Various Artists - Electrolush: The Very Best of Minimal and Electro Nouveau

(Om/Stomp)

The thing with genres is that every few years the names switch, ‘Rhythm n Blues’ would be the obvious answer. No sooner are people (old mid-twenties bastards like me) getting used to the word ‘electro’ no longer implying Adidas and body popping, and then all of sudden being some sort of nu-breaks offshoot, than there’s a techno compilation in front of me without a breakbeat in site; this is four-four territory. Where do we look for guidance, man? We need authority! No matter, Om Records have created a damn fresh double disc compilation with the focus on mellow techno perfect for screwing up your face, pouting your lips, closing your eyes and nodding your head. If you’re anything like me.

As stated, it’s essentially a techno compilation, and don’t let anyone tell you techno isn’t funky. The Detroit side of things is always something I’ve been less keen on, and that’s cool, cos this is the best of the minimal German take, with grooving (and do excuse me for sounding like a Today Tonight presentation of what the kids are listening to, but that’s what the feel is) basslines with that disco aesthetic, along with crunching and clicking beats. Some of the more electro leaning stuff, much emanating from the strong London tech-elec scene, does have that kind of eighties throwback feel, but only when there’s some cheesy vocals on tracks like Wonderland Avenue’s White Horse, which incidentally, has a pretty nice beat as the basis.

Big names like Tiefschwarz, Layo and Bushwacka and Thomas Schumacher play up to reputation, with nice remixes of Warning Siren, Life2Live and Heat It Up respectively. Throw in plenty of other mean tracks from Solid Groove, Spencer Parker and Random house Project and nuff others, and this is well worth checking out to get a picture of a fresh and burgeoning scene.

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