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COMPILATION OF THE MONTH

I-Robots present
We are Opilec … ! (Opilec Music)
A first for the electro page as we make a double CD our comp of the month. Not unlike the Stimulus EP found elsewhere on this page, this is also a label showcase with close links to robots (Opilec shares its name with a story written by Josef Čapek, brother of Karel who invented the word ‘robot’). Electro, krautrock and Italo-disco all collide on this varied 22-track collection from the wonderful Italian label, revealing what’s in their locker for 2012. An added bonus is that they haven’t mixed the tracks, meaning this album will go some way to tip your next DJ set ahead of the curve if your crowd are open to something new.
3/5

TUNE OF THE MONTH

Autokratz & Lee Mortimer
Faith (Bad Life)
The riff on this track is so big that when planes fly over it they need clearance to use the airspace. We’re talking massive. But the track doesn’t just rest on the riff to make its point – the accompanying beats, squeaks, bass and samples make it a set highlight for any DJ who thinks the surrounding tracks can hold up such a shock-and-awe-inspired smash.
4/5

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SWEDISH HOUSE MAFIA VS KNIFE PARTY
Antidote (EMI)
Teaming up with Knife Party (Rob and Gareth from Pendulum), this electro/bass/rave track sounds like it could have been lifted from a Prodigy album. It’s a lot darker and less obvious than the Swedes’ previous stuff, right up until the cringy vocoder rap saying stuff like ‘Turn this mother up’, which sounds like something Alan Partridge might say.
3/5

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THE GHOSTS
Enough time (Pocket Records)
The Ghosts are the new band featuring former Ou Est Le Swimming Pool member Alex Starling with drummer Ian Palmer and Tim Bran, who’s produced for La Roux. First single ‘Enough Time’ is a delicate and emotive piece of falsetto-sung indie synth- pop. The Vanguard mix takes the whole thing down a more upbeat, quirksome route. We’ve heard a few more tracks from the forthcoming album – we predict big things for 2012.
4/5

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Mat le Star
The Waltzer EP (Super-beat)
While the majority of Mat le Star’s new EP is made up of underground tech-house, the last track, ‘Lost Cities’, is a piece of dark electro that is more sinister than hanging round in the shadows wearing a long black cape. We hope Mat doesn’t stray too far off his previous electro routes now that the likes of Jamie Jones and Audiofly are playing his more house-orientated bits. Fashion may say his subtle and intrinsic music is deemed cooler right now but there’s always room in sets for the melodic highlights too.
3/5

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Roman D’Amour
Make Love Tonight (Computer Science)
While his name sounds about as genuine as Theophilus P Wildebeeste, the effect of Roman D’Amour’s electro- tinged 90s disco-house on dancefloors is very real. The original is a clear electro-house winner, whereas the Lifelife re-edit is a repetitive roller. The Peo De Pitte remix has a credibility issue – with all the stutters and crunches of the added electro, this is as subtle as a cannonball to the temple fired at point- blank range.
3/5

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THE JAPANESE POPSTARS
Shells of Silver (Virgin)
So unaccustomed are we to The JPs doing anything less than 130bpm, when we started playing ‘Shells of Silver’ we assumed time itself was grinding to a halt. One of the slowest tracks from their recent album, ‘Controlling Your Allegiance’, ‘Shells of Silver’ is beautiful. The guest vocalist has a graceful voice and the production adds poignancy. If you simply must find a way to get this in your DJ set, look to the remixes from Maxxi Soundsystem, Superstringz and The White Sea. None really ramps up the BPM, but it’s not always about banging it out hard and fast, you know.
4/5

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Wretch 32
Forgiveness (Ministry of Sound)
Despite him being an urban artist, the people behind Wretch 32, ie Ministry, always value the importance of a decent dance remix, hence Manhattan Clique getting on this. Threading the vocal from Etta Bond through some nice electro key changes and obligatory synth stabs, it’s a good two and a half minutes before Mr 32 shows up and the track switches to a dubstep tempo. It switches back once he’s gone. Maybe you can get on Rekordbox or Ableton and edit him out?
3/5

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Hatiras vs Kongman Manners
Helicopter (Surfer Rosa)
This is the type of electro you get from LMFAO and Pitbull: lame lyrics, big electro stabs; the stuff that fills those European holiday bars where sex on the beach isn’t a cocktail, it’s how you tip the barmen. The Hatiras mix is a little more palatable. If I knew how to ‘Do the Helicopter’, as the song keeps requesting, maybe I’d be more into it.
2/5

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Various
My Favourite Robot’s Seventh Stimulus (My Favourite Robot Records)
Like an EP but for an entire label, the Stimulus series showcases the newbies from My Favourite Robot Records. The five tracker includes work from T.W.I.C.E (nightmarish collage of sounds including samples of spoken word poetry from Will Self), Sebastian Voigt & Eric Volta (moody), White Lions (has an underlying groove if little else), Metrika & Bastard Love (simple, dark, cool track called ‘I Owe You’) and Blind Minded (stripped- back wankiness). A mixed, experimental bag with Metrika & Bastard Love the only genuine highlight.
2/5

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White Noise Machine
Dirty Love (Exclusive Recordings)
There’s a trance ethic to this kind of big-room electro – big breakdown, female vocal and heartstring lyrics. Surrounding the obvious focal point are synth lines, pads and bass to make this one for the big rooms or festival tents.
3/5

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Arveene & MiSK
Out for More (Animal Language)
While the other half of this double A-side (‘I Need You’) is one for our house reviewer, we are pleased to welcome back Arveene & MiSK to suckle on our electro teats with ‘Out For More’. It’s full of hissing, bendy acid lines and female vox samples. It does the trick but in between the slayers that you’re really looking forward to dropping.
3/5

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The Black Ghosts
Water Will Find A Way (Southern Fried Records)
The opening (and, I’d argue, best) track from their album ‘When Animals Stare’ gets a full release in January. The original is a masterpiece of tension, drama and grace, with brass and string sections, xylophones and Simon’s solid vocals. Remixes come from duos Panton & Cyron B plus Firas & RCRD. Both are of a high standard, but trying to surpass the original would be like trying to better the Mona Lisa on an Etch-A-Sketch .
4/5

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