01. Specter, “Pipe Bomb” [Sound Signature] (buy)
It’s not uncommon for new records to contain music written several years prior to release; and even by this standard, Specter’s “Pipe Bomb” has had an especially lengthy gestation period. The Chicago producer known to his friends as Andres Ordonez first wrote this massive track in 2006, but it wasn’t until 2010 when he offered it to Theo Parrish that it found a worthy outlet on Sound Signature. Still, it existed in white label limbo for many months before finally seeing official release in recent weeks. It’s safe to say, though, “Pipe Bomb” was worth the wait. Just as explosive as its title suggests, it’s hardly your typical 2011 summertime anthem. It’s closer to what you might hear while ripping through the earth’s atmosphere: Deliberate like a flying object so far away you can’t judge its intense speed; its textures scorched and vibrating around the edges; only soft, bleeping permutations and the occasional bass lick providing evidence of human involvement; “Pipe Bomb” sounds as much like an act of destruction as of creation. It’s an immense effort from an underrated producer that’s sure to level dance floors wherever it’s played.

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02. Soundstore, “Take U” [Ostgut Ton] (buy)
New Ostgut Ton mix CDs are always highly anticipated events, not only for the stellar mixes but also because of the exclusive tracks they inevitably contain. Prosumer’s Panorama Bar 03 is no different on either count. In fact, five of its 17 tracks were heretofore unreleased, three of which appear on an O-Ton single of the same name. Many have plumped for Steffi’s emotional cut, “Sadness,” but the track I keep returning to is “Take U” by Soundstore. It’s likely the work of Frank Timm, better known as Sound Stream, although it’s fittingly a departure from the material under his more famous moniker. The way its buzzing organ riffs build and repeat recalls his surgically spliced loops, but the blown out quality of the kicks and claps provide the grit that complete this scruffy new aesthetic. It’s a perfect match for Prosumer’s classically informed mix but it slots into a variety of sets with ease; even its cheeky last minute of quavering tone is a gift to DJs. Only time will tell if Timm will offer more delectable rough cuts from his Soundstore.

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03. Trickski, “Wilderness” (Genius Of Time Remix) [Suol] (buy)
Given the reception they’ve received in their short existence, the Swedish duo Genius of Time could just as easily be known as Geniuses of Timing. Alexander Burg and Nils Krogh have been separately building their profiles over the last half decade, the former as half of Tennishero and Dorisburg and the latter as a jazz artist under the Dealers Of Nordic Music umbrella. Strongly influenced by classic disco/house sounds and bolstered by contemporary synth arrangements, their three releases together are well suited for the current musical climate and have earned them worthy praise. Trickski wisely recruited the pair to remix “Wilderness,” a competent but unspectacular slowhouse cut from their forthcoming album. Genius of Time retain the loping tempo but offer a grander vision, one encompassing sophisticated melodic pairings and crispy percussion against a constantly evolving backdrop of twinkling tones. Just as they’ve managed to elevate Trickski’s latest, I fully expect this talented duo are on their way up to even greater things.

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04. Dan Berkson, “Anything For You”
[Crosstown Rebels] (buy)
Crosstown Rebels has received a bad rap for putting out what’s considered populist house music, especially as they’ve come to dominate charts and parties with increasingly vocal driven tracks from artists like Art Department, Deniz Kurtel or Maceo Plex. I have to give their A&R team credit: they know a catchy track when they hear it, notions of “good taste” be damned. “Anything For You” by Dan Berkson is a rare cut that manages to achieve both aims at once, offering intricate arrangements that feel as effortless as they are memorable. The flaring bass line arpeggio was what first grabbed my attention, especially when paired with the rapid fire hi-hats and variable kick drum patterns. Sweeping chords and gorgeous synth string arrangements only sweeten things, and a judiciously applied vocal promising to “give you anything” is the cherry on top. Berkson has been plying his craft for nearly a decade now, but for my money this is his best effort to date — one that Crosstown Rebels was smart to snap up. And when an irresistible track tugs at your body to dance, it doesn’t matter whose names are on the label.

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05. Maya Jane Coles, “Focus Now”
[20:20 Vision] (buy)
The most potent message in Stefan Goldmann’s widely discussed piece for us was that doing anything but standing out is a waste of time. It seems Maya Jane Coles has internalized this sentiment from the start, earning her rise to prominence with an accessible but uncommon sound. She’s perhaps at her sharpest on her new EP for 20:20 Vision and particularly on the title track, “Focus Now.” Its spherical synth notes hit against various musical memories as they roll across the scale without congealing into any semblance of pastiche. From the slight bass sounds rubbing beneath each note to the shuffling, snare roll percussion, the tune avoids any obvious paths and yet seems entirely logical — the kind of thing you always hope someone would create but rarely do. By being her quirky self, MJC is quickly proving Goldmann right and growing her fan base above and underground.

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06. Andy Stott, “Intermittent” [Modern Love] (buy)
07. MD, “It Ain’t What It Ain’t”
[Rush Hour Recordings] (buy)
08. Morphosis, “Kawn”
[M>O>S/Delsin/Morphine] (buy)
09. Pittsburgh Track Authority, “77B” [Uzuri] (buy)
10. DJ Yoav B, “Wisdom Bob” [Meakusa] (buy)

Staff Charts:

Per Bojsen-Moller
01. Andy Stott, “North To South” [Modern Love]
02. Disco 5, “A1” [Analogue Solutions]
03. MK, “Given (MK Dub)” [FXHE]
04. Redshape, “Laser” [Present]
05. DJ Qu, “Babyluv” [Strength Music]
06. Palisade, “So What?” [Laid]
07. Brawther, “Spaceman Funk” [Secretsundaze Music]
08. Julio Bashmore, “Batty Knee Dance” [3024]
09. Braille, “The Year 3000” [Rush Hour]
10. D/R/U/G/S, “Love/Lust” [Tender Age]

Anton Kipfel
01. Andy Stott, “North To South” [Modern Love]
02. Invisible Conga People, “In A Hole” [DFA]
03. Roman Flügel, “Lovedancing” [Live At Robert Johnson]
04. Moomin, “Watermelon” (Marvin Dash Edit) [Aim]
05. Elgato, “Music” (Body Mix) [Hessle Audio]
06. Aroy Dee, “Beauty” [M>O>S Recordings]
07. Genius of Time, “Houston We Have A Problem” [Royal Oak]
08. Tom Demac, “Ten From Seventeen” [liebe*detail spezial]
09. Redshape, “In Space We Trust” [Present]
10. Tale of Us, “Dark Song” [Visionquest]

Kuri Kondrak
01. Big Strick, “State of Emergency” [7 Days Ent.]
02. Spekter, “Pipe Bomb” [Sound Signature]
03. Noleian Reusse, “A1” [Love What You Feel]
04. Royalty, “Heat Ray” [Five Easy Pieces]
05. Daniel Andréasson, “cONCUSSION36” [Tabernacle Records]
06. Rootstrax, “Harlequin” [Deeply Rooted House]
07. Tom Trago, “Space Balloon” [Rush Hour]
08. Miles Sagnia, “Can We Heal Them?” [Atmospheric Existence]
09. Pittsburgh Track Authority, “Duskshaped” [Uzuri]
10. Meschi, “Raining In Here” [Lunar Disko]

Chris Miller
01. Machinedrum, “Lay Me Down” [Planet Mu]
02. Mike Dunn, “Gherkin Aftermath 909” [Rush Hour]
03. Tevo Howard, “Arena” [Tevo Howard Recordings]
04. Kassem Mosse, “7am” [Mikrodisko]
05. Instra:mental, “Rift Zone” [Nonplus]
06. Tin Man, “Forever” [Global A]
07. Hunee, “A Leaf For Hand In Hand” [Ostgut Ton]
08. Holger Zilske, “É Preciso Acreditar” [Absurd Recordings]
09. Palisade, “So What?” [Laid]
10. R-A-G, “Rage” [M>O>S Recordings]

Jordan Rothlein
01. Roman Fluegel, “Brasil” [Dial]
02. Deadboy, “Ain’t Gonna Lie” [Numbers]
03. Midland, “Shelter” [Aus Music]
04. Emptyset feat. Cornelius Harris, “Altogether Lost” (Peverelist Remix) [Caravan]
05. Steffi, “Sadness” [Ostgut Ton]
06. Hitsafe, “Let The Acid Out” (Tin Man Remix) [Shaddock Records]
07. Autechre, “Drane” [Warp]
08. Soundstore, “Take U” [Ostgut Ton]
09. Tin Man, “Love Sick” [Salon Records]
10. DJ Yoav B., “Sunset Glow Disko” [Meakusma]