KESSEL VALE Vinilo y CD

Review: Following a fine solo EP from Jonas Friedlich, the Molten Moods label returns to type with another compilation style EP featuring a quartet of cuts from their growing roster of artists. Kessel Vale kicks off proceedings with the lightly melodic, becalmed electronic experimentalism of "Voguing Geisha", before Skee Mask unfurls the Autechre-does-deep-dubstep flex of "Fanta Ocean" with a little assistance from label co-founder Jonas Yamer. On the flipside, Konrad Wehrmeister layers drifting, melancholic melodies over heavy sub-bass and skittish electro beats, while Jonas Yehmer joins the dots between spaced-out dub techno and out-of-this-world ambient on "Insgeheim". Impressive stuff, all told.

Review: RFR's Bavarian Stallion Series reaches volume four. This time round, they've secured tracks from an impressive selection of pedigree producers. Noted techno studs the Zenker Brothers kick things off with "Schwirbler", a heavily distorted, energy-packed peak-time slammer with plenty of extra percussion to keep things moving, before Jelly3000 offers a more melodic and life-affirming take on the techno blueprint whilst retaining some heavy bottom end pressure. Over on side B, Kessel Vale lays down a spot of trippy, early morning broken techno with added Motor City electronics, while Steril impresses via a bouncy electro cut rich in warm and woozy synth stabs.