Chart courtesy of The Economist

01. Kevin Reynolds, “Liaisons” [Nsyde Music] (buy)
Listening to Liaisons, the newest record from Kevin Reynolds, it’s somewhat difficult to believe this is the same Detroit producer who put out Favis earlier this year. Not only is it a far leap from the loose, organically flavored style of his previous work, it’s a huge jump in quality as well. The title track sounds like he’s been marinating in the influence of Kassem Mosse (with whom Reynolds shared a bill in Chicago earlier this year), as it weds slamming yet intricate drum patterning with fundamentally appealing melodies. The hum of heavy metal doors sliding together sets the tone as oil barrel drums set the pace — deliberate but invigorating. A long, webbed synth progression springs from the shuffling drums, growing new leads and spurring the hi-hat patterns below to get more ambitious. It offers a feeling of peace withing the cacophony of life around us, a cue to find the beauty among the rote patterns of daily living, a chance to make even those humdrum moments more interesting. You could call it the younger cousin of Mosse’s Laid-released “Untitled,” one that’s learned from its raw, iconic forebear and wants to try cutting a similar path for itself. Good on Nsyde for scooping up this unexpected delight; better on Reynolds for taking the strides that caught their attention.

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02. Dijkhuis, “Salt Caramel” [Night Gallery] (buy)
While the first release on Night Gallery (full disclosure: run by LWE contributor Kuri Kondrak) brought Dijkhuis to listeners’ attention, it’s their second release together that’s likely to solidify their respective fan bases. It was difficult to choose a favorite track on this record because each is so strong in its own way, but “Salt Caramel” wins the spot by a nose. With its complex arrangements and brightly colored synth elements it could easily pass as a Recloose track, which I tend to think of as a high compliment. The sizzling synth progression it begins with is merely a launching pad for wriggling leads, a bass line so lively it could’ve been lifted from a p-funk record, a jittery bridge, and the sublime combination of all of the above. In the hands of a less capable producer something like this could be a cluttered mess, yet “Salt Caramel” feels effortless and pulls you along for the ride with each new addition. One might suspect we already know Dijkhuis under other names because of how accomplished this record is, but whatever you call the producer their work is too thrilling to ignore.

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03. B-Tracks, “Specialize” [Supply Records] (buy)
Perhaps fittingly for a record that offers few clues as to its provenance, B-Tracks’ Specialize touches on so many reference points its sound is difficult to describe succinctly. Flitting between obtuse house, melodic techno, deep-house and booming techno, it’s a diverse package that shows its unknown creators well versed in a variety of sounds. It’s the title track, though, that most often sticks in my mind. What B-Tracks does so well is fusing together unexpected sounds to create ear-catching hybrids; so while “Specialize” incorporates techno stabs, New York house organ motifs, a cheerful and pliable bass line, and liberal doses of female vocals, “tech-house” doesn’t do it justice. The quick changes in the arrangements and introduction of unlikely samples (splashes of harmonica, anyone?) keep listeners on their toes yet feel natural and exciting. With a debut this strong and wide reaching it’s unlikely B-Tracks will stay unknown — at least as artists — very much longer.

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04. Jonsson/Alter, “Hela Berget”
[Kontra-Musik] (buy tk)
What I appreciate most about Jonsson and Alter’s forthcoming album, Dom, is that it contains a vintage strain of house which manages to avoid being overtly referential. While the equipment used to create it is innately old school, the duo harness it in ways that feel familiar without calling up specific memories. Although it’s a solidly compelling album throughout, “Hela Berget” stands out as one of the most floor-friendly, memorable tracks. Its spacious arrangements imbue each spartan element with greater resonance, from the gradually tumbling riff quivering under its own weight to the glittering pads which could’ve been sourced from a Tangerine Dream record. This space also affords a lightness to a track whose restrained tempo and choice of synth timbres could’ve been left it feeling heavy. The warm-up or afterhours DJ who plays “Hela Berget” at the right time should grab dancers’ attention.

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05. Arkist & Kidkut, “One Year Later”
[Hotflush Recordings] (buy)
The first collaboration between Immerse Recordings labelhead Adam Jackston, aka Kidkut, and A. Gazia, aka Arkist, achieves two things: The Hotflush-released record offers the fun but forgetably standard UK house cut appropriately called “Vanilla Imitate” on side A, and an unexpectedly weighty tech-house track called “One Year Later” on side B. What lulls listeners at its start grows more demanding at the introduction of a patiently crafted bass line that compels their attention rather than demands it. It’s cloaked in gravelly organ chords and fastened together with springy percussion that pulls apart during the breakdown to free it from its loop. It calls to mind some of Andre Lodemann’s records (particularly The Vehemence of Silence) but is entirely its own thing. It’s admirable that Hotflush Recordings hosted both sides of their artists’ collaboration despite their aesthetic differences, although a tune this is good is understandably hard to let pass by.

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06. Oskar Offermann & Moomin, “Nasty Nate”
[Aim] (buy)
07. Matthew Styles, “Polee” [Running Back] (buy)
08. Dexter, “Great Northern Diver”
[Clone Basement Series] (buy)
09. Basic Soul Unit, “Soulspeak” (Shed Remix)
[Dolly] (buy)
10. Oni Ayhun, “Meets Shangaan Electro”
[Honest Jon’s Records] (buy)

Staff Charts:

Per Bojsen-Moller
01. Mark E, “Call Me (Dixon Edit)” [Merc]
02. Afrikan Sciences, “Spirals” [Deepblak]
03. Vakula, “Dub As Always” [Shevchenko]
04. Unbroken Dub, “Sovushka” [Rawax]
05. Efdemin, “Farnsworth House” [Curle]
06. Ricardo Villalobos & Max Loderbauer, “Meet Tshetsha Boys” [Honest Jon’s]
07. Analogue Cops & Ryan Elliot, “To The Park” [Restoration Records]
08. Crystal Maze, “Crystal Maze (Chicago Skyway Remix)” [aDepth Audio]
09. Tyson, “After You’re Gone (Joe Goddard Remix)” [Back Yard]
10. Kassem Mosse, “Enoha” [Nonplus]

Andrew Clapper
01. Harkin & Raney, “Workin’ & Steamin'” [Throne of Blood]
02. Legowelt, “Sark Island Acid” [Long Island Electrical Systems]
03. Split Secs, “B” [Jolly Jams]
04. Inner Sense, “Lowdown” [My Love Is Underground]
05. Massimiliano Pagliara, “A Wrong Choice (Tuff City Kids Remix)”
[Live At Robert Johnson]
06. Omar S, “Nite’s Over Compton” [FXHE]
07. The Groove Victim, “GPS Groove” [My Love Is Underground]
08. Runaway, “Indoor Pool” [Let’s Play House]
09. Psychemagik, “Feelin Love” [Psychemagik]
10. Recloose, “Tecumseh” [Rush Hour Recordings]

Nick Connellan
01. Marcel Dettmann, “Translation Two” [Ostgut Ton]
02. Conforce, “Vacuum” [Delsin]
03. Legowelt, “Moonmist” [Legowelt Self-released]
04. Heatsick, “Dream Tennis (Prins Thomas Diskomiks)”
[CockTail d’Amore Music]
05. Suzanne Kraft, “Morning Come” [Running Back]
06. J. Bule, “Weg” [Area 51]
07. Basic Soul Unit, “Groundswell” [New Kanada]
08. Roman Flügel, “Don’t Break My Heart” [Dial]
09. Roman Flügel, “Song With Blue” [Dial]
10. Format, “Solid Session (Vince Watson Remix)” [Night Vision]

Anton Kipfel
01. Erdbeerschnitzel, “Same Same” [3rd Strike]
02. 2562, “Wasteland” (Head High Remix) [When In Doubt]
03. A Sagittariun, “The Circle Stops Somewhere” [Elastic Dreams]
04. Axel Boman, “Esteban Peligro” [Glass Table]
05. Gerd, “Palm Leaves” [Royal Oak]
06. Jonsson/Alter, “En_Livfull Skildring” [Kontra-Musik]
07. Matthew Styles, “Polee” [Running Back]
08. Miss Jools, “Feel You” [Mobilee]
09. Cosmin TRG, “Amor Y Otros” [50 Weapons]
10. Blawan, “What You Do With What You Have” [R&S]

Kuri Kondrak
01. The Florian Muller Project, “Jam With It” (The Oliverwho Factory Remix)[Terpsichore]
02. Dijkhuis, “Underground Persistence” [Night Gallery]
03. Santiago Salazar, “Smile Now Cry Later” [Seventh Sign]
04. Vincent Floyd ft. Chan, “Your Eyes (Vocal)”
[Dance Mania/Underground Classic]
05. Paul Bennett, “After All The Tomorrows Became Yesterdays” [Modernista]
06. Terekke, “Damn” [L.I.E.S.]
07. Legowelt, “Poverties Paradise” [Echovolt]
08. Johannes Volk, “The Mutant Sector” [Don’t Stop]
09. Kevin Reynolds, “Liaisons” [Nsyde]
10. Afrikan Sciences, “NanoRank Skank (Aybee’s Sunrise Reprise)” [Deepblak]

Chris Miller
01. Andy Stott, “Posers” [Modern Love]
02. Octo Octa, “High Reflections” [100% Silk]
03. Martyn, “We Are You In The Future” [Brainfeeder]
04. Sepalcure, “Pencil Pimp” [Hotflush]
05. Dexter, “Great Northern Diver” [Clone Basement Series]
06. Harkin & Raney, “Workin’ & Steamin'” [Throne of Blood]
07. Luomo, “Spy” [Moodmusic]
08. Marcos Cabral, “Freckles” [L.I.E.S.]
09. Roll The Dice, “Dark Thirty” [Leaf]
10. Efdemin, “Farnsworth House” [Curle Recordings]

Jordan Rothlein
01. BNJMN, “Primal Pathways” [Rush Hour]
02. Roman Flügel, “Rude Awakening” [Dial]
03. Basic Soul Unit, “Soulspeak (Shed Remix)” [Dolly]
04. Achterbahn d’Amour, “Trance Me Up (I Wanna Go Higher)” [Absurd]
05. Apoena, “Afternoon Wisky” [Underground Quality]
06. Moomin, “Sweet Sweet” [Smallville]
07. Kassem Mosse, “Enoha” [Nonplus]
08. Raudive, “Seven (Light Version)” [Thema]
09. Shit Robot, “Answering Machine (MCDE Remix)” [DFA]
10. KiNK & Neville Watson, “A Saturday In November (Vocal)”
[Hour House Is Your Rush]

Harry Sword
01. Mark Ernestus, “Mark Ernestus Meets BBC” [Honest Jon’s]
02. Pangaea, “Hex” [Hemlock]
03. Floorplan, “Baby Baby” [M-Plant]
04. 2562, “Aquatic Love Affair” [When In Doubt]
05. Omar-S, “I Come Over” [FXHE]
06. Blawan, “What You Do With What You Have” [R&S]
07. Goth Trad ft. Max Romeo, “Babylon Fall” [Deep Medi]
08. Pacific Blue, “Industry” [Pacific Blue]
09. George Fitzgerald, “Fernweh” [Man Make Music]
10. D-Bridge, “City of Lonely Runaways” [Disfigured Dubs]