DJ Kicks CD

Given his length of service, it's rather surprising that Michael Mayer hasn't previously been asked to deliver a DJ Kicks mix. His contribution to the long running series is predictably impressive, moving from the warm and woozy downtempo vibes of Peter Zumo, to the loose-but-driving bliss of Modarat's remix of John Hopkins's "Abandon Windon". Along the way, Mayer doffs a cap to some of his early inspirations (Chris and Cosey, Throbbing Gristle), highlights the work of some of his favourite contemporary producers (I:Cube, Justus Kohncke, Alter Ego, Prins Thomas) and showcases a string of his greatest remixes. The vibe is woozy, melancholic and occasionally dark, with Mayer successfully blurring the boundaries between techno, new wave, krautrock, synth-pop and off-kilter ambient.