The ill-ec-tro-nic

First up is The Black Dog who've had two really tasty things out recently in the form of the excellent Music For Real Airports long player as well as a package of remixes from their last LP, Further Vexations. Both are out on Soma and despite my initial scepticism about what an airport-themed concept album might sound like, I'm glad to say my fears about MFRA were unfounded and this is full of warmth, depth and imagination and in fact not actually that much in the way of obvious airport-related sounds. With the exception of Silicone Soul, who deliver yet another track that adds weight to my earlier dismissal of them as one hit wonders, the other three artists (Claro Intelecto, Redshape & Octogen) on The Vexing Remixes do an excellent job, each delivering varied and interesting reinterpretations of the source material. The Claro Intelecto is definitely my favourite though:

The Black Dog - Northern Electronic Soul (Claro Intelecto Snake Pass Mix) // Soma buy

Another legendary electronic artist that's still spending quality time in the studio is Gerald Simpson, aka A Guy Called Gerald. As with The Black Dog, Simpson's place in the annuls of electronic music history is well assured given his early involvement with 808 State and of course his legendary Acid House smash Voodoo Ray but since these early days he's dropped back into the shadows a little although given his sizable back catalogue he's clearly not been lounging around. Given the length of time Gerald has been involved with electronic music and the countless changes and splintering that has happened to the early house and techno genres en route, it's fairly logical that his latest album takes on board many of these influences whilst still retaining true to the sounds of yesteryear (Pacific State even makes an appearance albeit not in as strong a guise as the original). I found the album to be a bit of a mixed bag, feeling in parts like a bunch of old ideas being rehashed and as seems typical of output from many of house and techno's elder statesmen these days, the overall result is one of retrospective competence rather than forward-thinking genius but there's several choice cuts present; in particular when he lets loose with the string section.

A Guy Called Gerald - Indi Vibe // Laboratory Instinct buy

Shifting the focus onto a relatively new producer brings me to Xhin's Plexus / Blade Moth 12" from a couple of months back. Similar in style to his Fixing the Error / Link release from the start of the year and in fact echoing the approach of two fully formed tracks plus two stripped down tools, the listener is once again treated to another outing of relentless, uncopromising club tracks perfect for tougher dancefloors. Depending on your passion for white noise and industrial thuds drenched in reverb you're likely to either love or hate this and it's certainly not something to file under armchair listening but it seems as if Xhin is pretty set on carving himself a very specific niche with his own brand of resolutely fierce and downright sinister sonics.