VARIOUS ARTISTS – TOTAL 17 – KOMPAKT

If it’s coming around to September then Kompakt’s annual label retrospective is usually honing into view – and it does so again with a double album’s worth of highlights and exclusives for our listening pleasure. As the label themselves note, there is more of a playful nature at work this time around, thanks to tracks like Superpitcher’s ‘In My Head’, where Fantastic Twins deliver a helium-infused vocal that works a treat. Nu U Orchestra strut their stuff confidently with the excellent ‘Ambrosia’, while Patrice Bäumel’s ‘Sorcery’ works up an impressive head of steam. Raquet & Stetter offer a nice remix job on Chris Klopfer’s ‘Ashamed’, complete with soft trumpet, while one of the more serious tracks sees T. Raumschmiere showcasing his recent album with the deep and moody ‘Jaguar’. Sasha’s ‘Out Of Time’, the excellent Channy Leaneagh of Poliça on guest vocals, makes a welcome appearance as the first track he has released on the label – while the familiar Kompakt names of Weval and Vermont are reassuring. A word, too, for the heavyweight combo of Michael Mayer and Tobias Thomas on the shimmering ‘25’, and the deep foundations of Jürgen Paape’s ‘Always Disko’. Reassuringly consistent and stimulating.


Ben Hogwood
5 out of 5