A long time fav from the Kompakt label, Japan's Kaito makes heartbroken, wistful techno. But on Inside River, Kaito takes a lively, beatboxing, two step and intertwines in with the sadness of his (sometimes overwrought) crystal clean techno. The contrast between the layers of feeling is perfect, and I can say without exaggeration, that I have bounced along to this tune a hundred times. Let it propel you forward, to either heartbreak or joy. Inside River by KL8TON
Long time favorite. The amount of imagery in this twisted Rhumba is amazing. Like a heartbreak nightmare, while passed out drunk at a beach side pool bar. Shore Leave by MakerooM
New single from PRG'Z, is more vibey drug rap. Their Mad Decent release was so original, it's almost like an entire new rap genre. Spaced Out Pill Rap sounds about right to me.
I really liked the original track from The Very Best, with VeeDub's lead singer fulfilling the Graceland prophecy hinted at in his own band's Afropopin' full length. Here Architecture In Helsinki rework this as a clarinet-swing-synth jaunt. I don't know if it's cuz it's the last few weekends I can truly call summer, but this tune is full of joy. Positivity getting goofy, and it works.
The Metronomy remix is also good. With it's auto-tuned squawk, and cinematic bombast over Daft Punk house grooves and vocoder guitar. It spills out on to the dancefloor more than the other two tunes. Not much Warm Heart left in this one, but it's worth it's 3 minutes.
A MakerooM favorite for sometime. The criminally overlooked ZZ Hill puts his stamp on what was once a country tune, but you'd never guess from the northern soul soak permeating through this revengeful jam. Romantic, paranoid and vicious, just the way love should be. Or at least any love worth singing about.
A stunner of a love song. An almost overly economical electro-pop tune. Highlight is Seb's "I'm still in love with you", baiting and switching all the bravado that came before it. Truly deep pop.