It's time to celebrate the hot summer season with a big Summer Sale! Quench your thirst for awesome music with 100+ essential albums from 2010, available now for a special price until the end of August.
From Actress to Rudy Zygadlo, from Ellen Allien to Mika Vainio - 2010 has supplied us with some wonderful music so far, and plenty of gems should still be out there, waiting to be discovered. Check up on what you might have missed - our selection should include something for everyone.
To make browsing easier for you we have organised our picks into four different sections, sorted neatly by genre:
Have fun filling those glaring gaps in your collection!
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Berlin's Watergate club asked BPitch Control mastermind Ellen Allien to mix the fifth edition of its popular mix compilation. Her delightful pop-inspired mix shows off her unique and eclectic taste of music with tracks by John Tejada, Röyksopp, Luciano and Mattias Aguayo. First 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 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 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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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 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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The queen of German techno presents her fifth solo album. Collaborating with Tobias Freund, Ellen Allien once again turns towards pop music after 2008's minimalistic 'Sool'. An intriguing full-length, 'Dust' features playground melodies, guitars, vocals, and moments of trippy electronica. Sweet.
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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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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 release.
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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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Compilation released 07-06-2010 on Kompakt
Michael Mayer's 'Immer 3' mix compilation just goes to show the diversity of his audio palette. From the opening bliss of Ewan Pearson's remix of Courtney Tidwell to the slow techno grind of Raudive's 'Slave', it's a sure fire way to implement the force that is 'Mayer' and his associates at Kompakt.
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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 edits from Chris Liebing himself '10 Years CLR' is both a fine retrospective and a future outlook of the label's consistent work.
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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 05-04-2010 on Desolat
Martin Buttrich might be a prolific, Grammy-nominated producer, but this is still his debut album under his own name, making 'Crash Test' something special. 'Crash Test' moves from echoing chords to jazz influences in long building arrangements we love from his Planet E productions. Bomb.
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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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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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Album released 16-11-2009 on Infiné
Danton Eeprom's first album is impossible to put into any stylistic category, featuring straight up rock songs, pumping techno, and even a cover of Sister Sledge's 'Lost In Music', together with Au Revoir Simone singer Erika Forster. Brilliant!
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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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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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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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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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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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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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Move D and Jonah Sharp's brilliant album as Reagenz, 'Playtime', is now available as an exclusive video edition, featuring 6 short films by video artists Sebastian Kökow and Kevin Paschold. The ultimate digital edition of an already classic album.
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Deadbeat shortens the wait for his next album with 'Radio Rothko', blending 15 years of electronic dub into a mesmerising one hour mix. The selections encompasses classics like Rhythm and Sound's 'Mango Drive' and Basic Channel's 'Quadrant Dub I', as well as new tracks by Pendle Coven or Mikkel Metal. Stunning!
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With releases on labels as different as Raster-Noton and Poker Flat, Dublin's Donnacha Costello is an exceptional artist. For 'Before We Say Goodbye' he limits himself to three analogue synthesizers for an organic sound between warm and soulful Detroit techno and 70s style synth epics. Marvellous.
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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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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. Killer album.
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Roman Flügel's releases could fill shelves, but as far as mix albums go, this is his first. Taking it from dub sounds by Freund der Familie to Chicago house with Armando, techno with Ben Klock, piano electronica (Idiom) and even super rare 80's electro (Forevereaction), this is a killer selection.
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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 22-03-2010 on Infiné
We've been looking forward to Clara Moto's debut album like a kid waiting for Christmas, and we were not disappointed: Clara's deep and soulful productions and Mimu's mesmerizing voice, featured on two tracks on the album, make for a beautiful album suited for dancefloors and sofas alike. Don't miss.
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Darko Esser has definitely arrived in the premier league of European techno with 'Balans', his stunning debut album. The Dutch producer indeed delivers a finely balanced collection of fragile downbeat electronica and floor-ready Detroit-inspired techno tracks. Big tip.
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Compilation released 16-04-2010 on Ware
Mathias Schaffhäuser presents the finest of his Ware label's great Warenkorb compilations: Deep house by Nieswandt & Schaffhäuser, slowed down grooves by Benjamin Brunn more experimental takes by Eulberg. With three exclusive tracks, this is highly recommended.
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Stephan Lieb revives the MRI project without his former partner Frank Elting for this album for his own label Resopal Schallware- 'Heroes' includes thirteen banging tracks that take it from deep and grooving tech-house anthems to hypnotic club tools - Killer!
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DUBSTEP / HIP HOP / 2STEP
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Hot on the heels of his acclaimed 'SUB:STANCE' mix for Ostgut Ton, Scuba unleashes his second artist album on his label, Hotflush. Positioned as the meeting point between dubstep, garage, and Berlin techno, 'Triangulation' sharply declares Scuba as a top tastemaker and leading light for innovative bass music.
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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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2+ years since making waves with her debut single, 'Please', Hyperdub drops the long-awaited debut album from Ikonika, 'Contact, Love, Want, Have' embodies the spirit of her home label with neon-tinted synths that sing and dance with confidence across this exhilarating debut album.
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First album release on one of the most exciting labels around at the moment, and as expected, it is a real gem. ASC delivers his very own definition of drum & bass / dub-step / techno hybrids, taking you on long journey into unknown sonic territories. Highly recommended!
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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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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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Jahcoozi's third album comes forth via BPitch and shows the Berlin bass collective in top form. Booty bass collides with dubstep and a large dose of pop, covering the range from airplay to club workout. Even taking a jab at The Cure's 'Close To Me', this is sublime, contemporary bass music.
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Guido has been hotly tipped for a while now, but little prepared us for this, his absolutely stunning debut album 'Anidea'. The young Bristolian expertly fuses R&B and dubstep, with tracks like 'Beautiful Complication' or 'Way U Make Me Feel' qualifying as veritable pop anthems. Must check.
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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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Martyn compiles the 50th edition of Fabric's official mix series and proceeds to take it to a new direction. The Dutch producer flawlessly blends multiple tempos and styles resulting in Fabric's most refreshing mix to date. Feat. tracks by Actress, Roska, Zomby, 2562, Kode9, and more!
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Being more than just a collection of tracks 'Elevator Music' presents the most prevalent dubstep artists, for example Martyn, Untold, Starkey and many more. Ranging from playful tracks to spheric compositions the compilation has one least common denominator: BASS.
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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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The brilliant duo Jamie and Roly Vex'd might have sadly parted ways, but have left us 'Cloud Seed' as their legacy. A collection of out-takes and remixes rather than a proper album, 'Cloud Seed' is nevertheless an amazing journey to the dark heart of dubstep, grime and experimental electronica. Essential.
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Mala's influential Deep Medi imprint releases its first label compilation: 'Releases Vol.1' is a collection of the labels first five singles, including dubstep classics like Loefah's 'Disko Rekah' or Mala's 'Forgive'. With the originals increasingly hard to come by, this is the best way to get these vital tunes.
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7even Recordings' first long player surfaces courtesy of their premier artist, F. With 'Energy Distortion', the young French producer cultivates a sound fusing traditional dub-techno aesthetics (a la Basic Channel) within a new school framework (a la dubstep), resulting in devastating and hypnotic material.
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Compilation released 29-03-2010 on Fat City
Fat City resume their ground-breaking series with the 'Producer 2' album, featuring the most exciting elements from the increasingly blurred boundaries of electronica, dub and hiphop. With Dabrye, Martyn, dBridge, Harmonic 313, Illum Sphere, and Mike Slott, this is bleeding edge breakbeat science. Don't miss.
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Over two years in the making, Kontext drops his debut album 'Dissociate' for Immerse, the label that has brought his sound to worldwide attention through a series of releases starting in 2008. Kontext's sound is deep and multifaceted, taking in early IDM/electronica, techno, garage, and dubstep. Recommended!
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Planet Mu unleashes the debut album of Glasgow's Rudi Zygadlo, whose 'Great Western Laymen' demonstrates how nicely the neon-purple grime-funk styles of Joker, Rustie or HudMo can be crossed over with pop music. Impressive debut by a fine new talent.
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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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1000names deliver an ace debut album, which could easily fool you into believing the Bulgarian duo was actually from Bristol or LA. Ten sweet tracks of stumbling, instrumental hip-hop, influenced by electronica, future R&B and dubstep to make you happy.
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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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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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'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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After the recent Emeralds album, Daniel Lopatin's 'Returnal' is another Editions Mego release eschewing the label's usual preference for digital noise experiments. Bar the ferocious opener 'Nil Admirari', this is a dreamy ambient album of beautifully engaging synth and drone experiments. Highly recommended.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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'Time Examined' collects music which Mika Vainio has created for his installations in the past 13 years, as well as soundtracks for works by other artists. Encompassing the entire range of Vainio's composition skills, from brooding drones to spares, barely audible tones, 'Time Examined' is hauntingly brilliant.
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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. Totalling 17 tracks this stunning selection is a must-have for everyone into Lusine's sparkling, pop-influenced electronica.
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Ex-Funkstörung man Michael Fakesch returns with 'Exchange', a stunning collection of his remixes done for other artists. Originals from Mr. Oizo, Booka Shade, Matthew Herbert or Notwist are treated in Fakesch's slice-heavy way to emerge as booty breaks, fidget house or electronica tracks. Brilliant.
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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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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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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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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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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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Ólafur Arnalds combines neo-classical compositions with a distinct pop music approach, and doesn't shy away from adding occasional rock drums to his subtle chamber music pieces. Not a bad thing, even if we prefer his sublime beatless tracks. Now including a lovely cel-shaded video!
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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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British music legend Jah Wobble gets down with The Nippon Dub Ensemble for some multinational dub discourse. No sampling excursions here, but adventurous analogue jamming on traditional Japanese instruments and the former PiL member's monster bass guitar.
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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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ContentIsMissing offers up a meditative, cinematic exploration into sound crafted by new signing, Skate. Underwater Retreats comes as a massive package of four expertly-nuanced original tracks, remixes by Christoph de Babalon, MusSick, and Nikia Bustla, as well as four HD videos and, yes, three ringtones!
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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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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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ALTERNATIVE / POP / DISCO
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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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Album released 23-02-2010 on Carpark
Young producer Toro Y Moi takes up the best musical elements from R&B, indie rock, electronic and psychedelica to create something-freaking-else. Think Animal Collective vs. Flying Lotus vs. Daft Punk and you won't get even close to the result. A soon to be masterpiece of a genre yet to be named.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Album released 24-05-2010 on Italic
Von Spar continue on their trajectory into outer space with their third album 'Foreigner'. Fittingly appearing on Cologne's wonderful Italic label, 'Foreigner' consists of eight cosmic synth-pop and krautrock disco experiments, nicely combining danceable beats with trippy improvisation. Nice one.
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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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Sally Shapiro has her 'My Guilty Pleasures' album remixed, and the line-up of artists involved is more than impressive. Junior Boys, Low Motion Disco, Bostro Pesopeo, Boat Club, and Venzian disco maestro Bottin all make this a highly accomplished remix package.
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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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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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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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