(International Deejay Gigolos/Inertia)

The verbosely titled Größenwahn 1992-2005 / Monotonie Durch Automation (NY Muscle Interpretationen) (i.e. Delusions of Grandeur 1992-2005 / Monotony Through Automation (NY Muscle Interpretations)) is more concisely summed up as “The Best of Hell”. A double CD compilation of some of the stand-out tracks from the founder of International Deejay Gigolo Record’s catalogue, the first disc contains a selection of his productions from 1992-2005 (hence the title), while the second disc contains remixes of tracks from 2003’s highly acclaimed NY Muscle album. And while this may be a “Best of”, by no means should you mistakenly believe that this is simply a compilation of old tracks. Some of the versions of the tracks on disc one have not previously been released, along with nearly half of the remixes on the second disc.

The first disc delves back to the start of Hell’s career with such tracks as 1992’s Definition of House and edits of Allerseelen and My Life Is Hell, which were also found on his 1994 album Geteert & Gefedert. The former two tracks both have an organic old-school techno flavour to them, while the latter hints at the dirty electro feel that his label will come to epitomise. The hypnotic rhythms of Like That (2005), which was also originally released in 1994, are also included.Eat My House, Baby (from 1995’s Albino EP) is relentless mechanical techno, the cogs and wheels turning and turning. Take A Shot with its effortlessly tough vocals was an early techno hit for Hell, while Diese Momente Werden Nicht Verloren Sein Wie Tränen Im Regen, which was also released in 1997, is dark and minimal. Hell’s 1998 album, Munich Machine, is represented by the dancefloor classic Suicide Commando and the cold spaced out minimalism of This If For You. Finally, Größenwahn is completed with four tracks from Hell’s most recent album, 2003’s NY Muscle. First up are the incessantly catchy melodies of Keep On Waiting, for which Erlend Øye of Kings of Convenience supplies the vocals. James Murphy and Tomas Lorello give a hand on the hard rocking alternate version of Tragic Picture Show. Wrapping up the disc are Listen To The Hiss, a dark, trippy number, and Je Regrette Everything, a protracted jazz-like song featuring the melancholic vocals of chanteuse Billy Ray Martin. My only complaint is one common to many “Best Of” compilations, which is a lack of cohesion between the tracks.

The second disc brings together eleven remixes, or “Interpretationen”, of tracks from Hell’s NY Muscle album. The list of remixers reads like a who’s who of techno. There’s mixes of Let No Man Jack, a hard acid track featuring Melvin Oliphant’s vocals (the original of which is not included in the album), from Abe Duque, Radio Slave, Dave Clarke and Adriano Canzian. Another track with only a remix included on the album is Follow You. Dominik’ Eulberg’s deliciously glitchy mix edit of it is featured. Tiefschwarz, Peter Kruder and Villalobos add their personal touch to Listen To The Hiss. While Tiefschwarz beefs it up with big 80s sound effects, Peter Kruder’s Nu Groove Mix and the Villabos Screen Kiss Remix Edit keep it more minimalist and trippier. Next up are Superpitcher and Jesper Dahlbäck’s remixes of Je Regrette Everything, both of which add dark and tense beats to match the sombre vocals, albeit in their own unique styles. Finally, the album is brought to a close with Tomas Andersson’s chopped up, sped up mix of Keep On Waiting.

Größenwahn 1992-2005 / Monotonie Durch Automation (NY Muscle Interpretationen) is recommended for fans of Hell, or simply those who are interested in accessing Hell’s back-catalogue, with many of the tracks and remixes released on CD for the first time (if released previously at all). For this reason, CD DJs will also treasure it.