The second release from Nick Hussey’s aka Deepmode brand new sister label Mad Hatter White is a provocative move in the right direction for 2013. Indeed ‘Oxygen’ is so furiously intense that you might just forgive the pun about being left breathless over the course of its exercise in sub-bass driven madness. Relentless is perhaps an even more constructive word for the Original’s mix of heavy-duty repetition and funky edge, but either way round this works most impressively. The Deaf Before Dishon...

For music that is high on adrenaline, Proxy is your man. This part one of two has been a long time in the making, but it’s been worth the wait as ‘Music from the Eastblock Jungles’ is pumped full of energy and invention. Proxy is clever in the way he calls on classic rave and hip hop to inform his beats, but along the way he introduces new and cutting sounds to tracks like ‘Raw’, with its barbed wire bass and pummelling drum track. ‘Revolution’ meanwhile is an inspired mix of those styles, rewar...

For a while in the so-called ‘Noughties’, calendars could be set by the release of another instalment in Sonar Kollektiv’s ‘Secret Love’ series, which seemed designed just for when the cold weather kicked in. After a couple of years’ hiatus it’s back, and the wait has been well worth it, for Jazzanova have clearly been keeping their fingers on the pulse of electronic music that might have folk or disco leanings. Here the songs are key, from the warmly inviting ‘Valley Of Paradise’ of Psychemagik...

Pete Tong delivers possibly one of his best ever mixes here, a really substantial set that builds confidently from the cool depths of Frank B’s ‘Chain of Fools’. Early highs come courtesy of Fauvrelle’s winsome ‘Make It Better’ and a captivating remix of Alt-J’s ‘Something Good’ from Tong & Rogers, while the strong finish is down to Loopsize’s ‘Kontrol Punkt’ and Tong’s own ‘Dawn’. Perhaps not surprisingly the mood darkens a bit for Reboot’s set, but it’s a cracking listen once again, with s...

No.19 has amply proved themselves to be one of the more exciting labels around this year with a great succession of singles to date. This is their last release for 2012 and if anything proves that 2013 may be even more exciting. The three track selection forms the basis of next year’s ‘Social Experiment’ compilation and begins with Art Department’s blissful ‘Insomniac’. A ten minute journey into sound that sees funky bass combine with classic eighties styled keys, along with Kenny Glasgow’s typi...

Following on one year after his initial release for Mobilee this brisk collection of four new tracks sits equally comfortably on the label. Opening with ‘AEM’ and its jaunty House bassline and shuffling percussion it becomes immediately apparent that there’s something different going on here in terms of David Labeij developing his own sound, which these days is saying something. ‘Rolling Back’ proceeds with a more thoughtful, deeper production that combines undulating keys with perky rhythms, le...

If its percussion that gets you going then Vancouver’s James Hopkins has just the ticket. ‘Mosaic’ kicks off this fine two track EP in heavy-duty style with a fiery sequence of drums that will drive you into distraction, all of which is underpinned by a rumbling sub bass anchoring the production firmly to the floor. Repetitive? Sure, but addictive none the less. Next, the title track takes the idea and rolls with it by adding an even funkier twist to the relentless subsonic bassline, while yet f...

This has undoubtedly been an impressive year for the band and what better way to finish it than with one of their recent albums many highpoints getting remixed by Mark E and Huxley. If you can pull yourself away from the Original version of Heartbreaker and its soulful nirvana then Mark E’s richly rewarding reworking is also required listening. By highlighting an aspect of the track and enhancing it with emotive syncopation the remix impressively reverberates across its own time and space. Huxle...

It’s either an act of sheer genius, or equally that of sheer madness. But never the less Stimming enlists the skills of sixty musicians from the Brandenburg State Orchestra to replay ‘November Morning’ as was featured on his last EP for Diynamic. The Original version is undoubtedly a moving piece of music in the first place with simulated strings and an uneasy, melancholy atmosphere that certainly leaves an indelible impression. The analog reworking is perhaps even more striking as the free flow...

What I love about Buckley’s production is the way that you’re never quite sure what sound is going to hit you next, and what better home than Belfast’s excellent Extended Play for that to happen. The EP’s title track playfully reworks the breadth of his influences into an almost other world computer-funk which constantly excites and informs you. From pulsating electro styled drums to weird synths coupled with fierce old-school stabs this collection of notes and ideas are both creative and thorou...

Returning to his Kings Of Tomorrow guise Sandy Rivera once again demonstrates the art of beauty in simplicity. ‘Let me Tell You Something’ succinctly blends together nineties styled Organ Bass along with an explosive dancefloor punch courtesy of a fired-up drum machine, and a Loleatta Holloway inspired vocal line that so obviously works it doesn’t really need further explanation. However, it’s the version with long time partner C. Castel which unfolds into a deeper, more subtle approach and feel...

The follow up to his notable Tinnitus EP from earlier in the year sees composer/ producer Aiden Lavelle once again deliver upon his promise. The title track involves you in its spine-tingling intensity straight from the beginning, however it’s not until the vocal and bassline hit that you feel the full impact of it all. Yes, this is that good. Moody, deep, unnerving and with all the other words you can muster together this scores big-time points when it comes to emotive music that operates on ev...

One half of Penner and Muder ‘Presence Of Another Man’ sees Nils branch out on his own to produce this city themed release for the ever reliable Freerange imprint. ‘Munich’ comes drenched in dark synthesisers and electro beats that just beg to played at extremely loud volume as an indiscernible voice asserts itself over this heavy-duty production. Next stop, ‘Berlin’ is deeper in comparison with funkier notation and warmer atmospheres playing out across pulsating drums and thoughtful chords. Ret...

Excellent EP from Nick Harris whose opener ‘The Science’ rethinks the past into the future with an invigorating combination of hypnotic funk and classic Nu Groove styled atmosphere. Building the tension over some eight minutes this vocal free journey adds sizzling bass notes to a driving arrangement of drums that all at once seem hyper yet reassuring. ‘Six Feet High’ plays with a sense of melody with undulating layers of electricity sequencing Acid and Kraftwerk on what is yet another first rate...

Detroit’s Rick Wade finely balances Techno and House elements on his crisp new EP for Hold Youth with the resulting EP’s title track as much about Soul as it is about dancefloor rhythm. Indeed, this emotive instrumental blends together an uncomplicated formula with shuffling percussion giving it an irresistible funky edge, while distinctly moody chords and strings feel nothing less than compelling in the process. Forward thinking, and very notable, remixes come from label heads’ Le Loup & Se...

Originally released back in 2003 on Gomma the massive Chicken Lips remix of ‘It Rough’ now gets a timely re-release along with fresh additional remixes for 2012 on Relish Recordings. Thankfully the Chicken Lips version sounds every bit as vibrant today with its abrasive funky Acid remaining intact, and can’t really recommend it highly enough. New mixes come from Headman who reinvigorates the Punk-Funk sound with renewed impetus on this unbeatable future/ retro classic. His ‘2012 Reprise’ goes so...

Yet another top notch production from Huxley who once again digs deep with this atmospheric number for the Tsuba imprint. Combining classic sounding pads along with taught bass and crisp beats this is all then capped off by the meandering soulful tones of the title as its vocal hook. Nice work. Remixes come from the celebrated MK who adds his trademark twist via pulsating vocal edits and an organ styled bass evoking a sense of melody alongside an impressive punch for the dancefloor. Second track...

After an initial EP last year Visionquest’s Ryan Crosson and Cadenza’s Cesar Merveille once again team-up to develop their theme into a full blown album. But, if you were expecting an easy ride then think again as this music is set to transport you out of your comfort zone. More akin with Jazz, Ambience and free-form Funk in places, while briefly touching upon the dancefloor on others, DRM always seeks to invigorate the listener with its constantly expanding breadth of ideas that never seem to q...

It’s back to the disco for Lindstrøm as he delivers his second album this year, a hugely impressive achievement. Where ‘Six Cups Of Rebel’ showed off his wild, psychedelic side, ‘Smalhans’ is a collection of six tracks set down with the electro-disco dancefloor fully in mind. That’s not to say there isn’t any experimentation here – there is – but it’s all done with a keen sense of the peaks and troughs of a DJ set. Lindstrøm rather cleverly unites the tracks by using a similar harmonic sequence ...

Terrence Dixon is one of those Detroit names that isn’t perhaps as well known as he deserves to be. Hopefully the release of ‘From The Far Future Pt 2’ – twelve years on from the first instalment! – will go some way to putting that right. It’s a piece of work that is notable for its quietness at times – not always a quality you associate with techno – but also with the daring way that Dixon makes some of his material incredibly minimal, so that it doesn’t always alter much with time. This can be...