' style - Detroit techno reduced to bare-bone machine funk, both deep and devastating. Classic.
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Album released 25-10-2010 on Dial
The first signing to Dial outside their close circle, John Roberts' debut album fits right in with the top-notch output they've had this year. Deftly creating luscious hues with crackly samples, melodies and old school house elements in a distinctly soulful way, it's a strong contender for house album of the year.
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Album released 10-11-2010 on Minus
'From The Fallen Page' is Magda's long-expected debut album and combines Minus-style minimal techno with Magda's love for 1970s horror movie soundtracks - hence the tellingly titled opener 'Get Down Goblin'. A definite recommendation for Magda's many fans.
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Berlin's legendary techno matrimony of club and label, Berghain and Ostgut, sees the label celebrating an extraordinary five years. Each track uses a library of field recordings of the building itself recorded by Emika, the results are stunning and diverse. An outstanding testament to an incredible label.
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With just under two hours of animated footage Minilogue's 'Animals - The Movie' takes the concept of a visual album to the next level. Still unrivalled in both quality and scope, this film is a must for all fans of electronic music and cutting edge visuals alike.
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Compilation released 23-08-2010 on Kompakt
Kompakt's yearly stocktaking is once again a massive volume of 26 tracks of sheer quality, showcasing the stylistic breadth of the legendary Cologne label. DJ Koze, Justus Köhncke, Mugwump, Wolfgang Voigt, and The Field are just some of the highlight artists on this. Breathtaking and essential.
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Moritz von Oswald contributing an exclusive track, 'Cocoon Dark Dub', to Cocoon's Compilation J is certainly headline news, and the deep and dubby Carl Craig-like track is alone worth getting the album for. More exclusive tracks by DJ Koze, Villalobos, Pantha Du Prince, and many others. Big one!
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Where 2007's 'Proto Acid' had A Guy Called Gerald revisit his techno roots with digital technology, 'Tronic Jazz' injects the soul back into his sound, harking back to the sound of Detroit and 808 State. Essential album!
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Marcel Dettmann's long awaited début album finally sees the light of day. The minimalistically titled 'Dettmann' is almost entirely constructed from reduced percussive loops, which radiate the primeval energy regularly felt between Berghain's booming speakers. Essential!
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Compilation released 31-05-2010 on CLR
For his label's 10 year anniversary Chris Liebing preps a compilation that dives into a universe of relentless, high tech beats and soundscapes. Featuring Function, Speedy J, Adam Beyer and his own edits '10 Years CLR' is both a fine retrospective and a future outlook of the label's consistent work.
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Album released 06-12-2010 on CLR
The entire Traversable Wormhole series on a single album, including two new remixes by Chris Liebing and Kevin Gorman, as well as two one-hour DJ mixes by Liebing and Adam X. Essential.
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One of last year's most talked-about techno producers delivers his debut album. Parts of 'Entropic City' rival Newworldaquarium's slowness, others Marcel Dettmann's industrialism, but 'Entropic City' always sounds deep, organic and innovative. Big album.
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It's been an incredibly busy year for Crosstown Rebels and the London-based label tops it with a massive three volume compilation with some of the biggest tunes from the past years, along with selected unreleased cuts. Also included is a mix by Peace Division's Clive Henry.
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Over the past years Sascha Dive has been successfully bridging the gap between German and US house music styles with his Deep Vibes label, and his debut album takes the same approach. 10 prime house cuts combine the deep and the energetic for an impressive release. Recommended.
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The voice of house music returns with a new album: 'Art' sees Robert Owens' vocal brilliance backed by noteworthy producers, first and foremost former Fingers Inc. partner Larry Heard, with additional contributions by Atjazz, Beanfield, and Compost's Show-b. A double volume of finest, soulful vocal house.
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The much revered deep jazz house of Red Rack'em over the past few years has now been compiled onto this sublime digital release with a handful of new material to boot. With the glowing seal of approval from the likes of Gilles Peterson and Greg Wilson, this is a great introduction to his work.
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A brilliantly varied sophomore album by Guillaume Coutu Dumont, who takes up influences from techno, electronica, jazz, reggae, and even throws some blues-rock elements into the mix. Features lovely collaborations with dOP and Dave Aju.
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Keyboardist of Cobblestone Jazz and The Modern Deep Left Quartet releases his debut long player, showing the range and diversity of his plentiful producer talent. Freely breeding modern jazz with deep grooving house and Latino flavours, this is a strong spirited and refreshing album. Recommended!
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Sleek, sexy and ever so slightly twisted, dOP's debut album arrives with chutzpah and hype aplenty - something they have knowingly tapped into by naming it 'Greatest Hits'. Think one part Matthew Herbert, one part Dave Aju and one part sexy French house and you have dOP. Highly original, essential album.
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Brilliant retrospective of the early works of Recloose, who like no one else knows how to work those soul and jazz references into futuristic house music tracks. Includes unreleased and rare material, as well as five additional tracks to the CD version.
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Cocoon's high-profile 'In The Mix' series continues with none other than Dinky, who assembles 28 tracks under the motto of 'free music': 'Musica Libre' is indeed a perfect display of Dinky's free-form approach, traversing abstract electronica, minimal techno and soulful house. Recommended.
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Surprisingly varied from Ben Klock, mixing the forth edition of the Berghain series. Those hungry for sweaty darkroom techno have to wait for quite a bit as Klock skilfully mixes his way through exclusives from Martyn, Levon Vincent, and even by pop duo Junior Boys, albeit remixed by Marcel Dettmann. Brilliant!
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'Agents of Time' is indeed the first full-length in Mathew Jonson's extensive discography and convinces with a varied and playful approach to techno. From the title track's brooding ambient over electro breaks and techhouse hits, Jonson's sound stands out a mile. Excellent album.
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Can I get a rewind? Drum and bass legends Commix getting the re-fix treatment from a whole host of contemporary producers. From heavy weights like Marcel Dettman and UR to whippersnappers like Pangea and Burial there is most definitely something here for everyone.
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Double-Album released 22-01-2010 on Rush Hour
An impressive body of work like Anthony 'Shake' Shakir's deserves an equally impressive tribute: 35 of Shake's best tracks, originally released via his own Frictional imprint and Dan Bell's 7th City, have been carefully selected, remastered and compiled in this essential volume. Don't miss.
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Following on from Echospace's 2007's mighty 'The Coldest Season' album, Stephen Hitchell lets the dub reggae influence seep further through the fine dub techno framework. A devastating combination of the warmest deep bass and echoey ice-scapes, magnified by Tikiman's tender vocals. Amazing!
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Album released 15-10-2010 on Suol
The debut album of producer / vocalist Fritz Kalkbrenner is quite a unique affair, combining a melodic Berlin-style techno flavour with his almost blues-like singing style. Love it or leave it, but definitely check his folksy single 'Facing The Sun' as well, which includes remixes by Sascha Funke and brother Paul Kalkbrenner.
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We won't pretend this didn't come as a surprise to us: Oliver Koletzki, previously known for his ravey minimal tunes on Cocoon and his Stil Vor Talent label, delivers an impressive album of Moloko-style pop house, together with The Koletzkis' singer Fran. What love can do...
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Album released 06-09-2010 on Kompakt
After two years of relative absence from the release circuit, Superpitcher returns with a new full-length for his home stable Kompakt. 11 slices of distinguished electronic pop music, ranging from cheeky tech-house tracks ('Rabbits In A Hurry') to melancholic songs ('Who Stole The Sun'). Sweet.
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French techno veteran Terence Fixmer evolves his recent bleepy techno sound into album format, and highly convincingly we must add. 'Comedy of Menace' is ten tracks of tightly structured, cavernous techno, in the vein of Pansonic/Sleeparchive, Sandwell District, and prime-time Ostgut material. Recommended.
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Previously only available on vinyl, Detroit's brightest stars and unsung heroes all feature together in this sterling compilation by Rick 'The Godson' Wilhite, in association with Rush Hour Recordings. Featuring stunning contributions by Carl Craig, Kyle Hall, 'Shake', Theo Parrish and Glenn Underground!
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The wonderful Arto Mwambé project gets a chance to represent via the Live At Robert Johnson series, the 6th edition of which not only features a complete 1h live studio set, but in addition 8 full single tracks of great soulful, jacking house for the dance floor. Highly recommended.
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One of the most eagerly anticipated and prolific producers of the moment, Glimpse, releases his debut album on Crosstown Rebels, which is a truly inspiring, superb album that weaves elements of jazz and soul with house and techno to create something wholly innovative and mesmerising.
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Album released 12-04-2010 on Hum+Haw
For his third album, the follow-up to his highly acclaimed 'Paradolia' from 2006, Alex Smoke makes full use of the creative freedom his own label allows for. Arguably his most refined effort to date, 'Lux' features highly original techno tracks next to mature melodic electronica and processed beat abstractions.
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Accomplished producer Dan Curtin releases his ninth full length album 'Lifeblood': Clearly aimed for the dance-floor, the album's 16 tracks are begging to be played out in dark clubs and during early morning hours. Great return of one of techno's most consistent producers.
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Long awaited début album by Reboot, who has become one of the most talked about figures in the house scene since making his first appearance only three years ago. 'Shunyata' convinces with long, undulating lines and morphological structures that reward deep, repeated listening. Great!
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Compilation released 15-02-2010 on Kompakt
Ewan Pearson, renowned for his remixes for the likes of Depeche Mode and the Junior Boys as well as through his production work for Delphic and The Rapture, releases his first mix CD for Cologne's matchless Kompakt label.
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Album released 22-02-2010 on Green
The debut full-length of Swiss producer Ripperton for Joris Voorn's Green label, 'Niwa' is a subtle and elaborate effort of superbly crafted house tunes. Sprinkled with touches of jazz, soul and dub, this is an incredibly varied album which begs to be played over and over. Addictive.
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Glasow's Sei A has appeared on techno greats such as Missive and Gigolo and now releases this full-length on Tiga's Turbo Recordings. With his dark tech-house sound as a starting point, he takes it to new levels with strains of experimental hip-hop, downbeat and dubstep lurking in the depths. Highly rewarding.
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Five years after their last album 'Eat Books', Germany's premier house duo Tiefschwarz return with 'Chocolate'. Produced together with Santé, the albums showcases a modern sound with with sprinkles of experimentalism and jazz, and guest like Dave Aju, Seth Troxler and Cassy.
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Compilation released 02-04-2010 on Dial
Hamburg's influential Dial label celebrates its first 10 years with '2010', not a 'best of' compilation, but a collection of brand new material by the Dial all-stars: Phantom/Ghost, Efdemin, Lawrence, Pantha Du Prince, Rndm, Carsten Jost, John Roberts, as well as new signings Kassian Troyer and Isoleée. Huge!
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BPitch releases the fifth volume of its prominent mix series, this time assembled by neo-Berliner Seth Toxler. In keeping with his productions for Crosstown Rebels, Wolf & Lamb or Spectral, his mix collects the best of contemporary minimalistic house from the likes of Dinky, Alexi Delano and Roman Flügel.
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Lee Jones' mix-album for Watergate is not short of exclusives and edits by the prolific producer, known from his releases for Aus Music, Cityfox, as well as the MyMy project. Over half of the tracks carry Jones' personal hand-writing of deep and elating techno house. Recommended.
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Massive Poker Flat compilation for a special price: 33 tracks sum up the classic label's recent work, with contributions from Steve Bug, Martin Landsky, Donnacha Costello, John Tejada, Adultnapper, David Durango, and many, many more. A treasure chest of deep techno sounds. Get.
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Get Physical have Thomas Schuhmacher compile this year's birthday mix and compilation for the influential label. The single tracks feature plenty of exclusives and noteworthy collaborations, including a tongue-in-cheek team-up of M.A.N.D.Y. with Matthew Dear, and Elektrochemie recording with Tiger Stripes.
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Mobilee celebrates its fifth anniversary with a massive 16 track compilation, representing all the label's artists and the development of its musical spectrum, from minimal techno by Pan-Pot and Exercise One to classic house by Dan Curtin, Sebo K and Daniel Stefanik. Congratulations!
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Absolutely massive package from the Gigolo crew, containing 32 tracks for a special price. Whole DJ sets can be played with this one volume alone, and you wouldn't run out of hits. Features Hell, Peaches, Rother, Snuff Crew, Diskokaine and zillions more!
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Album released 25-10-2010 on Rekids
Returning to his seminal solo album from 2008, previously only available as a continuous mix, Luke Solomon has reworked, re-edited and re-produced it into a redux version of individual tracks, with the engineering of the dancefloor in mind. A bold and diverse inspirational vision, now available to all! Brilliant.
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Martinez's third album is a unique balancing act between dance-floor rhythm and home-listening qualities. His organic sound combines dense beats and jazzy chords, at times giving you the feeling you of an old house record produced with 2010 technology. Funky and, always at the right moment, explosive.
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Album released 24-09-2010 on Soma
Florian Schirmacher (Wareika) and Helmut Ebritsch release their first Hatikvah full-length on Glasgow's Soma Recordings. Ten modern house tracks, combining electronic deepness and organic grooves, to which Schirmacher lends his highly adaptive singing voice. Impressive.
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Thomas Brinkmann revives his Soul Center alias for an album project for Shitkatapult, who are begging for a 'rude cover of the month' award with their packaging of 'General Eclectics'. Ten tracks combine Cologne shuffle-step grooves with genuine synth funk that lets those juices flow, erhm... Fine album!
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Ever since his releases on Versatile and his fantastic track on the Ostgut label we've followed Tony Lionni's output closely and hence highly anticipated his début album. So much we can say - he didn't fail to reach up to our expectations and delivers one of the most accomplished house albums this year.
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Album released 24-05-2010 on c.sides
Till Rohmann a.k.a. Glitterbug releases his second album on his own c.sides label, and it's a massive one, featuring 20 tracks and a gorgeous video. Combining elements of techno and house with dreamy ambient pop, Glitterbug creates a densely layered sound with a unique cinematic quality to it.
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After more than 15 years in the business, Der Dritte Raum still delivers cutting edge techno music - this time even drawing on occasional Swing influences for a varied album, balancing minimal and Detroit-influenced techno and electro styles. Fine full-length by one of Germany's longest-standing techno acts.
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The title (translated 'alchemy') exudes the mystery that Buenos Aires based Seph accomplishes in his debut album. Seph's sonic experiments are not bound by techno but rather enabled by it, creating bewitching rich and expressive textures with revered attention to each sound. Impressive.
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DUBSTEP / HIP HOP / 2STEP ESSENTIALS
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Legendary Jamaican dub engineer Scientist takes the dubstep phenomenon head on, breathing new dimensions into tracks by Kode 9, Shackleton, Mala, Distance and Pinch. In his epic and unmistakeable style, he injects new levels of quakes and shivers into dub's UK offspring to incredible effect. Essential.
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Album released 29-11-2010 on Tempa
Key pioneers of dubstep, London group Horsepower Productions fronted by Benny Ill return to Tempa with their first album in six years. Finely sculpted bass textures and mystery-laden samples, deep, brooding and atmospheric, setting the benchmark for dubstep high again indeed. Outstanding.
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Flying Lotus' highly anticipated third album is here, and it's nothing short of epic: 17 tracks in under 50 minutes see FlyLo's famous free-style breaks travel between free jazz, orchestral harp arrangements, computer game sounds and a wonderful guest appearance by Thom Yorke. Incredible album.
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Album released 08-08-2010 on Tempa
Skream aims high with his sophomore album. His potential for chart-topping success is evident in the LP's highlights, 'Listening To The Records On My Wall', 'Finally' feat. La Roux, and 'The Epic Last Song', while staying true to his roots with 'Fields Of Emotion' and 'Reflections' w/ dBridge and Instra:mental.
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Turning their fresh, forward-thinking club night into a label less than a year ago, founders Bok Bok and L-Vis 1990 triumph with this compilation. Crammed with label highlights and exclusives from new signings Jacques Green and Optimum, this has been an astounding year for Night Slugs. Applause!
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Delivering one of the most exhilarating debuts of the year 2010, Gonjasufi blazes through styles and genres at an impressive pace, combining influences from Soul, folk and psychedelic rock with sample-heavy, lo-fi hip-hop aesthetics. Think Tom Waits meets Led Zepplin meets FlyLo. Amazing.
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The new album of our podcast star this week, Robot Koch, who contrasts his party-bass productions for Jahcoozi with some excellent electronica-tinged breakbeat material. Featuring Boxcutter, 1000Names and RQM, there's some highly advanced beat science on display here.
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Volume 1 of Ninja Tunes XX compilation starts out with Amon Tobin and Joe Chapman's relentless banger, 'Fools Rhythm', and shows little intention of slowing down during its 29 tracks. Exclusives by Roots Manuva, Zomby, Benga, The Bug, Rusty, Deadelus, Mark Pritchard, and tons more. All killers, no fillers.
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Compilation released 27-08-2010 on !K7
Brackles, Rinse.fm resident DJ and co-owner of the Blunted Robots label, compiles the first edition of a new mix series curated by !K7. With 11 unmixed tracks and an 60min continuous mix, this compilation features major highlights from Flying Lotus, 2562, Cooly G, Zomby and Brackles himself. Ace!
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Compilation released 22-06-2010 on !K7
Kode9 contributes an edition to !K7's DJ-Kicks series with a blistering 31-track mix that deftly navigates the cutting-edge of electronic music from UK Funky, Grime, Garage, Dancehall and everything between. Features tracks by Kode9, Aardvarck, Digital Mystiks, Zomby, Ikonika, and more.
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dBridge and Instra:mental's Autonomic podcasts have gained an impressive amount of attention for their refreshing take on drum and bass. This stunning 31-track mix for the 50th edition of Fabriclive showcases their powerful and innovative 'Autonomic' sound. Essential.
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Parisian beatmaker Onra gets all retro with 'Long Distance', a great slice of downtempo electro R&B. Featured vocalists on the title track and its flip, the equally funky 'High Hopes', are Oliver DaySoul and Reggie B, also known from their work for All City and 4Lux. Should get steaming hot on the floor with this one.
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Ninja Tune backs the San Francisco-based producer, Eskmo, with his self-titled debut album for the label. Eskmo's experiments with dubstep as a point of reference, venturing further combining ice-cold melodics and lurching syncopated rhythms.
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Album released 05-04-2010 on Rinse
Not that we expected anything less from UK funky shooting star Roska, but his debut album for Rinse FM's label has 'hit release' written all over it. Roska combines influences from old-school house, dubstep, R&B with a timeless feel, catchy melodies and light-footed rhythms. Great album.
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Finally seeing a worldwide digital release, Tokimonsta's debut album on Japanese imprint Listen Up is a testament to the young LA beatmaker's abundant talent. 14 tracks of cutting edge hip-hop, from warbled grooves to sun-drenched soul pieces. Recommended.
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Following up Tokimonsta's 'Midnight Menu' album, Japanese imprint Listen Up releases 'Cosmopolyphonic', which compiles 18 tracks of cutting-edge future r'n'b and instrumental hip-hop. Featuring Onra, Devonwho, Tokimonsta alongside Japan's finest. Ace!
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Cool return from the veteran G-Stone producers, taking a convincing turn towards the electronic, with leanings towards dubstep, abstract downbeat, and electronica. Always with a distinct pop appeal, super-crisp production, and containing 16 tracks and 3 videos this is not a stingy package either.
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Dutch beat master Aardvarck delivers a new album via electronica label Eat Concrete. 'Choice' is a sketchbook of 22 slow-motion beat experiments with the occasional neo-classical, jazz and soul piece hidden in-between. Brilliantly chaotic and highly recommended!
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Quite a surprise album on Wagon Repair: Canadian producer Jules Chaz samples his way through pop history on 21 tracks of abstract hip-hop. Spot the finely sliced and diced snippets of Hall and Oates, Julee Cruise, and the cameo appearance of Cobblestone Jazz's Danuel Tate. Swell.
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Philadelphia beatmaker Knxwledge gets ready to extend his internet fame to the real world with his brilliant debut album on Dublin's All City. 'Klouds' comprises 15 tracks of varying rhythmic structures, lengths and speeds, throwing snippet jazz, 8-bit bleeps and sloppy beats into the mix.
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Compilation released 12-07-2010 on Tectonic
Bristol-based studio and publishing company Multiverse is the city's first address in all things dubstep related, with brilliant labels like Tectonic, Kapsize, and Caravan under its wing. 'Dark Matter' is an essential guide to the Bristol scene, featuring Joker, Pinch, October and many more.
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ELECTRONICA / AMBIENT ESSENTIALS
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Rob Brown and Sean Booth hold a special place in electronic music, and each new album release is a highly anticipated event. 'Oversteps' tones down the recent beat abstractions and injects a large dose of melodic experimentation, linking back to masterpieces such as 'Tri Repetae'. Classic Autechre.
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Album released 12-04-2010 on Soma
The Black Dog's critical response to Brian Eno's utopian 'Music for Airports', this is amazing ambient electronica, constructed from 300hrs of field recordings in classic Black Dog fashion. The perfect soundtrack for the dystopian unrealities of modern day travelling
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Compilation released 26-10-2010 on !K7
Another much anticipated release in the DJ-KiCKS series sees Apparat selecting from a very diverse palette of styles, counterpointing the delicate textures of Oval with many prime picks of current UK bass mutations and his own unique productions, two of which appear here exclusively. Awesome.
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A testament to the improvisational practice of Brian Eno with long-term collaborators Jon Hopkins and Leo Abrahams as well as Eno's preoccupation with film soundtracks, the album purposefully evokes the atmospheres of faceless places and spaces. A delicate exploration of the ambient genre.
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Album released 29-03-2010 on Kompakt
Originally produced as the score of the longest documentary film in history, '24h Berlin', Thomas Fehlmann's new album combines beautiful ambient soundscapes and deep techno pieces, perfectly fitting the Kompakt spirit. Fifteen finely wrought tracks by one of electronic music's most respected artists. Superb album.
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On her second album la grande dame of French electronic music continues where the journey of her debut album ended. Putting the dance-floor at the lower end of her focus, she masterfully blends and fuses minimal electronic music with experimental pop. Dix points!
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'Clicks & cuts' pioneer Frank Bretschneider releases a new solo work on his Raster-Noton imprint. Constructed from sounds generated by 'mechanics, electricity, magnetism, light and other radiation', 'EXP' comes with a great 18 minute video of algorithmic visualisations.
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Half of experimental electronic duo SND, Mark Fell releases this solo album inspired by the concept of 'Multistability' taken from Gestalt theory. The result is extremely lusciously engineered synthetic sounds, explored in vast yet minimal rhythmical labyrinths, hugely enjoyable headf*ck extraordinaire!
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Album released 16-03-2010 on 12K
Inspired by the harsh Norwegian weather and wild landscape, Pjusk recorded their second album 'Sval' in a cabin high up in the mountains. Reflecting the winter vibe they deliver an album with deep textures that stretch the horizon, wisps of ghostly vocals, and percolating beats trapped beneath thick layers of ice.
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Cleveland based experimental trio Emeralds returns with a new album on Editions Mego. Adding a touch of synth pop to their previous drone based sound, their new album is comprised of twelve melodic pieces composed with analogue gear, guitars and effects and draws near the work of Tim Hecker or Fennesz.
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Treading a middle ground between Säkho-style abstract techno and percussive krautrock, 'Mask Talk' is the debut solo album of Kreidler's Detlef Weinrich. Its 10 tracks continue the cosmic disco motives of recent Kreidler productions, but on a more abstract and experimental level. Excellent.
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SND's Mark Fell releases a second album in freakishly close succession to his 'Multistability' album on Raster-Noton. This time his synthetic supervision is more brutally deconstructed, with raw pulses and rough analog edges making his electronic abstractions deliciously gritty. Mighty.
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The collaborative project between Raster Noton's Carsten Nicolai and Einstürzende Neubauten's, Blixa Bargeld, yields the full-length album, 'Mimikry'. Nicolai's glitchy experimental production meets Bargeld's spine-tingling, spontaneous vocalization.
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Luke Abbott's full-fledged debut album on Border Community, 'Holkham Drones', features cosmic sounds and lush melodies cultivated from a bevy of analog electronic equipment, each song is composed with the utmost attention to detail and repetition (or lack thereof). Recommended!
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Album released 08-11-2010 on Kompakt
Kompakt presents the self-titled debut album of anonymous duo Jatoma, which is a perfect fit for the Cologne label in its fusion of organic and futuristic sounds. Encompassing slowed down ambient techno as well Cluster-like electronica, this is a highly worthwhile album. Tip.
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Compilation released 18-01-2010 on Kompakt
The 10th instalment of Kompakt's influential Pop Ambient series once again assembles and all-star cast to explore Kompakt-typical themes of of nature vs. technology and avant-garde vs. pop. Featuring The Orb, Thomas Fehlmann, Reinhard Voigt, DJ Koze, Bvdub and many others. Great!
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Album released 07-06-2010 on Profan
Wolfgang Voigt takes his 'Freiland Klaviermusik' project to album level, compiling the project's first EP from 2008 and plenty of new tracks. 'Freiland' blurs the boundaries of classical music and techno, combining improvisational piano playing with 4-by-4 kick drums. Adventurous and - as always - highly recommended.
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Elusive UK producer Gold Panda issues his first full-length on Ghostly International, following up his critically-acclaimed work for Ghostly and Various Production. 'Lucky Shiner' experiments on the edge of indie-electronica and hip-hop with a distinct pop appeal. Highly Recommended.
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ISAN have been producing ambient and electronica steadily since 1996, most recently remixing Clouds 'Protecting Hands' for Deep Medi Musik. Their new album for Morr Music, 'Glow In The Dark Safari Set' reaches further into the depths of ambient with an innate melodic sensibility cultivated from decades of experience.
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The fourth album to emerge from Chichester's Rob Tubb, as typically eccentric and flamboyant as you would expect from this one-man tornado. Stylistically snatching at dubstep, electro, IDM and industrial and landing in a world of absurd twisted pop, it's a difficult album to ignore!
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While notably influenced by instrumental hip-hop, Shigeto's 'Full Circle' album for Ghostly Cool incorporates shades of ambient music, electronica, dubstep, and jazz to create a rich and intricate sonic palette. Excellent debut for this young producer.
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Susumu Yokota follow up his song-oriented 2009 album 'Mother' with the more electronic but just as intricate 'Kaleidoscope'. Interweaving ambient textures with hypnotic loops, plucked guitars and vocal chants, Yokota has once again created a masterpiece of highly expressive music.
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'Music For Contemporary Dance' is a compilation of two pieces Peter Broderick has composed for choreography, the previously released Music For Falling From Trees' and a new piece, 'Music For Congregation'. Grand and emotive, this is a great introduction to Broderick's work.
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Italy's finest post-rock band scores a soundtrack for Giovanni Pastrone's silent movie 'Il Fuoco' from 1916. Orchestral, emotional, but fragile at the same time, Giardini Di Mirò's compositions combine guitars, electronica, noise and classical instruments for an exceptional album.
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Second instalment of Matthew Herbert's epic trilogy, this time focussing around field recordings from one of Germany's finest clubs Robert Johnson. If you are looking for some sweet tunes with Dani Siciliano singing along you might be disappointed - this is noisy, experimental and sometimes even brutal. We love it!
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Already John Tejada and Takeshi Nishimoto's fifth album as I'm Not A Gun, and as we have come to expect 'Solace' is a quality effort of instrumental indie pop with dreamy electronica and ambient leanings on tracks like the programmatic 'Music For Adults'. Recommended.
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Young Amsterdam producer Applescal steps up the abstraction level for an intriguing sonic journey - doing away with straight beats for good, his sophomore full-length combines ambient and broken beat electronica with finely textured harmonics.
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Compilation released 25-05-2010 on !K7
Border Community's James Holden lays out a intriguing sound cosmos on his edition of K7's renowned DJ- Kicks mix series. From krautrock, cosmic disco, 80's new wave, experimental electronica and techno, Holden's selection of tracks is highly original and works as perfectly as a mix. Essential purchase.
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Six years after his last proper studio album 'Apples & Synthesizers', Toronto's electro veteran Jason Amm returns with 'Subject To Shift': 12 sweet retro-futuristic pop songs, analogue to the bone, mash up vocoders, acid lines, synth-pop melodies and rough electro beats.
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Ed DMX returns with a great new full-length, packed to the rim with retro-futuristic electro tracks. 'The March To The Stars' is an entirely instrumental album, reliving the atmospheric synth operas of early 90s computer games. If only Soundblasters and SIDs had always sounded this fat!
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Lusine presents a retrospective of his acclaimed works for Ghostly: 'Lucky Numbers' is a collection of unreleased tracks such as 'John Doe' or 'Rubberbird', as well as reworks of his earlier EPs. This stunning selection is a must-have for everyone into Lusine's sparkling, pop-influenced electronica.
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Double-Album released 21-04-2009 on Phthalo
A comprehensive reissue package by Jimmy Tamborello (Postal Service, Headset), compiling his first two remastered albums as Dntel as well as an entire disc of unreleased material. Great downbeat electronica experiments.
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Huge and allegedly final album by one of electronic music's most influential groups, Finish power electronic pioneers Pan Sonic. The aptly titled 'Gravitoni' weighs more than the average black hole, unfolding its gravitational pull over 52 minutes of drones, sine waves and clickbeats. Massive.
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Compilation released 31-03-2010 on Plus 8
Richie Hawtin's brother Matthew has crafted this unmissable tribute to the lost art of the chill-out room DJ. Two mixes (Total time: 4:30hrs!) and 22 single tracks traverse the ambient genre with plenty of true 1990s classics on board: From Pete Namlook to Irresistible Force and Mark Pritchard's brilliant Link project. Monumental!
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Its title both a nod to krautsynth pioneers Tangerine Dream and the scarcity of exotic fruit in former East Germany, Mandarinenträume compiles electronic music from the German Democratic Republic's final decade. Poppish synth tunes explore escapist motives of sci-fi and fantasy, a great historic document unearthed by Permanent Vacation.
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Hotly tipped Ghostly newcomer, Minnesota's Mux Mool, releases his debut full length, 'Skulltaste': Chunky instrumental hip-hop sits comfortably next to new-wave anthems and cut-up dancefloor bangers in Mool's own private microcosm of eclectic cohesion. Diverse and entertaining across a whopping 20 tracks.
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Album released 30-07-2010 on MiG
Klaus Schulze is without a doubt one of the most influential figures in contemporary electronic music and his pioneering synth works are finally due for digital reissue. Vol. 7 compiles well over 3 hours of advanced ambient, electronica, and drifting cosmic pieces. Essential music.
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Album released 28-06-2010 on Infiné
The mesmerizing album debut of anonymous producer Arandel, 'In D' consist of ten tracks ranging from minimalist techno to cosmic krautrock and neo-classical ambiences, all composed in the key of D and constructed using only self-recorded sounds. A concept album it may be, but one that's a joy to listen to.
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German underground legend Gudrun Gut teams up with Antye 'AGF' Greie as Greie Gut Fraktion for an album combining dub elctronica, field recordings and the duo's eerie singing. Very much recommended, as are the accompanying remixes by Alva Noto and Wolfgang Voigt.
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Wagon Repair is the perfect platform for the experimental and diverse stylings of Hrdvision, a.k.a. Nathan Jonson. 17 tracks strong, this provides an insight into the free-spirited mind of its creator, with highlights such as 'Captivated Heart,' 'City Girls', and closing track 'I Wish I Could Directly Effect'. Ace!
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Compilation released 23-04-2010 on nonplace
Burnt Friedman's Nonplace label celebrates a decade of dubbed-out jazz-tronica with a worthy compilation. Nonplace mainstays Root 70, The Embassadors and the Atom TM/Friedman project Flanger all feature with a variety of reworks, including a killer Mark Ernestus dub. Essential!
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The first solo album by Mark Van Hoen (a.k.a. Lucust) since 2004, 'Where Is The Truth' is a perfect match for City Centre Offices with its refined ambient pop. Traces of Van Hoen's trip-hop past meet indie and modern classical influences on what is a mature album from a remarkable producer.
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Scott Hansen's approach to electronica could be termed classic for its use of slowed-down hip-hop breaks and intricately woven melodies and harmonies. Not necessarily a bad thing, and all fans of Boards Of Canada and the Morr Music school of indietronica should immediately dig 'Past Is Prologue'.
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Album released 24-05-2010 on Type
Following up The Alps' previous album 'III' on Type, 'Le Voyage' is a lush slice of spaced-out ambient folk, combining acoustic guitars, sound collages and analogue synth experiments on an album as refreshing as a bowl of acid Kool Aid on a hot summer day. Recommended.
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Known from his albums for Kompakt, Frankfurt based musiscian Sebastian Meissner a.k.a. Klimek has created a wonderful album of cinematic ambient songs, including vocal contributions by Ursula Maurer, Marta Collica and former Bad Seed Hugo Race. Recommended.
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The multi-disciplined mind of Christopher Willits issues forth his second album for Ghostly International. Weaving a sophisticated palette of acoustic/organic elements into subtle melodies and lush ambient atmospheres, Willits' envelopes the listener into a bold and imaginative journey.
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ALTERNATIVE / POP / DISCO ESSENTIALS
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Album released 17-09-2010 on !K7
Chromeo follow up their breakthrough success from 2007, 'Fancy Footwork', with a new full-length, packed to the rim with the pair's electro-funk we know and love. With Cassius' Philippe Zdar at the controls, 'Business Casual' is a perfect album of well written and impeccably produced pop music. Excellent.
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Anders Trentemøller has been moving away from his techno roots ever since his debut full-length 'The Last Resort'. It comes as little surprise then that the star producer's second album is heavily influenced by indie sounds, from Suicide's wave rock to José Gonzales' folk pop. Big album, no doubt.
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'Rebellion Der Träumer', Kollektiv Turmstrasse's second album, will likely come as a surprise to their many fans: Not unlike fellow producer star Trenthemøller the Hamburg duo has left house music by the wayside for this one, delivering an album of downbeat electronica pop instead. Lush!
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Following up his hugely popular 'Asa Breed' from 2007, Matthew Dear once again casts his love for indie-pop into a solo album. Impeccably crafted and largely electronic, 'Black City' is full of intriguing songs, finely balanced with sonic experimentation. Highly recommended.
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After delivering a purebred pop album with 'Jim', Jamie Lidell gets adventurous again with 'Compass'. Backed by artists like Beck, Feist, Snax and Chilly Gonzales, each of the 14 tracks is a unique gem composed of soul, blues, funk, folk, grunge and electronic experimentation. Highly recommended.
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The pioneers of combining indie pop and processed beats, Lali Puna, return with a new album, six years after their hugely successful 'Faking The Books'. If anything, Lali Puna's sound has become more refined, and songs like 'Remember' and 'Move On' are perfect, heart-warming pop gems.
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For their fourth album CocoRosie once again dive deep into their fairy-tale world, twisting abstract folk, electronica and mock-classical singing into a sound completely their own. Adventurous, haunting and sometimes downright bizarre, 'Grey Oceans' is a highly intriguing album.
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Every new Röyksopp album will be forever compared with their million-selling 'Melody A.M.', but rather than stifling their creativity, the duo's success has given them the freedom to experiment. 'Senior' is once again an exceptional effort, combining trippy synth sounds and moody krautrock. Great.
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Album released 02-03-2010 on !K7
Tim 'Beat Dis' Simenon gets into his stride once again: 'Back To Light', his second album since his 2008 comeback, was co-produced by Gui Boratto and tries nothing short than to reinvigorate the synth-pop genre. Don't be mistaken: This is no dance floor album, but pure, blissful pop music. Hit!
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After assembling his recent big band album from 2.000 samples made by 350 people, Matthew Herbert gets personal with his latest project: 'ONE ONE' was recorded by Herbert alone, which is all the more remarkable since it's at a Thom Yorke-style indie pop album, and an amazing one at that.
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Recently reduced to a solo outfit, Aeroplane release their long-anticipated debut album, and it's yet sure winner: Twelve unashamedly playful cuts of balearic disco-pop, drawing on an entire arsenal of pop music influences, from soft rock to new wave. Late summer bliss.
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Album released 27-07-2010 on !K7
Jimmy Edgar's follow-up to his great 'Color Strip' album from 2006 has quite an odyssey behind it, but it's been well worth the wait. 12 crystal-clear tracks of sexed-up electro funk will make you sweat on a crowded club floor or in more private settings. Hot, hot, hot.
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Long gone are the days of Martina Toplay-Bird lending her spectacular voice to Tricky's dystopian trip-hop visions. With 'Some Place Simple', Topley-Bird finds her natural home on Honest Jon's presenting an album of finely grained indie-pop. Highly recommended summer listening.
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The latest signing on BPitch Control is Italian duo We Love, and as usual Ellen Allien has done a fine job as talent scouting. We Love's electronica-infused synth pop is a perfect match for the label, and with ambitious get-ups and visual design, We Love are surely spectacular to see live.
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Feindrehstar are one of the hottest German bands at the moment, a 7-piece live band playing soul, hip-hop, jazz and deep house music. This might sound a bit random, but on their debut album 'Vulgarians Knights' it's a highly convincing mix. Definitely give this one a listen, and go see the guys live if you can.
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Exclusive to zero" as a digital download, this is Efterklang's 'Performing Parades' project in all its glory. Includes the 55-minute concert movie of the band's performance with the Danish National Chamber Orchestra, a 35-minute 'Making Of' documentary, the full audio album, and seven beautiful Efterklang videos.
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Summing up another great season for Permanent Vacation, 'Selected Label Works 2' features an array of nu-disco hits alongside more laid back material. Tensnake's killer track 'Coma Cat' of course features, as do burners by Azari & III, DMX Krew, and John Talabot. Highly recommended.
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The Oslo disco connection strikes back, this time it's Todd Terje's turn to impress with his collected works on our favourite label Permanent Vacation. 'Remaster Of The Universe' collects the man's great remixes and edits, from José González to M's 'Pop Muzik' and Ace Of Base. Fantastic!
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Barbara Morgenstern drops a new album on Monika, her fifth since 1998, if we counted correctly. With 23 tracks 'Fan No. 2' is quite a sizeable effort and a classic Morgenstern production of fragile, melancholic electronica pop songs. Recommended.
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Sähko sub-label Keys Of Life releases the debut album of Villa Nah, once again leaving all constraints of electronic music far behind. Co-produced by Jori Hulkonnen, 'Origin' is a pure synth pop album of the highest calibre, for which we instantly request radio play across all stations in Europe.
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New Warp signing The Hundred In The Hands release their self-titled debut album. The Brooklyn-based duo combine bitter-sweet guitar pop with a drive for the dance-floor akin to the vibe of DFA or Italians do it better. Nice.
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DMX Krew steps up the fun(k) factor with his second full-length album in only 5 months. Where 'The March To The Stars' was a largely instrumental and spaced-out affair, 'Kiss Goodbye' is unadulterated electro-pop with Ed DMX on the mic and p-funk licks thrown in for good measure. H.O.T.!
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Album released 15-10-2010 on BH/RAR
Debut album from Bon Homme, a.k.a. Tomas Hoeffding of Danish electro rockers WhoMadeWho. Introspective and woozy, this is certainly a more laid back affair than his party starting bass work with WhoMadeWho. Angular electronics nestle next to oblique lyrical motifs.
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Honest Jon's have undertaken more selective crate digging to release these recordings from Uganda and Kenya from the mid-1930s to 1950s. From songs of voice with types of lyres, raw sounds of the button accordion to larger ensembles, it gives fascinating and often beautiful insights into a different world.
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World-wide talent scout Gilles Peterson releases the sixth in the Brownswood Bubblers series, an international platform for little known or young talent. From anthemic soul out along a whole spectrum to fresh bass mutations by Tectonic's Pursuit Grooves and Gang Colours. Must check!
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Arguably the best digital Dancehall ever to emerge out of the UK this features all vocalists from the infamous Unity Soundsystem, was produced on a Casio and a chep drum machine, and will blow your mind with its deadly groove. Wicked!
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Compilation released 12-10-2010 on BBE
Like fine wine Gilles Peterson just gets better with age. Following his recent compilation that brought a whole new generation of fans to BBC Radio, his latest effort on king of the comps BBE takes the cream of the songs he has championed over the last ten years on his 'Worldwide' show. If you only buy one compilation this week, month, year, make it this one.
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With a slightly misleading title, this compilation presents the output of the Nozinja studio in Soweto, recorded between 2006 and 2009. The style is called Shangaan electro: South African dance music at breakneck speeds. Original!
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Compilation released 28-09-2010 on !K7
A timely compilation examining rising trends in underground music, the kind that the bloggers spend a painstaking amount of hours trying to neatly tag - e.g. witch house and chillwave. Feat. Animal Collective, Toro Y Moi, oOoOO, and Balam Acab.
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Album released 10-09-2010 on Strut
The second volume of Danny Krivit's edits covers soulful disco, funk and jazz, including rarities like an unreleased re-work of Black Blood's 'Chicano', the Patrice Rushen's 'Music Of The Earth' and an extended workout on the Chairmen Of The Board's 'Life & Death'. Essential.
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Previously appearing on several singles for Ninja Tune and tracks by Theo Parrish, Flying Lotus, and Mr. Scruff, Andreya Triana makes her transition to star solo artist status with her debut album for Ninja Tune, 'Lost Where I Belong'. Featuring the production talents of Bonobo as well as two videos!
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Album released 09-04-2010 on !K7
Round two for Christian Prommer's jazzed up interpretations of techno classics such as 'Knights of the Jaguar', 'Groove La Chord' or 'Acid Eiffel'. Engineered to perfection by Peter Kruder, 'Drumlesson Zwei' turns these classics into his own.
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Album released 16-07-2010 on BBE
Mind-blowing album that straddles between Soul, Hip-Hop, Funk and pop - hence dissolving all genre boundaries. After releasing just three EPs the trio from New Zealand shows its enormous talent in delivering an all in all coherent and harmonious album. Definitely an act to keep an eye on!
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Compilation released 26-01-2010 on BBE
Compiled by the hardcore crate-diggers at Chicago's Mr. Peabody record store, 'The Real Sound Of Chicago' presents ultra-rare gems from the city's pre-house music era: Black underground dance music from the mid 70s to the mid 80s, drawing from disco, funk and soul. Highly recommended.
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Album released 18-10-2010 on Firm
David Boswell has worked with artists like Phil Oakey and Roots Manuva, and this accomplished album, 'Bits & Pieces', makes it clear from the outset that the man knows what he's doing. Expect finest techno pop with excursions into synth-pop, deep house, and downbeat.
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After releasing on such reputable record labels, DFA and Mule Musiq, the UK-based production duo of Mock & Toof have the momentum behind them going into the release of 'Tuning Echoes'. A sensible blend of pop vocals, disco, and electronic elements comprise this exceptional debut album.
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After their excellent 'General Motors, Detroit, America', dropped shortly before the turn of the year, Acid Washed deliver their self-titled debut album. Fat analogue sounds lead the way with large doses of disco, house and synth-pop. Make sure to check the fantastic op-art videos by Anthony Burill.
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Compilation released 25-04-2010 on !K7
Juan MacLean gets to the roots of his signature style with his DJ-KiCKS for !K7. From DFA indie-disco hits to classic and Chicago house (Armando!), the mix features an excellent choice of tracks, suitable for listening as well as club play. Besides the 1:12h mix, all 17 full length tracks are included!
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Compilation released 29-10-2010 on Gomma
Big remix package for New York's Phenomenal Handclap Band, which perfectly captures the originals' disco-meets-krautrock approach. Highlights from Munk, Den Haan, and Fujiya & Miyagi.
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Austrian trip-hop figureheads Sofa Surfers further progress in the direction taken with their 2005 self-titled 'red album'. With Mani Obeya installed as a permanent front-man, 'Blindside' is their most intense album to date: Pressing guitar riffs meet a deep low end reminiscent of Skunk Anansie and Tricky. Fresh.
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Shitkatapult steps up the weirdness factor with the debut album of mysterious 'music machine' Notic Nastic. Despite their arty web actionism and confusing live perfomances, 'It's Dark But It's Okay' is a surprisingly accessible effort by the group, combining The Knife-style synth-pop with grungy neo-electro. Check!
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Latest Warp signing LoneLady drops her debut album 'Nerve Up'. Hailing from Manchester, her music draws inspiration from bands like Joy Division, PIL or Suicide, creating a distinct and hypnotic style of sparsely instrumented indie pop. Post-Punk is not dead - on the contrary, it just found a great new hope.
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