Berlin based producer Phonique (otherwise known as Michael Vater ) returns with his second artist album Good Idea, via Dessous Records (sister venture to the Pokerflat crew), the label that brought you his debut as well as *Trentemoller’*s popular Last Resort album.

As well as the above labels, Vater has released on Dessous, Crosstown Rebels, Brique Rouge, Global Underground, Renaissance, Fine, Mood Music, Simple, Systematic and Souvenir, and remixed work for Thugfucker, Erlend Oye, Detroit Grant Pubahs, Rosenstolz, Eyerer & Chopstick, Will Saul, Data MC and many more.

Borrowing influences from the ‘80s to present day electronic sounds, Good Idea is a melting pot of pop, electro, techno, house, electro-house, hip hop and minimal sensibilities. He teams up with vocalists Erlend Oye ( Whitest Boy Alive, Kings of Convenience ) who teamed up with him on earlier releases, but also Richard Davis (from Kitty-Yo and Punkt ).

The use of vocals in songs like Casualties, Thinking of You and Teenage Love give the record a more poppy feel, although Oye’s voice brings a trademark melancholy, and contrasts effectively against the instrumental electro bleeps of tracks like Lowfi Moods, Lovely Morning and One Love, as well as the soul/jazz/hip hop tips of tracks like Trouble, Computer Kidz and Roses. Beautiful melodies and tempo effects work excellently on tracks like Rio Nights with the vocoder effected Ruben on vocals. The gorgeously ethereal and anthemic Always Wanted featuring Richard Davis with his deepest voice a la Karl Hyde is almost a homage to Underworld.

Towards the end of the collection, Phonique does seem to get more eclectic with the quirky and experimental Cats ‘n’ Cars; and smoother Latin and almost world influenced tracks Mexican Sunrise and Worked It Out even hint at softer touch to the producer’s personality.

On the limited edition bonus disc mixed by Phonique, he also teams up with electronic producers like Steve Bug, Gui Boratto, Vincenzo, Zoo Brazil and others on another twelve remixes and collaborations. Fans of minimal, tech-house and electro will enjoy the subtle journey of this disc, and it’s really a second album in itself. Phonique seems to have his head firmly balanced between the more accessible vocal realm and the edgier niche of techno’s current strain.