01. Hercules & Love Affair, “My House”
[Mochi Mochi Recordings] (buy)
Although Hercules & Love Affair is best known as a disco group, Andrew Butler often worked elements of influential American house music into their songs. In fact the band’s first single since 2008 is the spiritual successor to their charged Chicago house track, “You Belong.” “My House” seems to inch forward in time to the late ’80s and early ’90s and integrates touches of a New York sound in its Windy City foundation. Its mellifluous bass and dexterous percussion form a muscular core that pulls the track through live-wire synth hums, vocals exhorting listeners to “Get up! Get up!” But what always sells me on Butler’s compositions is the songwriting. From its ebullient chorus declaring “My house / is in order,” to the clever verses and extraordinary bridge/breakdown, the song has fan-turned-vocalist Shaun Wright belting out an endearing tale about the peace of mind accompanying a stable relationship which doubles as an excellent house track. If you had any concerns about how H&LA would top their early peaks, “My House” should put them to rest with yet another high watermark for the group.

02. RNDM, “Hideaway Lane” (Dub) [Laid] (buy)
Oliver Kargl hasn’t seemed rushed by dance music’s mercurial ways, releasing only occasionally as half of Pigon with Efdemin, and just as sparingly when flying solo as RNDM. Slowly but steadily he’s established himself as a canny house producer with a few tracks for Dial, a tune for Naïf, and a 12″ for Laid. Hideaway Lane, his second, latest release for Laid, represents a leap forward for the Berlin-based producer. The Dub mix emerges as my favorite for bringing together the tuneful bass of the Shine mix and the spiraling, airy treble of the original. With its soothing pads and soft, tuneful synth undulations, the tune conveys a calm that’s only made more inviting by the lathered up bass line. Tender and limber all at once, “Hideaway Lane” strongly affirms the promise of Kargl’s measured ascent.

03. Lone, “Cloud 909″ [Magic Wire Recordings] (buy)
In spite of his prolific nature and the hype surrounding his “Pineapple Crush” track, Matt Cutler aka Lone didn’t really get my attention until the arrival of his late-2010 album, Emerald Fantasy Tracks. Over the course of its eight tracks, Cutler refined the sun-warped house sound of “Pineapple” into something a bit breathtaking. Opening track “Cloud 909″ is exemplary of this; hyper and housey like Underground Resistance’s “Jupiter Jazz” but furnished with a micro-textured sound akin to DJ Koze or Pepe Bradock. The result is sprightly and somewhat dazed by its own ostensible age — exultant and familiar but too singular to be pastiche. It’s a style few producers can pull off and Cutler does so repeatedly across his fourth long-player. I eagerly await his work 2011.

04. Sandwell District, “Speed + Sound (Endless)” [Sandwell District] (buy)
Sandwell District, both the label and collective, first established itself as a bastion for bleak, uncompromising techno. But as time passes the stony facade has crumbled and a more hopeful and melodically inclined face has revealed itself, starting with the sampler EPs and coming to a head with their long awaited album, Feed-Forward. Although critical consensus has lifted “Falling The Same Way” as the album’s peak, I find myself returning to its closer, “Speed + Sound (Endless),” for repeated eardrum massages. As with much of the album you can pick up any number of influences from the tune, mostly from the electronic side of Krautrock: Manuel Göttsching as Ash Ra Tempel, Harmonia, Tangerine Dream, Cluster, or even Kraftwerk. Balmy and pulsing, crested with gorgeous, swelling chords, minute hi-hats ticking along without disturbing the flow, the track gives the listener the sense Sandwell are as content to conjure soothing moods as dreary ones.

05. XI, “Gamma Rain” [Orca Recordings] (buy)
After a very prolific 2010, Toronto’s XI (Christian Andersen to his friends) begins 2011 on an auspicious note with his Gamma Rain/Medicate single for quickly rising imprint Orca Recordings. Side A dominates the proceedings with a hyper kinetic garage tune that imagines frantic sax lines being beamed through a wormhole, their notes and composition turning inside out, ripping apart and smacking back together with cosmic force. Both the interstellar mood and jazzy nature of “Gamma Rain” smacks of latter day Flying Lotus, but its limber yet straightforward percussion arrangements have more in common with garage/bass music than Dilla’s most revered disciple. Reaching uncharted corners of the sonic universe last aimed for by drum n’ bass producers, “Gamma Rain” is an impressive way to begin a year and potentially the catalyst for more concerted interest in XI.

06. Lauer, “Banned” [Live At Robert Johnson] (buy)
07. Audio Werner, “Guteaussichten” [Story] (buy)
08. Tin Man, “Nonneo” [Absurd Recordings] (buy)
09. Obsolete Music Technology, “Latency”
[Machining Dreams] (buy)
10. Roman Flügel, “How to Spread Lies” [Dial] (buy)

Staff Charts:

Chris Burkhalter
01. Digital Mystikz, “Education” [DMZ]
02. Lone, “The Birds Don’t Fly This High” [Magic Wire Recordings]
03. Kassem Mosse, “2d” [Kinda Soul]
04. Moritz von Oswald Trio, “Restructure 2 (Digital Mystikz)” [Honest Jon's]
05. Aardvarck, “Nosestep (Cosmin TRG remix)” [Rush Hour]
06. Rolando, “Junie” [Ostgut Ton]
07. Sandwell District, “Svar” [Sandwell District]
08. Tin Man, “Nonneo” [Absurd Recordings]
09. Area, “So Many Fireflies” [Kimochi]
10. Juju & Jordash, “Quasi Quasi” [Dekmantel]

Luke Hawkins
01. Bodycode, “I’ll Hold Your Hand” [Spectral Sound]
02. Newworldaquarium, “The Force” [NWAQ]
03. SND, “Atavism 2″ [Raster-Noton]
04. Ø, “Helium” [Sähkö Recordings]
05. Flying Lotus, “Parisian Goldfish” [Warp]
06. Moritz von Oswald Trio, “Restructure 2″ [Honest Jon's]
07. Actress, “Purrple Splazsh” [Honest Jon's]
08. Hieroglyphic Being, “Belief and Reality” [Mathematics]
09. Rick “Poppa” Howard, “Do What You Have To” [Rush Hour]
10. Tin Man, “Nonneo” [Absurd Recordings]

Steve Kerr
01. Andy Ash, “Freak” [On The Prowl Party Breaks]
02. Cally, “Wake Oops” [Fear Of Flying]
03. Virgo Four, “Look Into Your Eyes” [Rush Hour]
04. Tony Wilson, “New York City Life” [Bearsville]
05. Elphino, “I Just Can’t” [Somethink Sounds]
06. Roche, “Sk Rhythm” [Solos Recordings]
07. Brooks Mosher, “Intermetro” [Dolly]
08. Kowton, “She Don’t Jack” [Idle Hands]
09. Ital, “One Hit” [100% Silk]
10. Nina Kraviz, “Tanya” [Rekids]

Kuri Kondrak
01. Martyn/Mike Slott, “Pointing Fingers” [All City]
02. Shake, “Trackin” [Fit]
03. Tevo Howard, “The Age Of Compassion” [Buzzin Fly']
04. C-Beams, “Thumbling” [Uncanny Valley]
05. Ever Vivid, “Abandoned Virtues” [Open Mind]
06. BitterSuite, “Squeeze In” [Atmospheric Existence Recordings]
07. Juanpablo, “Dream” (J.T.C. Remix) [Frigio Records]
08. DMX Krew, “Worm Hole” [Fresh Up]
09. Arne Weinberg, “Motive Force” [Diametric]
10. Kassem Mosse, “2D” [Kinda Soul]

Chris Miller
01. Steffi ft. Virginia, “Yours” [Ostgut Ton]
02. Margaret Dygas, “We’re Not The Same” [Perlon]
03. Scuba, “Feel It” [Hotflush Recordings]
04. Tin Man, “Nonneo” [Absurd Recordings]
05. Joy Orbison, “BB” [Doldrums]
06. Tyrez, “Functional Love” [Dolly]
07. Kassem Mosse, “Untitled” [Trilogy Tapes]
08. Sepalcure, “No Think” [Hotflush Recordings]
09. Martyn x Mike Slott, “All Night” [All City]
10. Owen Jay & Melchior Sultana, “Days Gone By” [Underground Quality]

Jordan Rothlein
01. Tin Man, “Nonneo” [Absurd]
02. Steffi, “Reasons” (feat. Virginia) [Underground Quality]
03. Sepalcure, “No Think” [Hotflush Recordings]
04. Pawel, “Kramnik” (John Roberts Remix) [Dial]
05. Lauer, “H.R. Boss” [Live From Robert Johnson]
06. Steffi, “Nightspacer” [Ostgut Ton]
07. Mayhem & Distal, “Frozen Barnacles” [Surefire Sound]
08. Knifeshow, “Hallways” [Fancy Restaurant]
09. Rolando, “Junie” [Ostgut Ton]
10. Margaret Dygas, “We’re Not The Same” [Perlon]

Andrew Ryce
01. Kevin McPhee, “Get In With You” [nakedlunch]
02. XI, “Gamma Rain” [Orca]
03. Croms, “Invisible Cities” [Exit]
04. Boddika, “Daze That Were”
05. Joel Mull, “Holographic” [Truesoul]
06. Salva, “Icey” [Friends of Friends]
07. Steffi, “Reasons” [Underground Quality]
08. Contakt, “Not Forgotten” [Local Action]
09. Mode, “Stepping Stone” [Exit]
10. DJG, “Automatic” [Brownswood]

Jack Scourfield
01. Gil Scott-Heron & Jamie xx, “NY Is Killing Me” [XL]
02. Braiden, “The Alps” [Doldrums]
03. Sepalcure, “Your Love” [Hotflush Recordings]
04. Krystal Klear, “Tried For Your Love (Hudson Mohawke Remix)”
[All City]
05. Vindicatrix, “Hume” [Mordant Music]
06. Bakey Ustl, “A Tender Places” [Unthank]
07. Cassie, “Me & U (Brackles Remix)” [Local Action]
08. Chasing Voices, “Ex Nihilo Nihil Fit” [Preserved Instincts]
09. Katy B feat. Ms. Dynamite, “Lights On” [Rinse]
10. Mzo Bullet, “Casablanca” [New State Music]

[Story]

Both aesthetically and in popularity, Audio Werner is a producer perhaps best described as a known unknown. Throughout a career that’s seen the Cologne-based Andreas Werner release for a range of well respected labels such as Perlon, Hartchef Discos and Hello?Repeat, he’s avoided settling into a single style of house music and more often written for the circumstances. While these shifts may have thrown off those not following him closely, his fans could reasonably anticipate quality tracks wherever and whenever they saw release. After the Meanwhile 2×12″ for Hartchef Discos, his longest work to date, Werner closed 2010 with an EP for the Story imprint.

Despite its creator’s unpredictable nature, Story#005 is a record which quickly identifies as the work of Werner. The prolific, garage-influenced interplay between his snare and hi-hat patterns is familiar and constant throughout, often in the service of subdued progressions. In “Feel About,” organ tones slosh merrily from side-to-side as Werner gradually builds and unfolds a vocal sample promising to “change the way you feel about” an undefined subject. Muted eighth notes rise and fall in “Return,” offering few changes besides the sharpness of their focus and the minute accompaniments gurgling beneath. Featuring similar elements arranged in unexpectedly lovely ways, the Chicago-inspired “Guteaussichten” (roughly “Good Outlook”) glows as its rich organ chords flare and fade like sunspots, leaving walking bass notes and gentle synth leads to fill out the frequency range. So while Story#005 finds Audio Werner working well within his comfort zone, a track like “Guteaussichten” testifies to how fertile that territory remains.

[Minibar]

Way back in the days when mnml was all the rage, Andreas Werner was a reliable choice for well articulated techno that showed respect for dance fashions and rebelled against them at the same time. The Cologne linchpin has had two years out from production, only to bounce back with two new releases this year, one each for Minibar and Hartchef Discos. “A.S.A.P” features the same astute percussion that made Audio Werner’s name, as well as a depth and grace that will be familiar to fans of records like 2004′s “Deep Sheep.”

“Dito” glides along, extracting all the juice and just a little pulp from a few notes of plundering bass line, a poised riff, and a sliced up vocal sample. Familiar territory, but the joy here comes from the deftness of Werner’s touch. “Dito” is nothing but well chosen elements repeated with small and elegant permutations, and immediately calls to mind ephemeral club moments lost from memory. “Ulip” rehashes the same territory. Its sonic world is a touch messier, and despite a slow buildup adding weight towards the end, never congeals enough to gain the same emotional power as the A side. Audio Werner has never been an easy one to pin down. His music displays a uniform individual character, but is never branded with the more gauche signifiers of personality. “Ulip” is a bit of a throwaway, but “Dito” is an unpretentious exploration of those shy, hidden bits of meaning only electronic music can touch on. That it does this in the form of a sophisticated club track free from distracting window dressing only makes things all the sweeter.

Chart courtesy of The Economist.

01. St. Plomb, “Flight Back” [Contentismissing] (buy)
Only four releases into their existence, the Swiss label/collective Contentismissing has quickly become a reliable source for eclectic techno slates bearing thought-provoking artwork. Their latest, “24h,” rounds up tracks from Rene Breitbarth, Buttha, Hofuku Sochi and St. Plomb, whose “Flight Back” is the clear standout. Amid glistening pads and hitched up hats a juicy organ progression sloshes from side to side, threatening to splash over the sides as the track intensifies. An essential gear from this often reserved producer.

02. Audio Werner, “Easygoing”
[Hartchef Discos] (buy)
Two years after his “Flat Funk” slunk its way into many DJs’ crates, Audio Werner has returned with a new 12″ for the underrated Hartchef Discos. “Easygoing” is well positioned to please the new wave of ‘heads cottoning on to Werner’s script-flipping house sound, feeling like a follow up to 2005′s “Still Jackin’.” Its minor stabs balance nimbly on skinny legs, laying out the palate for Werner to smear into longer melodies. Although the understated bass line comes as a surprise, Werner’s glib vocal samples and endless minute tweaks are sure to keep listeners on their feet.

03. Glimpse, “Drifting” (C2 Deep Mix) [Planet E] (buy)
Sometimes we think Carl Craig signs tracks to Planet E because he sees their innate potential as fodder for his signature remixes. Now we can add prolific producer Glimpse to Martin Buttrich and Sebastien San as producers whose like-minded Planet E tunes provided C2 with the kit for something much larger. Both of his versions are unhinged to better swallow the dance floor, metallic jaws crunching down on simmering percussion, ostinato drones and roiling acid vamps. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but the “Deep Mix” has a raw bite that can’t be beat.

04. Spencer Parker, “Untitled Head”
[liebe*detail] (buy)
Fitting vocal snippets into techno mosaics is hardly a new production technique but it’s seen a big resurgence in the last year with varying degrees of success. One of the better examples, Spencer Parker’s “Untitled Head,” is found on liebe*detail’s latest platter. By grooming and programming mono syllabic vocal samples, Parker creates the illusion of a plucked guitar riff darting between thick tom runs. Its outward simplicity makes its infectious groove even more contagious and dangerous in the hands of DJs. We look forward to more from Mr. Parker.

05. David K, “73 Tomtom Avenue” (Jimpster remix) [Tsuba Records] (buy)
Speaking of tracks focusing on vocal samples, “73 Tomtom Avenue” by David K and remixed by Jimpster offers a more traditional and equally enjoyable take on the tactic. Ever the reliable and insatiable remixer, Jimpster wedges the original’s strengths into his wheelhouse of deep, melodic house. More in the mold of Ron Trent and Chez Damier, the tune dribbles a beatboxed sample like a basketball cloaked in dubbed out melodies and stretched strings. And while Jimpster avoids taking many risks, dancers and DJs alike will revel in its consistent good vibes and surprisingly fresh execution.

06. House of House, “Rushing to Paradise (Walkin’ These Streets)”
[Whatever We Want Records] (buy)
07. The Mountain People, “Mountain007.1″
[Mountain People] (buy)
08. Shed, “Another Wedged Chicken” (Martyn’s 131 remix) [Ostgut Tonträger] (buy)
09. DJ Koze, “Spitzer Group” [LWE]
10. Loco Dice, “Tight Laces” (Marcel Dettmann’s Response 1 & 2) [Desolat] (buy)

Check out LWE staff charts after the jump.


Staff Charts

Bill Bearden:

01. Starkey, “Gutter Music” [Keysound]
02. Rusko, “Moaners” [Sub Soldiers]
03. Martyn, “Yet” [Tectonic]
04. Untold, “Sweat” [Hotflush Recordings]
05. Rusko, “Get Your Cock Out” [Dub Files]
06. Toasty, “The Knowledge” (Untold remix) [Hotflush Recordings]
07. Pangaea, “Mosaix” [Hotflush Recordings]
08. A-Trak, “Say Whoa” (Sinden remix) [Kitsune]
09. Joker, “Digidesign” [Hyperdub]
10. Kromestar, “Alien” [Southside Dubs]

Per Bojsen-Moller:

01. Various Production, “Lost” (Actress remix) [Various Production]
02. Stefan Goldmann, “Art Of Sorrow” [Victoriaville]
03. Pangaea, “Bear Witness/Mosaix” [Hotflush Recordings]
04. La Roux, “In For The Kill” (Skream’s Let Get Ravey remix) [Not On label]
05. Marko Furstenberg, “Esbenhain” [Baum Records]
06. Isolée, “October” [Diynamic Music]
07. Mark Broom, “Deal Or No Deal” [D1 Recordings]
08. Adele, “Chasing Pavements” (Various Production remix)
[Various Production]
09. Stewart Walker, “Stundenzimmer” [Persona Recordings]
10. L.D., “Traumatic Times” [Hyperdub]

Chris Burkhalter:

01. Black Jazz Consortium, “New Horizon” [Soul People Music]
02. Isolée, “A Nightingale” [Diynamic Music]
03. Pangaea, “Bear Witness” [Hotflush Recordings]
04. Trackleton, ” While My Sequencer Gently Weeps” [Yore Records]
05. Kode9, “Black Sun” [Hyperdub]
06. Nhar, “Hexoflip” (Tobias remix) [Mobilee]
07. Snd, “3″ [Raster-Noton]
08. Pan-Pot, “Ape Shall Never Kill Ape” (Cassy remix) [Mobilee]
09. Mark Broom, “Runners” [D1 Recordings]
10. Argenis Brito, “Lolipop” [Cadenza]

Peder Clark:

01. Ben Klock, “Grip” [Ostgut Tonträger]
02. Dplay, “Huub Sand” [Running Back]
03. Lawrence, “Hamtramck” [Mule Electronic]
04. Anthony “Shake” Shakir, “It Erased Me” [Morphine Records]
05. The Detroit Experiment, “Think Twice” (Henrik Schwarz Live Edit) [Juno]
06. Wireman, “Armour” (Move D remix) [Prime Numbers]
07. Wbeeza, “Roks Dogg” [Third Ear Recordings]
08. Kerri Chandler, “Pong” (Ben Klock’s Bones & Strings Rework)
[Deeply Rooted House]
09. Actress, “Crushed” [Prime Numbers]
10. Kapuchon & Benny Rodrigues, “Unexpected” [Beyond Recordings]

Nate DeYoung:

01. Fever Ray, Fever Ray [Rabid Records]
02. Audion, “I Am the Car” [audion.me]
03. The Popular People’s Front, “Love EP” [The Popular People's Front]
04. Ernesto Ferreyra, “Hunted” [Cadenza]
05. Horsepower Productions, “Damn It” [Tempa]
06. Shontelle, “T-Shirt” (Crazy Cousinz Extended Mix)
[Universal Island Records]
07. Prins Thomas, “Mammut” [Full Pupp]
08. Osborne, “Hovercrafting EP” [Spectral Sound]
09. Madioko ‘N Rafika, “Ellelli” (Kalabrese remix) [Innervisions]
10. Michel Cleis, “La Mezcla” [Cadenza]

Shuja Haider:

01. Moody, “Desire” [KDJ]
02. The Future, “They Call Me” [Sect Records]
03. Lerosa, “Minefield” [Real Soon]
04. Mountain People, “Mountain007.1″ [Mountain People]
05. The Mole, “There’s Hope” [Internasjonal]
06. Actress, “Crushed” [Prime Numbers]
07. Jitterbug, “No Pressure” [Uzuri]
08. Prins Thomas, “Mammut” [Full Pupp]
09. Jus-Ed, “Sweetness” [Underground Quality]
10. Tony Lionni, “Divine Being” [Mule Musiq]

Todd Hutlock:

01. Kode9, “Black Sun” [Hyperdub]
02. Stefan Goldmann, “Art of Sorrow” [Victoriaville]
03. Jay feat. Ricardo, “Mellow Dee” [Contexterrior]
04. tobias., “Clapper” [Diamonds and Pearls Music]
05. Prins Thomas, “Mammut” [Full Pupp]
06. Andy Stott, “Drippin” [Modern Love]
07. Matt John, “Sacing” [Perlon]
08. Thabo, “Berlin” [Ornaments]
09. Argenis Brito, “Lolipop” [Cadenza]
10. Marko Fürstenberg, “Espenhain” [Baum Records]

Will Lynch

01. Nick Holder, “Feelin’ Sad” [Sushitech Purple]
02. Wolf + Lamb, “If U Had” (Shaun Reeves Edit) [Wolf + Lamb]
03. Jason Fine, “Half” (Anton Zap remix) [Kontra-Musik]
04. Luke Hess, “Agape Dub” [Modelisme Records]
05. The Descent, “Spice Market” (Black Pepper Shrimp Mix)
[Railyard Recordings]
06. Norman Nodge, “Attitudes” [Marcel Dettmann Records]
07. Nils Anthes, “Lost Soul Chapter 1″ (Sascha Dive’s Sex Wax remix)
[Be Chosen]
08. Pendle Coven, “Optimal” [Modern Love]
09. La Peña, “Free From Love” [La Peña]
10. Wireman, “Armour” (Move D remix) [Prime Numbers]