Electro House Recommendations March 2012

Review: It was another downpour of releases from Kris Menance on Compuphonic in 2012, always puhing his sleep and seductive electro-filtered sound. Here, title track "Elove" is a thunderstorm of sharp synth bleeps and melancholic bass injections. "Pingeling" is also emotional as it is driving, with its big chords raining down on us; and on the flip, "Mockingbrid" is a hazy, early morning voyage through beats and cascading melodies, whilst "1995" is Menace at his very tranciest - fist-pumping beats and flanged effects!

Review: Long running French imprint Ed Banger unleash this monolithic twelve inch from figureheads Justeeece which features remixes from messrs Alkan, Tiga and Brodi. "On & On" is the latest track to be taken from Justice's long awaited and opinion splitting second LP Audio Video Disco and is perhaps the best example of the sort of prog rock meets 21st Century gallic electro they were aiming for. The accompanying Brodinski remix naturally sheds the proggier elements for an expertly wound up main room electro revision, whilst the flip sees modern day DJ superstars Erol and Tiga rework "Canon". The presence of both demonstrate that Justice still retain a certain cache amongst their peers and both remixes will find favour amongst those who prefer their remixes to be on the disjointed, maximal side.

Review: 541 Belgium is still very much in the gam after all its successful years of output. This time we had a very tasty looking sample from some oh their closest homies and it's all gone blazing with Sandro Silva and Quintino's "Epic" - a Chicago-coated house track with a seriously menacing bass drum and sharp rave stabs! Goodwill teams up with Hook N Sling for "Take You Higher", a 7am Ibiza kind of thing; followed up by a mix of the same track by Rogerseventytwo - shuffling beats, boot-shaking lyrics and just a whole load of house vibes.

Review: Since launching in 2010, BNR Trax has provided fans of the Boys Noize sound with extra helpings of forthright dancefloor fare. Having reached the ripe old age of 10 releases, the German duo have decided to gather together the label's best tracks to date on one handy CD. Those who enjoy the Boys Noize sound - that intense, body-shaking mix of acid, techno, house and old skool rave influences - would be advised to give it a whirl. It features some real eye-popping, no-holds-barred fare from the likes of Para One, Maelstrom and Bobmo, whose 808-heavy "Northside" is an undoubted highlight. Check also the chiming, Orbital-ish 90s rave of Maelstrom's "La Sheltan". Since all of the releases have been digital-only thus far, BNR Trax 1-10 is the imprint's first physical release.

Review: Prone to dressing up in Altern-8 style rave suits and painting his head a Hulk-like green, Belgian DJ Stefaan "Lektroluv" Vandenberghe is a bit of a card. Though yet to make much impression in the UK, his near endless stream of bombastic electroclash/electro-house mix CDs has garnered him a big following around the world. This latest mix session was recorded live in Brazil (as the title suggests) and sees him at his most forthright and robust. Complete with whooping, hollering and assorted other crowd noises, it sees him mix up twisted electrohouse, electro-tinted techno, near trance-like rinseouts and lots of records full of seriously heavy noises. As club sets go, it's as fun as they come.

Review: Ed Banger present this 10" accoutrement to the main event that is Justice getting the remix treatment from Erol, Tiga et al, though there is plenty to admire here - not least the genius commission of iconic rap impresario Rick Rubin to remix "On & On". The track itself can be viewed as Xavier & Gaspard's most accomplished melding of throwback prog rock and 21st century Gallic electro from their opinion splitting second LP Audio Video Disco. Ed Banger's visual force So Me unveils his new production outfit Video Village, lending the track a softer synth pop edge reminiscent of Air circa Moon Safari, but it is the flipside endeavours of Rubin that truly impress though. Turning in one of his trademark "Ruined" efforts, the bearded don realigns the track to a bass hugging boom bap rhythm that is truly revelatory.