Compilation Recommendations May 2013

Review: It's been four years since notorious party animal and musician extraordinaire Sam Shepherd (AKA Floating Points) launched Eglo Records. In that time, the London-based imprint has become a beacon for soul-flecked electronic music in all its forms. This double-disc retrospective tells the story so far, perfectly showcasing the label's eclectic but sharply focused approach. Alongside hits from Funkineven, Fatima, Arp 101 and, of course, Floating Points, there are numerous slept-on jams and lesser-known cuts that veer from next-level alien boogie and armour-clad acid house, to twinkling future jazz and smooth hip-hop soul. Pleasingly, there's also a quartet of unreleased cuts, of which Floating Points' epic, intoxicating "Wires" stands out.

Review: Legendary New York remixer John Morales apparently worked on this third collection of previously unheard M+M Mixes of disco and soul classics. So, while the material is vintage, the versions are brand new - though you'd struggle to know, given Morales' faithful use of the original parts and '70s mixing techniques. This instrumental version of the compilation (a full vocal version is also available) includes some real gems, from a delightfully lush and building rework of Marvin Gaye's "I Want You" and a percussive, stripped-back version of Loose Joints' "Is It All Over My Face", to a simply sumptuous Barry White rub.

Review: Despite the nebulous Sandwell District label ceasing operations at the end of 2011, the name has lived on as a performance based entity with Female and Silent Servant leaving it to be fronted by Karl 'Regis' O'Connor and Sumner. Thus the latter two step forth to man the figurative decks for this stunning induction into the Fabric mix series. Productions from the pair feature heavily, with several tracks from Function's recent Incubation brushing up alongside several of Regis' recent remixes for Blackest Ever Black and VCMG, while Sandwell alumni Silent Servant and Rrose also feature in the form of "A Path Eternal" and "Wedge" respectively. There are also a few surprises in the form of Untold's "Motion The Dance" and Factory Floor's "16-2-16-9-20-1-14-9-7?, which are joined by experimental fare from Boyd Rice and Samuel Kerridge. A must for fans of Sandwell District.

Review: XRS and Marky's Innerground imprint has long been a reliable source of summery drum and bass. Here, the duo collates some of the label's best output to date across two discs (one unmixed, the other mixed). Although the mix is impressive, it's the first, unmixed disc that really stands out. As you'd expect, there's plenty of soulful shufflers, where the musical goodness is only matched by the energy of the skittering junglist rhythms. Of the plentiful highlights, check Random Movement's sun-flecked "Down Somehow", Marky's delicious "A Disco Funk Organization", Submorphics soaring, string-laden "Summer Soul" and T>I's sub-heavy roller "2nd Chance".

Review: The long-running DJ Kicks series has prospered largely because of the opportunity it gives to well known DJs and producers to showcase the breadth and diversity of their record collections. That's certainly the case with this latest volume from global house superstar Maceo Plex, who impressively opens proceedings with a string of stargazing Detroit electro cuts (see the contribution from DJ Stingray) and atmospheric IDM jams, before peppering the mix with such inspired choices as Charles Webster's sublime, long-forgotten version of Kumbu Kimbra's "Raise The Dead" and Vivandi's decidedly stone cold classic "Racing Tracks". Of course, there's plenty of typically touchy-feely Plexian fodder, but it's far from the mix you'd expect.

Review: Having previously concentrated on their mix albums and 12" singles, Live At Robert Johnson turn their attention to the world of the label compilation. The Lifesaver Compilation (snappy title, eh?) has no obvious theme or grandiose concept, but it does contain some gorgeous electronic music. Check, for example, the snappy snares and fluid melodies of San Laurentino, the autumnal beauty of Orson Wells' "At Play" (which, incidentally, reminded us of Harold Faltermeyer's deft production on the Pet Shop Boys' Behaviour LP) or the ragging tweakery of Roman Flugel's "More Is Not Enough (Heaven or Hell)". And that's just a small selection of the silky, sultry treats on offer. Recommended.l.

Review: With the imminent return of Daft Punk reminding us all of Paris's vibrant electronic music heritage, local label ClekClekBoom pop-up to provide us with a wide-eyed snapshot of the current Parisian underground. There are hints of familiar French staples - the stomping Ed Banger-ish ravery of The Town's "Dice", the classic house flex of Coni's "Missing You Nire" - but for the most part Paris Club Music Volume 1 dances to a different beat. With label regulars French Fries coming to the fore, much of the album is devoted to the sort of hard-to-pigeonhole bass music that takes its influence as much from B-more, R&B and UK garage as filter funk and electro-house.

Review: It's easy to forget that Jumpin' Jack Frost and Bryan Gee's V Recordings imprint is still going. Once considered the eminent label in drum & bass, the imprint's star has waned in recent years. That's not to say that they've become irrelevant; in fact, they continue to put out excellent material, as this two CD mix-up from Gee proves. Showcasing old skool heroes (Krust, Peshay, Artificial Intelligence), current superstars (Calibre) and newer names (Mr Joseph, Dr Meaker, Level 2), Planet V offers a whirlwind, thrill-a-minute snapshot of where drum and bass is right now. From Hospital-ish, Latin-tinged rollers to formidable darkroom fare via the kind of summery grooves often heard drifting out of D&B arenas at festivals, it's a thoroughly enjoyable romp in the company of a true scene original.

Review: With the likes of Hot Natured and Duke Dumont taking "deep house" to the upper echelons of the UK pop charts, it was probably only a matter of time before Hed Kandi hitched a lift on the speeding bandwagon. This first Hed Kandi Deep House collection focuses on the more upbeat and accessible end of the cocaine house spectrum, delivering a selection that notably includes old masters (Romanthony, MK, X-Press 2) as well as hot young things (Lee Foss, Jamie Jones, Hot Since '82, Maceo Plex, Eats Everything etc). As an introduction to the synth-laden end of the 'nu' deep house spectrum, it's actually rather good. It also gets bonus points for including Mano Le Tough's gorgeous remix of Roisin Murphy's "Simulation".

Review: You couldn't really get more 'Berlin' than Ruede Hagalstein, former minimal techno producer turned house devotee and long-time Watergate resident DJ. Here he gives a flavour of his recent sets at the legendary Berlin venue by mixing up a decidedly touchy-feely selection of deep house, cosmic disco, Scandolearic treats and atmospheric techno. Its 25 tracks range from the tactile electronics of Prins Thomas to the bumpin' disco-flecked deep house of Losoul, via the glistening goodness of Steve Moore's remix of Lower Dens and the effortless techno-soul of Carl Craig's recent Henrik Schwarz rework. Throughout, it's suitably melodic and full of unusual twists and turns (not least the loose, drum-laden madness of ESP Institute-affilliated band Pharoahs).