Various (The Field, Wolfgang Voigt, Gui Boratto, Michael Mayer etc.) - Total 11 (Triple vinyl LP, CD)

I was once under the impression Kompakt was a dead-in-the-water minimal techno label that just shoveled bland, drippy 4/4 onto the market, years after it's initial glory days were over. Maybe in the mid 00's it had run out of steam a bit, I dunno - I certainly never dreamed i'd be intrigued & eager enough to buy anything brandishing THAT name. How completely fucking wrong I was. Seemingly, German techno (& its many hybrid offshoots) has become revitalized, re-energised & fluidly funky again - these annual double disc journals being the year's contemporary benchmark by which many other acts & labels can only be judged. I can't easily start picking out key moments here but the general vibe is of eclectic crisp 'n' fresh electronica forged from old techno & house templates that takes inspiration from various strands of "non-electronic" music such as Krautrock, soul & rockabilly. You'll get anything from slick emo-house to deep mind-rattling techno and so, so much inbetween. This album works as much as a background mood setter as it could completely slay a party. Much of the cream of today's European dance music is to be lapped up here, get it while it's extra fresh for optimum delight!!