#DiggingInTheShelves No. 51
Duckbeats - Modern House Is Rubbish
Odori (2006)
https://www.discogs.com/release/679970

Digging in the closet for those tech house skeletons, eh? Three tools from Chris Duckenfield.

The eponymous track seems to be poking fun at the trends of the time with wobble bass, glitches and all that jazz. Spoof or not, it got my foot tapping while typing this.

The B side carries on in similar style, quirky synths breaking up the monotony of what is otherwise quite standard house fare.

Pretty dated, not sure if I'd ever feel the need to play this again. OTOH, it's not exactly bad in its genre. Sits somewhere between "meh" and "fine".

Selected: Modern House Is Rubbish
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-282tHGndx8

#DiggingInTheShelves No. 20
Various - Untitled
D.J. Classic Mastercuts (2009)
https://www.discogs.com/release/2058036-Various-Untitled

A three track EP featuring 1980's Chicago house. Virgo 4's "Blue Mood", although fairly fast, is based around a chill string melody, and would probably 10 years later qualify as deep house. It's perfectly fine, but nothing special to be found here. [1/2]

Track: Ron Hardy - Sensation (Dub - 1985)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIwH9XE25jQ

#DiggingInTheShelves No. 50
Jori Hulkkonen - Finland: 0 Points
Trainspotter's Nightmare (1996)
https://www.discogs.com/release/190841

Nice one from the randomizer as the 50th dig: a double-slab of jerking from the undisputed house king of Finland. Best album title ever, but how does it sound?

As much as I appreciate Jori's lengthy career, it's his early material that I've always enjoyed the most. Honest Chicago vibes, hard shuffled drums, sparse synths, tongue-in-cheek sampling. The definition of fun electronic music.

This isn't a masterwork on the level "Selkäsaari Tracks", which originated from the same sessions. Still, there's plenty of decent material on offer. "Booty Time" and "Hypnosyna" are longtime favourites.

Some of these tracks got digitally re-released recently, but sadly not all. That alone makes the vinyl worth hunting down. For those about to jack, I endorse this product.

Selected: Hypnosyna
https://blancoandtinto.bandcamp.com/track/hypnosyna

#DiggingInTheShelves No. 49
Various - Flam!
Sameheads (2018)
https://www.discogs.com/release/13089135

The first of (then-)annual vinyl compilations from my favourite Berlin club Sameheads, consisting of new music from associated artists.

I'm 100% biased as the venue is very important to me, but one can't deny this is an interesting release. Varied leftfield styles, hard-to-pin-down genres. *wave, new beat and EBM influences aplenty. Very dry and angular sounding, as was the trend at the time.

Antoni Maiovvi's rough techno banger "Greased Love" might be the most approachable track, but it's no less intesting than e.g. Novo Line's generative dual Atari ST grooves or Kruton's sleazy electro.

True to form, the transparent blue record comes in a stylish packaging with glossy fashion photos taken at the club. Not for everybody, I'm a fan.

Selected: Balance Crew - Flam!
https://sameheads.bandcamp.com/track/balance-crew-flam

#DiggingInTheShelves No. 19
Michael Stearns - Planetary Unfolding
Emotional Rescue (2019)
https://www.discogs.com/release/13825777-Michael-Stearns-Planetary-Unfolding

Michael Stearns' 1981 album "Planetary Unfolding" is a timeless space music masterpiece. Thank you for your attention on this matter.

Track: In the Beginning...
https://emotional-rescue.bandcamp.com/track/planetary-unfolding-movements-1-3

#DiggingInTheShelves No. 48
Vertical67 - Mirrored EP
Mechatronica (2024)
https://www.discogs.com/release/32645043

Another one from a local operative, Vertical67. Known as a prolific producer, solid live act, 50% of Vortex Traks, a fellow Novation Peak enthusiast and a nice dude in general. This time appearing on that other great Berlin electro label.

This EP takes the standard electro funk formula and spices it up with more unconventional elements, the most prevalent being the addition of breakbeats. Always a winning move in my books, not sure why electro producers aren't more eager to experiment with this combo.

But there's more, such as unexpected beat breakdowns, the Middle Eastern influences in "Mirrored", the mode IDM-ish synth lines of "Emitter" and "Shattered Glass" with its frantic drum programming.

Inventive and fresh. Not just a run-of-the-mill electro toolset. Punchy sounding vinyl too. TIP!

Selected: Mirrored
https://mechatronica.bandcamp.com/track/mirrored

#DiggingInTheShelves No. 47
Kindimmer - Workz On Dope (Inlc 6 Locked Grooves)
Claap (2014)
https://www.discogs.com/release/5416325

Two tracks and six locked grooves from the consistent (at the time) Greek house producer, who sadly seems to be inactive as of late.

"Workz on Dope" builds a groove out of a few basic chords and sporadic vocal snippets. Traditional but works for me. "The Distraction of Fever" continues in the same vein with a harder beat. I used to play the latter, but listening back to these, the former is now more up my alley. Go figure.

The loops are.. fine? Never had much use for vinyl loops but if I did, I could cook with these.

Usable tools, that's it. Hits its targets while not aiming at the moon. I kind of wish we'd hear more from this guy, always liked his style.

Selected: Workz on Dope
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NDP4exq_FM

#DiggingInTheShelves No. 18
Various - Café Del Mar Volumen Ocho
Manifesto (2001)
https://www.discogs.com/release/48238-Various-Caf%C3%A9-Del-Mar-Volumen-Ocho

When did I buy this? Why? No idea. But let's have a listen. "Goldfrapp - Utopia (New Ears Mix)" is a wonderfully haunting piece of music. "Thomas Newman - Any Other Name" from the film "American Beauty" is another beautiful track with a simple piano melody, and strings that don't distract from its simplicity. [1/2]

Track: Mari Boine - Gula Gula (Chilluminati Mix)
https://mariboine.bandcamp.com/track/gula-gula-chilluminati-mix-3

#DiggingInTheShelves No. 46
The Cantini Bros - Live From Planet Future
Hard To Swallow (2005)
https://www.discogs.com/release/425847

Something of a curiosity: pseudonymous techno from Frankie Bones, Abe Duque & co. Tracks are named by references to the US military campaign in Iraq. Not sure if pro-war, anti-war, dumb humor or something else?

I grabbed this after hearing the outrageous techno bootleg of Gwen Stefani's Keep on Dancin' in some DJ set. It's still outrageous and it still bangs. I'm not surprised it's not available online.

The rest is quite variable in style and substance. Excessive distortion, random vocal samples (did I even hear Rob Gee in there?), breakbeats, acid, you name it. All of it goes quite hard.

Not bad, but silly and random. I guess that was the point.

Selected: WMD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxwbWJQBbC4