Phonique, aka Michael Vater, has become a reputable name within the electronic music scene for his soulful take on the German minimal sound. His tracks are featured widely on compilations, from the underground ‘Suck My Deck’ series all the way through to the more renowned Renaissance mixes.

With the release of his sophomore album ‘Good Idea’, Phonique showcases his broad musical palette previously unseen from the Berlin house don. The new album is split into two sections, the first being for more “home listening,” featuring collaborations with German hip hopsters Data MC and the melancholic vocal stylings of Erlend Oye (who also featured on his debut). I found the first CD very much in the vein of early Crazy Penis, with a strong focus on songwriting and vocal structures, and this is something Phonique is happy to draw comparisons with. Although there are no plans for a live band show to feature the wide range of guest vocalists, Phonique is going to tour widely to promote the album.

Whilst he may be more known for his electro and tech laden sets over the world, many of his fans may be surprised to learn that he holds a monthly residency at the Weekend Club in Berlin, showcasing the deep house and disco that influenced him as a child. Growing up in the outskirts in Berlin, Phonique grew up with everything from the early hip hop of Run DMC to big hair metallers Iron Maiden influencing his musical heritage. Electronic music didn’t come until later when he made his move to the big city of Berlin. Attracted to the house music sounds coming from the likes of Larry Levan and Frankie Knuckles, he started building his own record collection. Armed with only one turntable he would combine his equipment with that of his friends to form a formidable setup of two turntables and a mixer. It was then that his DJing career began to take shape.

After moving to Berlin in 1995, Phonique made huge waves following the success of his parties and club nights. Realising that appropriate warm up DJs were hard to come by, he decided he would take care of that himself. As his reputation grew, so did his booking schedule, until in 1999 he got his big call up to the legendary Tresor club for which he still holds a monthly residency. With his rise in his DJing popularity Phonique decided to venture into the production side of the art form. Hooking up with long time friend Alex Krüger (aka Tigerskin), he started making tracks that he would like to play out. The process in the studio is very simple, armed with Alex’s uncanny programming skills and Phonique’s ideas about composition and structure the duo have churned out some formidable productions such as ’99 & A Half’ and their remix of Teifshwarz’s ‘The Red Dress.’

Following the success of his production work, Phonique has had the opportunity to travel the world and spread his unique take on the minimal sound. This has seen him make strong networks with many contemporaries, from Sao Paulo (Gui Boratto) to Stockholm (Zoo Brazil), which is the reason for the massive number of collaborations on the new album – there’s 19 in all! With his songwriting approach coming to the fore on the new album, Phonique has also been careful not to alienate his dance audience. The second disc is a mixed CD featuring new tracks for the dancefloor. This CD features the likes of dance heavyweights Steve Bug, Gui Borrato and more, and it’s a solid representation of what Phonique likes to play in his club sets.

Phonique’s album ‘Good Idea’ is out now, available through Dessous/Stomp.