Kompakt, one of my fave labels, are celebrating their 10 years worth of output this year. Seriously, if you don't know this label yet, they are responsible for releasing some of my all time favourite producers like Gui Boratto, DJ Koze and The Field.
The latest volume in the Kompakt Total series, Total 10, was released on Monday and as always sports a mighty fine selection of the imprint's greatest cuts of the year. These 'Best Of' compilations are always quite the decadent affair and this volume is no exception. It spans two CDs and 21 tracks, with some exclusive's thrown in like DJ Koze's excellent tennis fettish indulgence "40 Love"; and the almost forgotten gem of Supermayer's rendition of Goteye's "Heart's a Mess" (probably my favourite track on here. Beautiful! + I am a sucker for good use of strings in a production).
Tracklisting:
CD 1
01. DJ Koze – 40 Love
02. Thomas/Mayer – Total 9
03. Justus Kohncke – (It's Gonna Be) Alright (Dirk Leyers Mix)
04. Shumi – The Wind and the Sea
05. Sam Taylor-Wood – I'm in Love with a German Film Star (Gui Boratto Mix)
06. Ada – Lovestoned
07. Coma – Sum
08. Gui Boratto – No Turning Back (Wighnomy's Likkalize Love Rekksmi)
09. Nicolas Stefan – Closer
10. Jonas Bering – Who Is Who
CD 2
01. Justus Kohncke – Give It to Me Easy
02. Matias Aguayo – Walter Neff
03. Mayburg feat. Ada – Each and Every Day
04. Gotye – Heart's a Mess (Supermayer Mix)
05. The Field – The More I Do (Thomas Fehlmann Mix)
06. Burger/Voigt – Wand Aus Klang (It's a Fine Line Mix)
07. Wassermann – Berg und Tal (Instrumental)
08. Jurgen Paape – Ofterschwang
09. Reinhard Voigt – Am Limit
10. Mugwump – Ignored Folklore
11. Pachanga Boys – Fiesta Forever
Buy here.
Be sure to read the interview with one of the label owners, Michael Meyer, on Pitchfork here.
There's also this exclusive Michael Mayer mix, courtesy of Kompakt and Pitchfork:
Michael Mayer: Kompakt - The Early Years (1998-2004) (right click save as)
Tracklisting (with commentary from Michael Mayer):
01. All - Alltag 1
It's appropriate to start this journey with the godfather: All is Wolfgang Voigt's first appearance on Kompakt. "Alltag 1" still breathes the spirit of the Profan era and marks the birth of the Pop Ambient concept.
02. Ehlert & Lohberger - Vito E.P. 2
This is the most overlooked record in our catalog. Nobody liked it at the time - except Wolfgang and myself. If I received this demo today, I'd sign them right away! One of many records we've released knowing it would be a flop, but that we'd made a statement.
03. Dettinger - Totentanz 1
Dettinger's ambient long players, Intershop and Oasis, became our first true 'classics'. His 4/4 works are lesser-known, but as revolutionary as the rest. Today, "Totentanz" still sounds shockingly modern and it somehow predates the whole Kuduro/UK Funky movement with its harsh digital dancehall vibe.
04. Sascha Funke - Safety First 4
Sascha Funke released his first records with us. His father (a Berliner) was a diehard supporter of Cologne's soccer club and little Sascha inherited the same passion. He'll drive a Ford because the cars are manufactured in Cologne, and he'll play Cologne techno on its stereo. We love Sascha.
05. Peter Grummich - Schleusen Auf 2
Another visitor from Berlin. "Schleusen Auf" sounds like an old, rattling subway on pretty decent drugs. I just put this one right back into my record crate... a timeless piece of confusing techno.
06. Schaeben & Voss - Tombo's Revenge
Aside from running the ever-excellent Firm label, these guys recorded some of the most dirty and "out there" tunes during Kompakt's early days. They're a snotty techno band with an amazing live show.
07. Jürgen Paape - So Weit Wie Noch Nie (Ata's Playhouse Mix)
The original version - a tantalizing hybrid of German schlager and house - was released on Total 3. For the 12" single release we requested a remix from our good old friend, Ata from Playhouse/Robert Johnson in Frankfurt. He did what he does best: music for late night girls.
08. Leandro Fresco - Cera Uno
This one may very well end up in my Kompakt all-time top 10. Leandro Fresco lives and works in Buenos Aires and he created a monster. All cuts on this EP are just unearthly and beautiful, particularly the ambient ones.
09. Superpitcher - Heroin
No words necessary here... just a little advertising for his new album coming up in February. It's going to be a.w.e.s.o.m.e.!
10. Dorau / Köhncke - Durch Die Nacht (Geiger Mix)
One of the kinkiest records on our Kompakt Pop offshoot featuring two of the most notorious German disco-teers. The Geiger remix turned out to be the gem...I'm still playing this out a lot.
11. Closer Musik - 2 the Beat 2 the Rock
Matias Aguayo and Dirk Leyers gave birth to Kompakt classics like "Maria" and "One Two Three (No Gravity)". When the duo broke up, the girls in Cologne wore black for the rest of that year. The track featured here perfectly documents Aguayo's daredevil approach in production.
12. Lawrence - Teaser
We've been in love with the Hamburg-based Dial label and its protagonists Lawrence, Carsten Jost, and Pantha du Prince since day one. Bringing Romy Schneider to the techno floor is something that had to be done and nobody could have done it with more class than Lawrence.
The latest volume in the Kompakt Total series, Total 10, was released on Monday and as always sports a mighty fine selection of the imprint's greatest cuts of the year. These 'Best Of' compilations are always quite the decadent affair and this volume is no exception. It spans two CDs and 21 tracks, with some exclusive's thrown in like DJ Koze's excellent tennis fettish indulgence "40 Love"; and the almost forgotten gem of Supermayer's rendition of Goteye's "Heart's a Mess" (probably my favourite track on here. Beautiful! + I am a sucker for good use of strings in a production).
Tracklisting:
CD 1
01. DJ Koze – 40 Love
02. Thomas/Mayer – Total 9
03. Justus Kohncke – (It's Gonna Be) Alright (Dirk Leyers Mix)
04. Shumi – The Wind and the Sea
05. Sam Taylor-Wood – I'm in Love with a German Film Star (Gui Boratto Mix)
06. Ada – Lovestoned
07. Coma – Sum
08. Gui Boratto – No Turning Back (Wighnomy's Likkalize Love Rekksmi)
09. Nicolas Stefan – Closer
10. Jonas Bering – Who Is Who
CD 2
01. Justus Kohncke – Give It to Me Easy
02. Matias Aguayo – Walter Neff
03. Mayburg feat. Ada – Each and Every Day
04. Gotye – Heart's a Mess (Supermayer Mix)
05. The Field – The More I Do (Thomas Fehlmann Mix)
06. Burger/Voigt – Wand Aus Klang (It's a Fine Line Mix)
07. Wassermann – Berg und Tal (Instrumental)
08. Jurgen Paape – Ofterschwang
09. Reinhard Voigt – Am Limit
10. Mugwump – Ignored Folklore
11. Pachanga Boys – Fiesta Forever
Buy here.
Be sure to read the interview with one of the label owners, Michael Meyer, on Pitchfork here.
There's also this exclusive Michael Mayer mix, courtesy of Kompakt and Pitchfork:
Michael Mayer: Kompakt - The Early Years (1998-2004) (right click save as)
Tracklisting (with commentary from Michael Mayer):
01. All - Alltag 1
It's appropriate to start this journey with the godfather: All is Wolfgang Voigt's first appearance on Kompakt. "Alltag 1" still breathes the spirit of the Profan era and marks the birth of the Pop Ambient concept.
02. Ehlert & Lohberger - Vito E.P. 2
This is the most overlooked record in our catalog. Nobody liked it at the time - except Wolfgang and myself. If I received this demo today, I'd sign them right away! One of many records we've released knowing it would be a flop, but that we'd made a statement.
03. Dettinger - Totentanz 1
Dettinger's ambient long players, Intershop and Oasis, became our first true 'classics'. His 4/4 works are lesser-known, but as revolutionary as the rest. Today, "Totentanz" still sounds shockingly modern and it somehow predates the whole Kuduro/UK Funky movement with its harsh digital dancehall vibe.
04. Sascha Funke - Safety First 4
Sascha Funke released his first records with us. His father (a Berliner) was a diehard supporter of Cologne's soccer club and little Sascha inherited the same passion. He'll drive a Ford because the cars are manufactured in Cologne, and he'll play Cologne techno on its stereo. We love Sascha.
05. Peter Grummich - Schleusen Auf 2
Another visitor from Berlin. "Schleusen Auf" sounds like an old, rattling subway on pretty decent drugs. I just put this one right back into my record crate... a timeless piece of confusing techno.
06. Schaeben & Voss - Tombo's Revenge
Aside from running the ever-excellent Firm label, these guys recorded some of the most dirty and "out there" tunes during Kompakt's early days. They're a snotty techno band with an amazing live show.
07. Jürgen Paape - So Weit Wie Noch Nie (Ata's Playhouse Mix)
The original version - a tantalizing hybrid of German schlager and house - was released on Total 3. For the 12" single release we requested a remix from our good old friend, Ata from Playhouse/Robert Johnson in Frankfurt. He did what he does best: music for late night girls.
08. Leandro Fresco - Cera Uno
This one may very well end up in my Kompakt all-time top 10. Leandro Fresco lives and works in Buenos Aires and he created a monster. All cuts on this EP are just unearthly and beautiful, particularly the ambient ones.
09. Superpitcher - Heroin
No words necessary here... just a little advertising for his new album coming up in February. It's going to be a.w.e.s.o.m.e.!
10. Dorau / Köhncke - Durch Die Nacht (Geiger Mix)
One of the kinkiest records on our Kompakt Pop offshoot featuring two of the most notorious German disco-teers. The Geiger remix turned out to be the gem...I'm still playing this out a lot.
11. Closer Musik - 2 the Beat 2 the Rock
Matias Aguayo and Dirk Leyers gave birth to Kompakt classics like "Maria" and "One Two Three (No Gravity)". When the duo broke up, the girls in Cologne wore black for the rest of that year. The track featured here perfectly documents Aguayo's daredevil approach in production.
12. Lawrence - Teaser
We've been in love with the Hamburg-based Dial label and its protagonists Lawrence, Carsten Jost, and Pantha du Prince since day one. Bringing Romy Schneider to the techno floor is something that had to be done and nobody could have done it with more class than Lawrence.
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