SVEN VATH Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Given that he's been active as a producer since the dawn of the 90s, it would be fair to say that Sven Vath is well worthy of an authoritative, expansive retrospective. That's certainly what we get here on this quadruple-vinyl mix of classic productions and fresh, eye-catching remixes. It's the latter that dominate the early stages of the collection - see Adam Port's hypnotic, didgeridoo-sporting revision of 'Ritual of Life', Speedy J's acid-fired stomp through 'Ballet-Fusion' - before Vath showcases some of his choice cuts. There's naturally to set the pulse racing, from the twisted, sub-heavy thump of 'Cala Llonga' and the tactile hypnotism of 'Sounds That Control Your Life', to the electroclash-meets-Kraftwerk flex of 'Dein Schweiss' and the ambient techno excellence of 'The Day After', a 21- minute epic from 1995 produced alongside Steffen Britzke as Astral Pilot.

Review: Since Sven Vath's 2022 album Catharsis was an epic, triple-vinyl affair, it seems fitting that this remixed version is equally as vast. There are one or two surprises - see Krystal Klear's grandiose, big room trance take on 'Feiern' and a wonderfully pitched-down, chugging and bleeping re-wire of 'Catharsis' courtesy of Mano Le Tough - but for the most part the revisions offer different takes on big room-friendly techno and drowsy Germanic tech-house. That's no bad thing though, as the highlights come thick and fast throughout, with our picks of a very strong bunch including the deep, dreamy and intergalactic Florian Hollerith version of 'Silvi's Dream', a thumping, frankly nightmarish Planetary Assault Systems revision of 'Nyx', a dubbed-out-but-jacking Detroit techno take on 'Butoh' by Robert Hood, and Robag Wruhme's wonderfully wonky interpretation of 'The Worm'.

Review: Midway through 2021, Sven Vath delivered his first single in well over five years, the squelchy, warming and melodious goodness of 'Feiern'. Here he begins 2022 in style via a two-track missive that's every bit as rushing whilst opting for a more abrasive, angular and foreboding sound. 'Mystic Voices' is particularly potent, with its combination of panicked TB-303 acid motifs, throbbing electronics and emotive chords recalling the majesty of Orbital circa the Brown Album. Flipside 'Butoh', meanwhile, is a much more hushed affair, with long, atmospheric ambient build ups dropping into dark techno grooves, pots and pans percussions and more high-register, Orbital style electronic flourishes.