We haven't had one these in a while so here are my thoughts on the current goings on in the wonderful world of electronic music:

'Sool' by Ellen Allien is amazing, she’s left behind the more overtly electro sounds of previous records for a new deliciously minimal aesthetic. What’s perhaps most interesting about it is how she strays away from the dominant sound of busy percussive clatter, instead concentrating on gorgeous synth textures and heady repetition, creating a far more sensuous, and dare I say it ‘feminine’, techno experience than other minimal dancefloor mainstays. I’m looking at you Villalobos.

Also gracing my stereo is ‘Safe and Sound’ by Justus Kohncke whose disco inflected pop techno grooves have had doing a little dance in the living room on a regular basis. I really like the expansive meandering structures and smooth incorporation of a strong boogie disco vibe into what remains a definite techno album. Also the lack of vocals is a plus.

On the negative side I’m not really feeling the new booka shade record. I feel it errs to much on the cheesy house side of things and lacks the edgy restraint that made tunes like ‘Darko’ and ‘In White Rooms’ such bona fide anthems.

Venturing into deep house territory DOP’s ‘God Bless the Child’ 12” is a revelation. ‘Foly’ is especially engaging with its deep bass, sublime build up and euphoria inducing African vocal melodies.

Moving onto dubstep it’s the Dutch/Bristol axis of techno infused producers who’ve really been doing it for me of late. People like 2562, Martyn, Peverelist, Appleblim and of course Shackleton are really pushing the sound forward. The two new Skull Disco 12” are equally incredible, Shackleton sinking deeper into the techno morass with a beautifully crafted funeral dirge that surpasses even ‘Blood on my Hands’ and Appleblim hooking up with Peverelist for two Berlin centric 8 minute epics, not to mention Peverelist’s own ‘Infinity is Now’ 12” that with its gorgeous bongo led groove is a new watermark for cross genre pollination.

Perhaps the track of the year however is Martyn’s remix of TRG’s ‘Broken Heart’. It’s housey chords, emotive vocal snippets and broken beat rhythm mark it out as both deeply emotional and a dancefloor killer of the highest standard.

Whoa. I just wrote a lot. And there’s loads more to mention!