01. Motorcitysoul, “Space Kätzle” (Sydenham Blacktro Penetration)
[Aus Music] (buy)
This has been a great year for Aus Music, Jerome Sydenham and Motorcitysoul, and this “Space Kätzle” remix brings them all together for one of the deeper space voyages I’ve been taken on in some time. Sydenham weaves a hazy cocoon around relaxed house rhythms, then pierces the calm with a restrained yet increasingly raucous two chord riff that tracks your movement through the star field. Highly recommended.

Listen (96kbps):

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02. Etienne Jaumet, “Repeat Again After Me” (Âme Remix)
[Versatile Records] (buy)
Each release by Kristian Beyer and Frank Wiedemann of Âme seems to take the duo further from standard house and techno structures into dynamic and artful territory. Here they twist Zombie Zombie member Etienne Jaumet’s “Repeat Again After Me” into a churning 3/4 monster, replete with a roiling bass progression and free jazz synth/sax/horn freakout. Warning: may well bring down the house.

Listen:

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03. Deetron (ft. Ovasoul7), “I Cling” (Aril Brikha remix)
[Music Man Records] (buy)
I wasn’t wild about Aril Brikha’s long awaited album, Ex Machina, but all of his 2007 singles have warmed my heart (at times putting sweat on my brow, too). This remix fits that mold as well. Brikha balances his trance tendencies with a hefty does of rich, Detroit progressions, a marvelous setting for Ovasoul7’s desperately catchy vocals.

Listen:

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04. Len Faki, “Odyssee II” [Podium] (buy)
Faki has quickly become one of my favorite producers, both with his well stocked back catalog and this powerful new release. His contribution to the split with Redshape is only slightly less sci-fi than “Odyssee I.” It explodes with powerful, distorted Moog moans, like getting stuck under the thrusters of a space shuttle. This one quickly leaped into my top 20 of 2007.

Listen:

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05. Simian Mobile Disco, “Hustler” (Shackleton remix) [Wichita] (buy)
Have another look.

06. Michal Ho, Screw the Coffeemaker [Tuning Spork Records] (buy)
Another hotly anticipated album, Michal Ho’s Screw the Coffeemaker delivers like a barista on a espresso IV drip. Ho chooses lean rhythms to carve up a micro-house sound palate, such as on the soulful lead single, “Take Away,” hosted by vocalist JonJon. Screw maintains the sharp-elbowed percussion and intoxicating combinations of his earlier work and does himself one better. Keep your eyes on M.H.

07. Fabrice Lig, “X-Slaves Who Changed the World”
[Versatile Records] (buy)
This is my first exposure to Mr. Lig and I’m quite pleased. Versatile scores again with this vivacious romp through a swinging synth vamp, narrated by choice ruminations from Malcolm X. A great way to cap an energetic set, as I did on my Modyfier mix.

08. Cassy, “Soul Survivor” [Perlon] (listen) (buy)
Have another look.

09. Kabale Und Liebe & Daniel Sanchez, “Mumbling Yeah” [Arearemote] (buy)
Danish producer Liron van Daalen has quickly found himself in many DJs’ bins at the release of “Mumbling Yeah.” The first Arearemote reminds me a bit of Villalobos’ trippy organic house, and is garnished by male muse Daniel Sanchez, whose vocals are equally incomprehensible and soulful. But the momentum demolishing breakdown shows that like his exemplar, Kabale und Liebe will take chances to create something bigger.

10. Paul Brtschitsch, “Hook Up” [Leena Music] (buy)
For their third (and so far, best) release, Leena wisely scooped up consonant-ly gifted techno veteran, Paul Brtschitsch. On “Hook Up,” his tight reverberations constrict around a walking bass line and hushed vocal samples. Injecting a bit of anxiety into deep house, Brtschitsch keeps things interesting for Mobilee’s younger sister.