It’s time, once again, for Kompakt to showcase a range of their best-received releases over the past year via their Total compilation series. They promised it would be a diverse collection and, man, did they keep that end of the bargain up. It’s almost as diverse as the music the Cologne-based label has been cranking out since the late ‘90s. Indeed, Kompakt has brought many new meanings and façades to the term – and sounds of – techno.

Diversity, as well as a refusal to conform in any big or small way, plays a massive part in the Kompakt philosophy. Case in point: the label has largely sidestepped the current tribal trend that’s been sweeping the boards, so this ain’t the place if it’s bongos and the sounds of African children chanting that you’re after. What you will find are unique sounds (at times unapologetically erring on the pop side of things), vocal loveliness and plenty of melody.

At first glance at the tracklisting it’s good to see Kompakt Total 10 hasn’t been used to push all of the label’s bigger names; neither GusGus, Superpitcher, Jörg Burger, Sascha Funke nor the Orb have any presence. And even the label owners themselves – Wolfgang Voigt, Michael Mayer and Jürgen Paape – take something of a step back throughout the double disc presentation to make way for a string of exclusives and some unreleased goods. Although, at the risk of completely contradicting myself, I’m glad to see Gui Boratto and Justus Köhncke both appear twice.

First highlight on disc one comes in the form of no less than 10 delightful minutes from Köhncke. Dirk Leyer’s mix of (It’s Gonna Be) Alright melds a sort of techno tempo with a funk melody. The sound moves from there on to Shumi’s The Wind and the Sea. It’s a slow-moving melodic track to start off with, but picks up the pace gradually to weave in over seven minutes of feelgood magic. That the following track is a Gui Boratto mix is obvious from the get go; there’s an unmistakeable driving bass line and his trademarks are splashed all over the tune. This particular version of Sam Taylor-Wood’s I’m in Love With a German Filmstar also brings with it something the Kompakt team are extremely proud of, and that’s that it’s produced by UK wonder duo The Pet Shop Boys. Ada’s Lovestoned is another knock-out track, slightly reminiscent of Passenger 10 and shamelessly uplifting. And while at first I balked at the sounds of a remixed No Turning Back, I came to realise that’s probably due to the fact I love the original so much. This version has a completely different sound and style, but it’s definitely worth its weight.

Disc two has less wow factor than the first disc, but such a remark on such a quality compilation is only ever going to be a matter of taste and opinion. Thomas Fehlmann’s mix of The Field’s The More I Do is a definite win, while for this reviewer at least, Wassermann’s Berg und Tal back-to-back with Paape’s own Ofterschwang is just too much of a sound clash, in which a weird sort of circus-themed Christmas comes to mind. But, Kompakt do pride themselves on doing things differently, and diversity is just what Total 10 provides. In copious amounts.

Check out the tracklisting:

Disc One:
1. DJ Koze – 40 Love
2. Thomas/Mayer – Total 9
3. Justus Köhncke – It’s Gonna be Alright (Dirk Leyers mix)
4. Shumi – The Wind and the Sea
5. Sam Taylor-Wood Produced by Pet Shop Boys – I’m in Love With a German Filmstar (Gui Boratto mix)
6. Ada – Lovestoned
7. Come – Sum
8. Gui Boratto – No Turning Back (Wighnomy’s Likkalize Love Rekksmi)
9. Nicolas Stefan – Closer
10. Jonas Bering – Who Is Who

Disc Two:
1. Justus Köhncke – Give it to me Easy
2. Matias Aguayo – Walter Neff
3. Mayburg feat. Ada – Each and Every Day
4. Gotye – Heart’s a Mess (Supermayer mix)
5. The Field – The More I Do (Thomas Fehlmann mix)
6. Burger/Voigt – Wand Aus Klang (It’s A Fine Line mix)
7. Wassermann – Berg Und Tal (Instrumental)
8. Jürgen Paape – Ofterschwang
9. Reinhard Voigt – AM Limit
10. Mugwump – Ignored Folklore
11. Pachanga Boys – Fiesta Forever