It’s taken nearly two years, but the 6th installment in the revered Poker Flat series has finally arrived with Dead Man’s Hand the latest offering. Poker Flat Recordings’ label figurehead and international revered DJ/producer Steve Bug deal’s the first half of the double disc compilation, while Clé takes charge with an inspired second disc. Compared to previous Poker Flat albums, the Dead Man’s Hand takes a deeper route, reflecting the label’s latest developments. All tracks on this double album are brand new and exclusively produced for this compilation.

Bug masterfully compiles the first disc, and with 10 carefully selected tracks he displays Poker Flat’s new direction towards the deeper side of house and techno as well as showing the full breadth and width of the genres of tech-house, minimal and electro; and not the Ministry of Sound type of electro that some might be accustomed to. The ambient opener Behind the Curtains is a curve-ball of what you can expect to follow. The unmixed disc is a lot more driving than the lead song suggests, which is prominently on display with The Whisper Had It and Relapse. Not to be outdone, Bug’s own single A World Without the best selection on the first disc. It kicks off with a subtle groovy beat along with Steve’s vocal sample as he adds layer upon layer of nifty sounds building up to a hypnotic groove, after which a stomach-punching synth kicks in. Bug’s selections ooze quality and his disc proves why he is in the very top echelon of the world of tech/minimal DJs and producers.

German DJ and Producer Clé takes charge on disc two, and he’s forged his reputation as one half of the critically acclaimed Martini Bros, deaings 14 future and past Poker Flat tracks into his Dead Man’s Hand mix which is a seamless impression of late-night splendor. Clé is clinical in his actions, dropping the mix into a deep groove early on with Organic and then teases the audience as he takes an ambient touch in the guts of the mix with From Buleaux and Towards Buleaux. The mix hits a purple patch towards the end courtesy of releases from Bug like Momwack, then Clé himself with All Dried Out and then both Bug and Clé together on Hidden Pleasure. This hat-trick of tech-house is a sterling representation of the mix and album as a whole: deep layered tech-house with minimal instincts. For the ever consuming minimal and tech-house fans out there that love their house music a tad deeper than most, this album is for you.

Check out the tracklisting…
Disc One – Steve Bug Unmixed
01. Steve Bug and Clé – Behind The Curtains [Original]
02. Simon Flower – The Whisper Had It [Redshape’s Discodub]
03. Jeff Samuel – Relapse [Original]
04. Martin Landsky – Man High [Original]
05. Steve Bug – A World Without [Original]
06. Matthias Heilbronn – Do It Right [Matty’s PFR Mix]
07. Dan Berkson & James What – Indigo [Original]
08. Maik Loewen – Bright Night [Edit]
09. Martin Landsky – Let Me Dance [Sebo K Remix]
10. Aril Brikha – Life Like [Original]

Disc Two – Clé – Mixed
1. Raudive – Needles [Steve Bug Remix]
2. Guido Schneider & Florian Schirmacher – Organic [Original]
3. Martin Landsky – Cold Eyes [version 2]
4. Ryo Murakami – Nightmare [Original]
5. Martini Bros – From Buleaux [Original]
6. Martini Bros – Towards Buleaux [Original]
7. Dan Berkson & James What – Reflections ft. Robert Owens [Original]
8. Martin Landsky – Let Me Dance [Original]
9. Steve Bug – Momwack [Original]
10. Clé – All Dried Out [Original]
11. Steve Bug and Clé – Hidden Pleasure [digital exclusive track]
12. Maik Loewen – Napping At The Switch [Original]
13. Martini Bros – Karawane [Original]
14. Ryo Murakami – Her [Original]