Hell – Teufelswerk

I can't help but chuckle every time I blast 'The DJ' at full volume. Couldn't care less about the rest of his or Diddy's catalogue but this one is an outstanding, proper banger with a hilarious rant by the latter – and most of what he says resonates with me. First heard it on LG's 2012 Essential Mix, thank you Laurent Garnier.

''I prefer women to men anyway'' is a cover/hommage/plagiarism/ of brenda hutchinson & clive smith's ''aliens theme I & II made from the motion picture soundtrack liquid sky (1983)

P. Diddy, on the track "The DJ," exhorts DJs to hit people 'with that 13-14 minute version' of tracks, to 'engulf them' in the music. And Hell, on his double album TEUFELSWERK, does just that, immersing his listeners in long, extended grooves for the 'Night' disc. Bryan Ferry's smooth vocals on "You Can Dance" provides a nice contrast to the steady electro thrum underneath. For those who prefer more robotic vocals, "Electronic Germany" or "Bodyfarm²" will do the trick. But it's the high-pitched, twitchy "The Disaster" that should catch the most attention (the plinking strings of "Wonderland," though, come in a close second.) The 'Day' disc starts with the ever-morphing ambience of "Germania," while "The Angst" has a quiet beat that steadies it at first, and the breakdown for a guitar interlude, it tottles into light acid territory. "Nightclubbing" is all strings and romance. The awesomely titled "I Prefer Women To Men Anyway" goes for a more rhythmic approach, and "Hell's Kitchen" almost gets us back onto the dance floor. But, really, this album is good for any time of day.