Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Dam Funk has been foundational in crystallising Stones Throw's undisputed leadership in the nu-school funk and boogie scene, and he's up there with the great J Dilla in our books. Naturally, he's been asked to mix up the latest series of DJ Kicks and, ladies and gentlemen, it's a real masterclass - one of those comps you can safely leave on and let it do its thing on you. The mood is personified by a fine blend of electronics and tougher, funkier rhythms by artists such as Index, Moon B, and Dam himself. There are also a few rare cuts by Chicago house legend Gemini that fit in perfectly, and a whole heap of wavy, Cali-inspired electronic funk. Badass.

Review: It would be fair to say that Deetron has taken the opportunity provided by a DJ Kicks mix to show off a little. We'll forgive him, though, because he's delivered an astonishingly good mix. Cramming an astonishing 38 tracks on to one CD might look like overkill, but the selection, programming and mixing (presumably in the studio, given the number of overdubs and sneaky track blends involved) is so good that you barely notice. Musically, he delivers a brilliant blend of electronic music old and new, moving from deep house and jazzy electronica to ambient via slamming rave jams and almost every techno sub-genre you can think of. We'd usually spend time banging on about highlights, but they're so plentiful that there simply isn't space. Just buy it: you won't be disappointed.

Review: Berlin techno legend Marcel Dettmann is up next for !k7, compiling their latest edition of the esteemed DJ Kicks series. The Berghain resident merges new takes on classics; such as Cybersonik's "Technarchy" (Marcel Dettmann Third mix) and his remix of Infiniti's (aka Juan Atkins) "Skyway" alongside Mystic Bill's classic "U Won't C Me". Elsewhere, he dabbles in classic electro territory from Das Kombinat on "Waschmaschine", industrial proto-techno on Psychick Warriors Ov Gaia's "War Chant" (Marcel Dettmann edit) and some new exclusives from MDR HQ in the form of some interesting collaborations. There's some stripped and textured dub techno featuring Levon Vincent on "Can You See" and a jagged industrial experiment with fellow label mate Wincent Kunth on "Possible Step". While the mix is definitely reminiscent of one of his renowned 12 - 4 warm up sets, the vinyl edition (which comes as a bonus with this double vinyl release in gatefold cover) is a fine collection timeless techno and future classics.

Review: Given their position as high-ranking, chart-bothering dancefloor party-starters, you'd expect Disclosure's contribution to the long-running DJ Kicks mix series to be energetic, enthusiastic and saucer-eyed. It is of course, with the Lawrence Brothers taking us a whirlwind, thrill-a-minute 55-minute trip through the kind of peak-time club cuts that get their creative juices flowing. After a surprisingly sanguine start (Pepe's shimmering ambient), the siblings gleefully skip between synth-laden lo-fi house positivity (Harry Wolfman), excitable nu-disco (Cleanfield) and melodious deep house (Simon Hinter), before opting for spacey synths, beefier beats, sleazier grooves and heavier basslines courtesy of the likes of &On&On, Slum Science and East End Dubs. Chuck in a couple of their own cuts and a dash of D&B at the end and you have a hugely entertaining, ear-pleasing mix-up.

Review: DJ Boring emerged as a pioneer of the lo-fi house sound several years ago. It was short lived but his career has not been. The smart selector has since gone on to become a mainstay of the underground circuit with his high-energy party sounds finding favour all across the world. Now he digs deep to serve up a contemporary mix of feel good jams from the house world including mainstays like Sally C and Burnski as well as dropping an exclusive of his own. It's a tasteful entry into this hallowed series.

Review: Given the series' longevity and high standing, it's genuinely an honour to be asked to do a DJ Kicks mix. It's for that reason that most contributors genuinely raise their game, delivering something that's not only memorable but exquisitely mixed. That's certainly the case with Tristan Hallis AKA DJ Boring, whose DJ Kicks workout slaps hard. Starting with the woozy ambient colour and dubbed-out Balearic vibes of Anthony Napes, Hallis drifts through reverb-laden electronica, blissful downtempo soundscapes and oddball outsider house, before increasing the tempo, intensity and hands-in-the-air factor immeasurably as the mix progresses. It's vibrant, kaleidoscopic and endlessly entertaining, offering a melodious, ear-catching and celebratory take on house, techno and UK bass packed to the rafters with exclusive tracks and little-known treats.