Various Artists - Body Language Vol. 8. mixed by Modeselektor

Berlin’s Modeselektor are back and bursting with an assortment of what can only be described as a mash up of all sorts. As their name hints, its all about mixing the musical genres on their terms. While most artists in the dance scene talk about disrespecting genres and ignoring musical boundaries, Modeselektor are probably one of the very few acts in the world that actually achieve this, and execute it successfully and unpretentiously. Working with so many genres, there is always the likely risk of producing a mix that ultimately is just too scattered, failing to ignite any interest. However, the magic of Modeselektor is the way they have made an art of doing so, hence why Berlin label, Get Physical have given the duo the honour or mixing the latest installment in the Body Language mix series.

While the 8th installment in the series is an all-out electronic music musical assault, with techno, dubstep, hip hop, Rn’B, electro and vocal house with bass infused, sometimes moody, sometimes dancey beats, the mash is the ultimate in bringing together tracks and genres that ‘shouldn’t’ be mixed, and just for laughs, Modeselektor make it look effortless. A major part of listening to this mix, is the marvel at how this is actually achieved.

Receiving the Modeselektor treatment include Missy Elliot, Boy 8 Bit, Felix Da Housecat, Alex Cortex, Busta Rhymes, Boys Noise and Siriusmo, all coming together as part of a that mix is at the peak of electronic inspired music.

While everybody seems to be talking about crunk, Rustie’s Zig Zig is a fine example of the genre, which gets the mix rolling. From here the set quickly moves into the bizarre territory of Rn’B, and yet, this is very effective, and provides possibly the standout track of the album Lick Shots. Even with its Timbaland edge, it only makes the track more fitting for the mix. While things remain glitchy almost throughout the whole mix, from here it moves into a little dub-esque direction, before moving into a more moody sound with the haunting vocals on Norman Nodge’s NN 8.0 and then with Benga’s Emotion. Once again the mix returns to glitichy again on Clunk Click Every Trip, and Anaconda marks a change in tempo by infusing a massive dash of dancefloor electronica. By half way through the mix, its clear that there seems to be a yo-yo pattern emerging as the battle between genres is played out for us to hear. Far from a negative, this battle ultimately produces a symphony of mish mash, with a mission to keep us moving, by keeping things different.

This theme is played out over the remaining second half of the mix with Busta Rhymes keeping things hip hop which then evolves into an all out dance hall assault. Modeselektor drop Major Lazer’s track du jour Pon De Floor, which will definitely keep the club heads happy, while always keeping fitting with the sound of the mix. Following it straight up, they then drop Boys Noize, keeping the German Flavour alive throughout the mix. While Modeselektor save their own productions for final parts of the mix, they bring the tempo down with their chilled out sound on The Black Block, which has a slight Orbital undertone (think Belfast minus the chanting). My Girls is a little euphoric, before the duo pick things up with fellow Berliner Siriusmo, who regularly works with Modeselektor, who crafts electronic breaks on Breath before letting Modeselektor finish off with their French electro hip hop rap encore on Dancing Box, which gets all hands straight back in the air again.

Modeselektor are able to inject so many genres and sounds into one mix it would almost seem unfathomable on paper, and this is what puts the duo into their own league in terms of their mixing capabilities. An excellent mix, with such an assortment of tracks, this is nearing perfection. But this would almost be expected from a such a successful team, on such a fitting label. The Body Language series definitely needed their skills and as such, the latest installment seemed destined for such great things. With both the DJ duo and the lablel at the forefront of electronic genre-bending dancefloor music, this partnership was always inevitable. Body Language vol. 8 is a must have for any electronic music lover, thanks to Modeselektor’s skills. Bless!