Compilation Recommendations November 2012

Review: After three years and some 30-odd releases, acclaimed anything-goes Balearic imprint International Feel is being put on ice. While it may return in future (label boss Rocha is deliberately vague about the details), this excellent two-disc set has been designed to bookend the story thus far. As well as familiar favourites from the likes of Locussolus (AKA DJ Harvey), Gatto Fritto, Bepu N'Gali, Hungry Ghost and Flights of Fancy, there's a couple of unreleased originals and remixes. There's also the chance to get hold of some of the label's rarest, previously vinyl-only material, including Panda 88's excellent "You're Gonna Miss Me" and the near mythical "Adventure Party" by The Globe, an essential acid-disco stomper.

Review: Magik Cyrkles invites you the listener to bask in the impressive record collections of Psychemagik, for it seems that the prolific edit and DJ duo operate a nice sideline helping to furnish everyone from Soulwax to Q-Tip to Love Fingers with rare and highly sought after vinyl. Anyone whose familiar with their output since their emergence from The Cosmic Forest in 2009 will not be surprised given the off the beaten track source material for much of their edits. This Leng released compilation veers through all manner of psychedelic funk, cosmodisco, Middle Eastern oddities and much more, with four excusive new edits from the Psychemagik duo themselves. Those with dusty fingers and a penchant for the odder forgotten gems will no doubt be entranced as soon as Intrinsic Trance's opener commences and the label have really surpassed themselves in the presentation stakes with some apt cover art from acclaimed designer Luke Insect adorning this double CD release.

Review: Although he started his career back in the early 2000s and has links with Moodymann's Mahogani Music label, Andres' profile has increased of late thanks to a string of brilliant EPs for M1 Sessions and his own La Vida . The time is surely right, then, to drop his first commercially available mix CD. As you'd expect, it's firmly rooted in soul, effortlessly joining the dots between disco-funk, jazz, slow jams, global beats and summery Latin flavas. Opening with the Universal Robot Band's impeccable "Dance and Shake Your Tambourine", Culture Shock sits somewhere between a particularly good radio show and a dancefloor-bating mix-up, making it perfect for home listening. It also includes Gilberto Gil's disco era samba classic "Toda Menina Baiana", which is never a bad thing.

Review: When interviewed around the release of the first Hercules & Love Affair album in 2008, main man Andy Butler did little to hide his house influences, despite that set's loose disco vibe. Since then, he's continued to pursue a retro-futurist house agenda, and here re-states his credentials with a DJ Kicks mix that happily joins the dots between vintage New York house and garage, acid, contemporary revivalist fare and the odd foray into dubwise electrofunk territory (see the thrilling opener from Mankind). It's an excellent representation of what you could expect from one his basement-bothering DJ sets and is jam-packed with largely overlooked fare from the '80s and '90s.

Review: Polish duo Catz N Dogz have a long history of involvement with Get Physical, so it makes sense that they've been chosen to mix the latest instalment of the long running Body Language series. Their 21-track journey mixes recent faves (Eats Everything, Soul Clap, Justin Martin) and contemporary deep house cuts with classic tech-house jams, long forgotten remixes (Atjazz's excellent version of Rhythm Plate's early 200s jam "Lean") and fashionable US garage revivalism (their own version of Zack Toms' Parade's "Get Up Everybody"). There's even the odd classic (Schtrax's excellent "Mispent Youth") thrown in for good measure. As a result, Body Language 12 is a versatile and enjoyable mix.

Review: Already brandishing one timeless mix CD in his armoury with that Berghain mix, Ben Klock becomes the latest incumbent in the highly regarded Fabric mix series. No 66 in the series finds the Berghain resident taking us on an undulating journey through late night techno, casually slipping between obtuse, heads-down fare, blunt machine rhythms and shuffling, hypnotic grooves. The mix is naturally well constructed and beautifully executed, with plenty of sneaky re-edits, remixes and original productions from the man himself. Musically, there are few surprises, but that's not the point; Klock is a man you turn to for proper techno. It doesn't get much more techno than Fabric 66.

Review: Following last year's first homage to Berlin's version of the Amsterdam Dance event, BerMuDa, Watergate unleash a follow-up to celebrate this year's event. While there's the odd track from out-of-towners, it's largely designed as a celebration of Berlin's vibrant house and techno scene. Given the depth and quality of said scene, there's plenty to enjoy. It mostly sticks closely to the shuffling, atmospheric end of the spectrum, showcasing good quality cuts from the likes of Ame, Solomun, Steve Bug, Ellen Allien and DJ T. There's little we've not heard before - aside an Ame live re-make of Underworld's "Crocodile" - but it does a decent job in showcasing this side of Berlin's thriving scene.

Review: Paris's Kitsune label, a happy home for hipster-friendly electro, synth-pop and indie-dance, this year celebrates 10 years in the game. To mark the occasion, they've put together a special edition of the Kitsune Maison compilation series. In truth, it's little different to previous instalments; there are few concessions to the birthday, just a range of fun, synth-heavy tracks from little known, up and coming acts. As usual, highlights are plentiful, from the delightful modern electrofunk vibes of Lorenz Rhode's "Any Kind of Pressure" (featuring a great vocal from Jamie Lidell) and Balearic synth-pop sunshine of Peter & The Magician, to the dewy-eyed goodness of Monde Ideal.

Review: Amazingly, it's been 14 years since the first Bedrock label release. Never a man to do things by halves, boss John Digweed reckons that's a good excuse to celebrate. So, he's persuaded a mix of label favourites and wide-eyed newcomers to give him an exclusive track each. The result is a fluid, atmospheric, melody-driven collection that joins the dots between Bedrock's prog house past (see Jemmy's "Quarry Bank" and Christian Smith's "The Judgement") and its tech-house present (Pig and Dan's "Crazy", the yearning, emotion-rich minimalism of Wiretapper, and the frothy piano-tech shenanigans of Maxime Dangles).

Review: Given that the series has now run to seven volumes, it's hard to say anything new about Garage Classics. As you're no doubt aware, the series showcases tunes played repeatedly by the legendary Larry Levan at the Paradise Garage. There's perhaps a little more variety on this edition than some previous outings, featuring as it does a sprinkling of 1980s US garage (Bass Noir, Sandee), and a bunch of dub reggae jams (Rita Marley, Black Uhuru, another airing for 'Under me Sleng Teng'). For those interested in the mid '80s period, there are also a few highlights, not least a chance to check Gwen Guthrie's largely forgotten "Outside In The Rain".

Review: The hush-hush Loft Classics series, an unlicensed celebration of music played by David Mancuso at his legendary New York loft parties, returns for an eighth volume. Those who've explored previous volumes will know what to expect, namely an expansive trawl through disco, soul and jazz. There are some familiar favourites present (Cream's "Sunshine of your Love", the early deep house of "Never No More Lonely"), alongside plenty of lesser-known jams, most of which have a decidedly spiritual bent (see "Celestial Blues" and "It's Critical"). There's little in the way of shirts-off disco, but the conscious and slightly cosmic vibe throughout more than makes up for it.

Review: For years now, Newcastle-based funk/breaks fusionist Smoove has been one of Jalepeno's most decorated artists. His particular brand of party-starting groovery continues to be popular with dancefloors - hence the rather large amount of remix requests he gets. First Class gathers together 13 of his favourite remixes to date, offering a string of soulful, floor-friendly reworks that verge from the boisterous (the heavy percussion of his New Mastersounds tweak) to the banging (a hectic revision of The Third Degree's "Can't Get You Out of My Head"). There are sweaty moments by the armful, too (check the Bahama Soul Club re-make) and toe tapping jams aplenty (Brenda Boykin). Funk fans will love it.