Kompakt Germany 黑胶唱片和CD

Review: With Kompakt shorthand for royalty-grade electronic music we definitely shouldn't need to sell this one. Sacramento, California duo Blank Gloss may be less familiar, though, albeit those paying attention to the label will no doubt remember their stunning 2021 debut for the imprint, 'Melt'. A showpiece for the beautiful piano and synth work of Morgan Fox and Patrick Hills' tranquil guitars, it truly stood out.

Cornered is the pair's third LP overall, and picks up where that predecessor left off, kind of. It certainly comes from around the same period, recorded in just two days of December 2020, but there's plenty of progress that you can hear on the album. While never ones to overfill things, what's here - instrumentally speaking - seems to shine like a candle surrounded by darkness. Not sparse, but precious, vulnerable, and intimate, allowing plenty of space for the melodies and movements to take hold of you.

Review: Dettinger's Intershop delicately navigates the realm of ambient music, inviting listeners into a realm where loops and jumps coalesce into a mesmerizing sonic journey. Each track, a miniature world of its own, boasts precision and allure, creating a cohesive yet dynamic listening experience. Through meticulous attention to detail, Dettinger crafts a therapeutic soundscape that encourages mindfulness and contemplation. The album's modest rhythms provide a gentle push forward while allowing space for introspection. With echoes of classic ambient techno and dub, Intershop achieves a rare balance between background and foreground, offering a tranquil yet engaging musical backdrop. It's a gem of sonic minimalism that captivates the mind, heart, and ears, leaving a lasting impression of completeness amid life's ever-shifting parts. 2024 brings us a remastered version now that enchances the audio spectrum for a real treat.

Review: Dettinger's Oasis, originally released in 2000, is an ethereal symphony of ambient textures and minimal techno. Its unique blend of orchestral elements, effects, and occasional beats creates a captivating and strangely peaceful sonic landscape. Each track offers a hypnotic journey. 'Oasis #2' pulsates with a gentle rhythm, while 'Oasis #3' transforms Balearic melodies into grainy memories. 'Oasis #4' showcases Dettinger's experimental side, merging techno with abstract soundscapes, while 'Oasis 6' infuses dub influences, adding a touch of warmth and groove. The album's appeal lies in his ability to fuse the organic and the electronic. Orchestral swells soar above pulsating synths, creating a sense of drama and allure. The result is a sonic oasis that transports listeners to a realm of serenity and wonder. Fans of Wolfgang's Voigt's Gas project or labels like Mille Plateaux, Staubold, RasterNoton and others may already know this masterpiece, but if you don't, then do not miss this.

Review: To date Wata Igarashi has released most of his work as singles. The Japanese techno producer has steadily risen in profile thanks to releases for the likes of The Bunker New York, Nidgar, Bitta and Delsin, but now his trajectory shifts into a different gear as he offers up his first fully-fledged artist album outside of Japan for the mighty Kompakt. It's clear from the offset he's relished the opportunity to stretch out on an album and we're treated to some stunningly rendered ambient and downtempo soundscapes - just listen to the slow rise and fall of 'Searching' and you'll be instantly sold. There's space for drama and accomplished composition as on 'Ceremony Of The Dead', jazzy exploits on 'Burning' and much more besides, showcasing the unbridled imagination of one of Japan's brightest talents.

Review: San Fran's unstoppable and enduring tech house craftsman John Tejada is also super reliable. His sound is well established, but he always does enough with each new release to embellish it a little further. Returning now to his home label of Kompakt, he refines his palette to silky melodies, fuzzy pads and crisp beats that are superbly pleasing for both your ears and your heels. 'Sheltered' is a particularly classy cut of deft tech minimalism, 'Spectral Progressions' expires ambient broken beats with lush pad work and 'Panacea' picks up the pace in scintillant fashion. This might be his best work in years.

Review: For those that enjoy the more accessible, melodic end of ambient and deeper, gentler explorations of electronica, Kompakt's long-running Pop Ambient series has always been a must-check annual treat. The Cologne label's latest edition undoubtedly lives up to the quality of its many predecessors. Beginning with the spacey swell of T. Raumschmiere's 'Eternal', the collection attractively sashays between delicate, new-age influenced aural bliss (Mikkel Metal), immersive sunrise soundscapes (Yui Onodera), birdsong-smattered beatless beauty (Triola), enveloping sound design epics (Thore Pfieffer and Niko Tzoukmanis), crackling ambient transmissions from another dimension (Sono Kollektiv), nods to the Orb's FFWD collaboration with Robert Fripp (Blank Gloss) and cavernous explorations of slowly shifting audio textures (Umit Han).

Review: Cologne's legendary Kompakt label has been rolling out these superb compilations for many years now. The 23rd instalment is another fine snapshot of the more matter and grown up end of the tech, minimal and techno spectrum with plenty of familiar faces as well s new school stars. Boss man Michel Mayer opens up with the bright melodies and swinging grooves of 'Talmi' before Jurgen Paape keeps it deep and delicious with more easy going grooves and keys. Elsewhere a Sofia Kourtesis remix if Perel brings more dancefloor ready sounds and Reinhard Voigt's 'Endlich XXL' (feat Eduard Weber) is a freaky one for the afters.