The mighty Fluke has returned. After their latest album “Risotto” with the super hit “Atom Bomb” in 1997 it was rumoured that it was the end of Fluke. But singles was appearing and the “Zion” track for the Matrix Reloaded soundtrack was the signal of something big was on its way. The new album “Puppy” is split in two parts, the first hard and heavy with tracks like “Snapshot”, “My Spine” and the “Zion” track has change into “Another Kind Of Blues”. The sound is still classic Fluke and shows something good never dies. The singles “Hang Tough” and “Switch/Twitch” comes thundering though the speakers and the tempo is dropped when we go into the slow part of the album with “YKK” , “Expo” , “Electric Blue”, “Baby Pain”, “Nedbulus” and the beautiful gospel like track “Blue Sky” closes the album. An album that has giving me back the belief that a proper electronic album still can be produced, instead of the countless compilation albums that is filling the market. (CA)

The wait is over – one of the true pioneers of psychedelic trance Martin Freeland finally releases his new album “Interstate Highway” – and what a ride Martin Freeland has put together. Many of you who have experienced Mr. Freeland live the last couple of years will recognise some of the tracks on the new album. His sound has progressed since the last album “Earth Moving The Sun” from 1998, its deeper, more well defined but still with the trademark of Man With No Name. Fast rolling rhythms, simple melody lines and fascinating sounds. On “Cocoon” he blends a Killing Joke sounding guitar into the track with perfection and a choir gives the track a fantastic atmosphere. The track “Reincarnation” is what is sounding nearest to old stuff. Man With No Name is back in full strength. The album is out now and a double AA side single “Axis Flip / Light Out” is also released. (CA)

The second release in Steve Lawler´s successful Lights Out series is another dark trip through tribal progressive house music Lawler style, with driving basslines, sexy vocals and dark rhymes. On CD1 Lawler gives us tracks from; Diamond Dogs feat. Mary Tanning “Nothing Else”, Paul Johnson “Follow This Beat” and Ploekat “Dancing Queen” to name some of the 14 tracks spanning CD1. CD2 opens with a nice intro done by Lawler himself featuring Underworld “Two Months Off”, and moves in to a upbeat tempo very quickly, with tracks like UN7 “R.R.R”, Sahara “The Only One”, Alcatraz “Give Me Love”, Prophets Of Sound “Time Of Dreams” and his own mix of Jaydee´s “Plastic Dream” closing the set. A fantastic return for the king of tribal house music. (CA)

To celebrate the release of the 25th Global Underground mix compilation, Sharam and Dubfire (Deep Dish) got the honours in each mixing a limited edition afterclub mix CD. Dubfire’s Afterclub mix is deep, sleek and sexy with tracks from; Anarcursan “In My Mind”, Morel “Caberet”, Carlos Fauvrelle “Operator”. Sharam’s Afterclub mix is funky and deep with tracks from; Oxygen “Inside Me”, two tracks by Sultan & The Greek “Wadi” and “Alive” and PQM “You Are Sleeping”. The two mixes show that Deep Dish are two DJ´s with a similar taste but with a difference. One of the best mix compilations released this year. (CA)

The electronic pioneers Underworld have released a double CD looking back on their 10 year impressive back catalogue. This album spans 16 tracks and includes the massive hits "Born Slippy", "Rez" as well as "Cowgirl", "Push Upstairs" and my own favourite "Dark and Long" and “Dark Train”. The album also includes the rare tracks “Bigmouth” and “Dirty” that they released in 1992 as Lemon Interrupt when Darren Emerson was introduced to Karl Hyde and Rick Smith, this was the start of what we today know as Underworld and their fantastic dark musically environment. This album is a perfect way to be introduced to Underworld. (CA)

The Dutch trance master Armin Van Buuren finally releases his debut artist album and it includes his classic tracks “Blue Fear” and “Communication”. The album kicks off with “Prodemium” and “Precious” two tracks with a clear influence from Jean Michel-Jarre. The male vocal on “Yet Another Day” doesn’t do it for me and “Burned With Desire” has a nice down tempo Ibiza feel to it. Armin has worked with his good friend Ferry Corsten of the track “From The Heart” and on the track “Slipstream” he worked with Airwave. Overall “76” is a great trance album, with nice build ups, breaks and melodies - but I sort of missing his Perpetuouse Dreamer “The Sound Of Goodbye” track – or is it just me? (CA)

The Forth returns with the second instalment of “Electric Calm” filled with chilled tracks from Pako & Frederik, Spanna, three tracks from Trafik and a track by The Forth themselves. All mixed together in one relaxing continues mix. In my book one of the best chill-out mix albums of 2003. (CA)
 

Bill Leeb returns with Rhys Fulber on Deleriums new album “Chimera” that explores the down tempo electro pop mixed with ethnic sounds and wonderful floating vocals that has been a trade mark for them since the two Frontline Assembly members founded Delerium as a side project. The sound of the new album is more lighten compared with the other releases, and they have worked with a long row of talented female vocalist including; Zoe Johnston, Jael (of Lunik), Leigh Nash (of Sixpence None The Richer) and Julie Cruise – just to name a few. “Chimera” is catchy and a wonderful album and I have to say their best so far. An extra disc includes Satoshi Tomiie’s remix of “After all” and other tracks and videos. (CA)

20 years after Kraftwerk released their landmark single "Tour De France" they are somewhat still fascinated by bicycles. The “Tour De France Soundtracks” builds on this theme, down to the cover design and the possibilities in making versions of this track. The album opens with 15 minute 3 stage version of the theme in a more trance’ir updated edition. Kraftwerk is still Kratwerk sound wise with vocoders, simple melody lines and minimalistic electro sounds. The orginal version of "Tour De France" closes the album that is a welcoming return for the pioneers of electronic music. (CA)

This is the last compilation released from the now closed Hooj Choons label. James Zabiela has put together two CD’s mixed live using Pioneer equipment and includes live editing, echoes, loops and other nice manipulations of the tracks. Musically the first CD starts with slow electro tracks moving into a more up tempo house tracks, but still with a clear vision and with electro sounds as the main element. CD2 is more chunky house music and is upbeat from the start and all the way until the end. A compilation that will appeal to people that is searching for something different beyond the usual. (CA)

From Perfecto comes another release in their compilation series “Perfecto presents. Seb Fontaine does his second “presents” CD in two years, last year he was behind the “Perfecto presents – Horizons” compilation. What set this apart from the other compilation, well - you will get two fully loaded CD´s with funky progressive house tracks from the likes of Flatline, Agent Sumo, DJ Remy, and Saints & Sinners. So if this is your cup of tea - this is a compilation for you. (CA)

Global Underground debut with their first artist album featuring the two Dutch producers Pako (Sekander Raisani) and Frederik (Frederik Borgesius). “Atlantic Breakers” features 11 fantastic ambient chilled electro break beat tracks. The track “Western Approaches” was released on Global Underground Coded label last year and “Systematic” is the second single to be released from the album. An album that has entered my album top10 of the year. (CA)

To kick off the launch of the new Armada label, that Armin Van Buuren has created together with Dave Lewis and Maykel Piron he has releases the first chapter in his Universal Religion mix compilation series. It features a massive mix of the current and future trance hits and includes one of this years anthems; Motorcyle “When The Rush Comes” in Armin’s own mix. The mix is done live and Armin gets away with it and it is very melodic all the way – no high energy banging tracks that some trance DJ´s tend to play. Well done – looking forward to chapter two. (CA)

The band that gave you “Liquid cool”, “Ain't talkin' 'bout dub”, “Krupa” and “Stop The Rock” is back with their fourth album. The album is more retro and Apollo 440 has left the big beat sound that has been a trade mark for them from their second album. The album is filled with rap mixed with rock elements and down beat. The second disc of the album is more of a delight with fluent ambient beats flowing and feeling the room. The track “Something To Give” is a beauty, but for me their first album “Millennium Fever” is still their best. (CA)

The time is up for The Chemical Brothers to look back at their back catalogue and release all the singles going back to 1993 with “Song To The Siren”, “Leave Home”, “Setting Sun”, “Block Rockin´Beats”, “Hey Boy hey Girl” and my personal favourite “Out and Control” up till now with two new tracks; “Get Yourself High” and “The Golden Path” that is a collaboration with Flaming Lips. The collection has also been released as a limited edition with an extra CD with live tracks and other goodies. (CA)

The second instalment of 24:7 features Lee Burridge, a man that also was featured on the Nu Breed series by Global Underground. One 24:7 he explores the more down tempo tracks mixed with electro tracks from the likes of Liquid “Logic Box”, Rabbit In The Moon “Deeper”, Rhythm Plate “Rush On Me” and others. It’s a mixture of funky, jazzed, chilled, relaxed electronic music and this compilation is not for me (sorry – not my style) – but it’s great that Global Underground gives this genre of music a place to be explored. (CA)

The drum´n’ bass outfit Kosheen has transcended into a full rock band, but the voice of Sian and atmosphere is still intact, that intrigued me on their debut release “Resist” with tracks like “Hungry”, “Catch” and “Hide U” bringing found memories back. But to go into a review of this album on an electronic music site I will not. But if you dig the Kosheen sound – I can recommend you to listen to this album and you will hear how they have developed. (CA)

The Danish National Radio has released its first “Radio Recordings” featuring tracks from some of the movers and shakers of the Danish electronic music scene. The first record features a mixtures of vocal downbeat, raga-2-step, house, tech-house, industrial and techno. All the tracks are recorded at the Danish National Radio and produced by Martin Rostbøll. On the record you find the talents of Ben Horn, Gezza, Mikkel Metal, Lasse Lovelace and Krew. The best track on the record from my point of view is a collaboration between Anders Tretemøller, Krede and Torsten Jacobsen, under the moniker of Vildtand with the 9 minute long track “25 timer (25 hours)” – A true electronic track taking me back to the early 90´ where High Intelligent Agency had their moment and the Germans was fooling around with techno. The album is very diverse and should be heard more like a collection of tracks and as a showcase. (CA)