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808 State - ex:el - 04-Oct-08 11:20 AM
Back in 1991 just as the Rave scene was really taking hold I found myself too young to get into the clubs so the only way to get a fix on what was going on was on pirate radio and mix tapes. One weekend at a house party there were a bunch of older lads there who were into the scene and one of them had some cassettes of music which were not labelled up with anything. After much begging I managed to borrow a tape which totally blew me away. However, I had no idea what it was. It was another 13 years before I found out that it was 'ex:el'.

Listening back to this album now I realise just how important 808 State were. This album sums up everything that the early 90's was about musically. 808 State were important becuase they made credible music which had melody yet still packed the punch that the dancefloor craved. They were also very versatile. On 'ex:el' rave monsters like 'Cubik' and 'In Yer Face' sit alongside spacy, tripped out ambient led pieces like 'Qmart' and 'Ooops'. The tracks featuring Bjork are absolute genius and were apparently written by her in the space of just 2 days. ex:el is one of the most important albums of the Rave era and still sounds fresh in 2008.

Eraldo Bernocchi / Thomas Fehlmann - Manual - 04-Oct-08 10:52 AM
I picked this album up on seeing Fehlmann's name on the cover. For me he is one of the finest producers in Electronic music and seems to get better with age. I didn't know much about Bernocchi so I wasn't sure what to expect from this low key release on an Italian label. Well, it turns out to be one of the best albums I have picked up in months. This is difficult music to describe because it does not fall into any specific categories. Although elements of dub techno, experimental electronica, noise, ambient and found sounds are in the mix Manual delivers something that is totally unique. Very well produced throughout every track comes up with a fresh theme and manages to sound alien and otherworldly yet always engaging. As time goes by it becomes harder and harder to come up with truely original music. These boys have done it. Superb late night sounds.

Arctic Hospital - Neon Veils - 13-Sep-08 07:33 AM
This guy is surely one of the most underated producers in Techno today. How many artists can get away with making music which works just as well on the floor as it does on the headphones at home? It is difficult to think of too many direct comparisons but Technasia and Diego spring to mind. There is a great deal of density and layering in each track which compared to most of the minimal tracks around at the moment means that as an album it stands up well to repeated listens. He also demontrates an ability to keep things consistently funky while balancing an abrasive edge with warmer Detroit flavoured atmospherics. Thanks to a comparative lack of variety this album does not quite live up the his fantastic debut but nonetheless this is an essential release that deserves to be heard.

Appleblim - Dubstep Allstars: Vol.06 - 21-Jul-08 01:00 PM
I first heard of Appleblim when I picked up a copy of the 'Skull Disco' album he did with Shackleton. I remember thinking then that it was the freshest thing I had heard in the Dubstep genre. A real evolution from the things that most Dubstep DJ's were playing and for me even better than the first Burial album. So when I heard he was mixing the next Dubstep allstars I knew it had to be an essential purchase.

Did this mix live up to my expectations? Hell yeah! Once again Appleblim is right at the cutting edge of the music. By fusing a strong Techno influence, particularly Basic Channel, into the mix artists like 2562, Peverlist, Martyn, Jus Wan and Appleblim himself have created a whole new sub-genre which is funky, forward thinking and the most exciting thing I have heard in months.

This is also a varied mix covering heavyweight dub skankers to a couple of lighter vocal tracks. All in all a landmark mix - next level business!

Andrea Parker - Nobody's Perfect - 02-Jun-08 01:39 PM
Andrea Parker's Touchin Bass label is a national treasure! Why? Because it is keeping the flame alive what what I would call real Electro. There seems to be a lot of confusion about what Electro is in a music press with many DJ's spinning what they call Electro but what is actually ininspiring house by another name.

This compliation takes the spirit of originators like Cybotron, Bambaataa and Mantronix and brings it into the 21st century. Heavywight electronic breaks, seismic bass pulses and razor-sharp high end frequencies result in total dancefloor devestation. The second installment of Nobody's Perfect takes a more abstract approach but is also a great introduction to a label which never fails to please. True spirit.

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