For this playlist, we are slowly adding tracks that start at the beginning of Kompakt&#x27;s story - we reach deep into our extensive back catalogue and select key tracks ranging from early bangers to future classics - a perfect introduction to the label 

KOMPAKT: Selection

Taken from "Velvet Desert Music Vol. 1", out March 29 on Kompakt.

https://KompaktRecords.lnk.to/VelvetDesertMusicVol1SD

Velvet Desert Music Vol.1 introduces a new compilation series on Kompakt, curated by one of Cologne’s leading figures in electronic music, Jörg Burger (aka The Modernist, The Bionaut, Burger/Ink and many more). Velvet Desert Music Vol.1 combines elements of rock, folk, country, surf, krautrock and psychedelic in contemporary electronic music.

Velvet Desert Music vol.1 features unreleased music and mixes from Matias Aguayo, Fantastic Twins, Paulor, Rebolledo, Sascha Funke & Cosmo Vitelli, Superpitcher, The Modernist and more.

Buy Single

Rebolledo & The Novotones - Mountain Eagle (The Black Frame Desert Mix)

@tomdemac is no stranger to us, with well-played releases on Hypercolour, Electronique Audio and Glasstable, we were happy to offer him a home with Kompakt in 2018 thanks to a collaboration with Real Lies titled “White Flowers”. Tom returns to Kompakt, this time solo with the 3 tracker “Serenade” .

The title track is delicately brought together by a fragile piano rhythm and poetic wisdom over the might of the kick drum. Tom says its best that “Despite it being a little generic adding spoken word talking about music over actual music, the poetic nature of the delivery and description of the effects and emotions that music can bring, really worked with the piano I had written for this song.”

“Seventh Sign” was initially intended an experiment in cello recordings through an effects pedal but ended up being track brimming with pure techno groove. Second Skin is the perfect finale embracing epic elements of broken beat and even IDM sensibilities with a gorgeously misguided horn leading the march.

On Serenade, Tom Demac shows he has what it takes to reconfigure the vitality of what emotive techno can be. A central force that has kept the beat of Kompakt’s heart in rhythm since day one.

Buy/Stream

Tom Demac - Serenade

Buy/Stream: https://KompaktRecords.lnk.to/WasWirSpuerenSD

Reinhard Voigt returns to his own label KOMPAKT with another episode of satiric techno to enlighten today’s current trend of deadpan dance music.

Since the 1990’s, Reinhard has brought an unparalleled spirit into the techno scene through outrageously energetic live shows and the many releases under alias such as SRI, Pentax plus of course his ongoing collaboration Voigt & Voigt together with esteemed brother, Wolfgang Voigt.

Reinhard embraces all that wildlife has to offer with “Was wir spüren”. Starting things off with the future afterparty anthem, “Das singende, klingende Ding” the bass drum is there to guide the lost and found through a voracious bee storm as the rooster crows gloriously towards duck quacking oblivion.

“Tausendmal zu viel” fits perfectly as the soundtrack for to the artwork created by Mareena von Cube – a tormented hymn loops its way to the warriors of the never world.

“Der Mann, der nie nach Deutz kam” is classic Reinhard Voigt techno at peak-time point. A throttling bass drum is voraciously fuelled by the jungle twilight.

Reinhard Voigt - Das singende, klingende Ding

Buy/Stream: https://KompaktRecords.lnk.to/VortexSD

Here is ‘Vortex’....so when Michael Mayer listened to the demo, he tripped and banged his head on a cupboard. When he woke up he said...

“There's something about Rex The Dog that keeps my mind wandering back to the times when it all began for me. It was the early 80s, when young Michael first got exposed to the magic world of dance music. As much as these early sonic impressions (Stock, Aitken & Waterman, Italo Disco, Trevor Horn etc) still resonate in both Rex The Dog's and my current musical output, there's another aspect to those early days that sometimes tends to be forgotten.

Do you remember the first time you saw coloured lights blinking, a blasting smoke machine and lasers cutting through the room? I was so fascinated by that first experience that I started spending all my spare time and pocket money on music and lights. My first self-made piece of disco equipment was a shoe box containing three speakers (ripped from old TVs and radios) and three LEDs that actually flashed to the beat of the sound. An achievement that made me proud as hell. Looking at Rex The Dog's self- made modular gear always opens a vortex of childhood memories.

Disco music and flashing lights... it just never gets old. “

Rex The Dog - Vortex

Buy/Stream here: https://KompaktRecords.lnk.to/LostCatSD

Leipzig’s @dj-balduin has been a staff favourite for some time as we are avid fans of his @glyk-musik imprint, and in particular his debut EP “Vvigmara”. Dj Balduin proclaims to enjoy producing music that creates “states of hypnosis with an occasional, gentle “hands-up-face-slap” every now and then” which perfectly sums up “Lost Cat” - his first release for KOMPAKT.

“E.W.B.A” came to Dj Balduin while having a shower, so chances are high we have this summer’s rain dance anthem on our hands as it has all the right elements - a classic rave synth meets an infectious open snare to break through the beat.

The kick drum thud of “Sheee” seems to be all too menacing at first, but surprisingly learns how to open itself into a gorgeously seductive uplifting house tune.

This story ends with the perfect set closer; “Lost Cat And An Untied Shoe” brings that beat back with soaring synths and a playful natural bass line that adds just the slightest edge of funk to carry the crowd home at the end of the night.

Dj Balduin - E.W.B.A.

Buy/Stream: https://KompaktRecords.lnk.to/Gilli88EPSD

@enzoelia – one who knows how to conceive Italo driven audible passion with the machines that surround him. His releases on cult labels Compost, Freerange and Black Pearls Records have long spoken to us here at KOMPAKT.

We welcome this summer heater which is “Gilli 88 EP”. A tribute to the 80s phenomenon...THE PANINARO. Without any ideological basis or connection to a particular lifestyle THE PANINARO was based around fashion imagery and luxurious clothing. Enzo found this translatable to today’s social network dynamics and is prime for the retrofuturistic dancefloors of today that are inspired by the golden days of Italo-Disco.

“Low Red” is a Italo-Pop gem conceived with Aldebaran and Quique on vocals that takes inspiration from the legends that were – the mighty Suicide. An instrumental version dives deeper into the groove for DJ play persuasion. “Aj Squinza” takes a classic 80’s disco approach with sound-scaping synths that endlessly jam with an everchanging rhythm. “Volpinata” succumbs to a classic EBM groove that finds its way out of focus due to fat synth melodies that engorge this elevating track.

Enzo Elia - Aj Squinza

Get Speicher 110 here: https://KompaktRecords.lnk.to/Speicher110SD

Since their first release as Extrawelt 'Soopertrack' dropped on Border Community in 2005 Arne Schaffhausen and Wayan Raabe have had a remarkable run. They relentlessly toured the world with their highly esteemed live show and released plenty of killer releases on labelslike Traum or Cocoon. Naturally, our ears were wide open when the Hamburg-based couple sent over a bunch of new productions to the KOMPAKT HQ. Announced as what they call a new, alternative path of production for them, more precisely "less computer, more hands on" we were directly intrigued by the power and rawness of their new sound.

In particular, two cuts stood out: 'PINK PANTHER' is pure analog funk. A sluggish beat is paired with a highly effective synth riff. The idea is as simple as it gets but it's executed in such a masterful way. You can drop this track anywhere and anytime - it'll certainly set things on fire right away. 'ARGONAUTS' follows an equally simple recipe but ups the tempo and energy levels by 100%. Heavy prime time saw toothtechno for the new generation that recall vintage Thomas P. Heckmann – perhaps if he were to wake up in a funky mood.

Extrawelt - Argonaut

Get your copy: https://KompaktRecords.lnk.to/LilyEPSD

Elina Shorokhova aka SOELA (@soelaela) is a multi-talented artist hailing from southern Russia who now calls Berlin her home. It is there where she continues to build her presence in the community through her live and DJ sets alongside documenting the local scene and artists through her lens as a photographer.

LILY EP may be 4 tracks but as a collected whole, sounds and feels like an album when heard from beginning to end. The title track emits her talent as a pianist by setting a tone of gracefulness that is carried throughout the EP – broken beats float in and out of dub drenched ambience that flows with cascading vocals. CLOSE YOUR EYES echos a spirit of Detroit House with refreshing new intensities. Again, her vocals caress the track but as an incredibly catchy hook. WHITE BECOMES BLACK shows her own interpretation of dub techno and combines that into a classic house beat. I HAVE A DREAM sounds like she bridges all of the previous track elements into a single whole which makes this tune the perfect closing track for any DJ set and of this release. A steady low-end groove keeps the ricocheting snares and somber synths cruising to an up-tempo rhythm.

Soela - Lily

Taken from various artists "TOTAL 19" out September 27th on Kompakt.

Order TOTAL 19: KompaktRecords.lnk.to/Total19ID

Stream full track

Jonathan Kaspar - Renard

Pre-order here: https://KX.lnk.to/DustSD

From the record store of Kompakt, our sibling label KX returns just in time to drop into the end of the summer season with these blissful selections from @johannesbrechtmusic (Diynamic, Poker Flat, Mule). 

JOHANNES BRECHT seeks the sublime with lead track “Synesthetic” – a delicate yet potent entry that was inspired by the condition called synesthesia, a perceptual condition in which the stimulation of one sense triggers an automatic, involuntary experience in another sense. Flipside “Matter” leans more to to the left-field where found sounds mingle to a simmering bass drum. The bonus track “Particulate” furthers Johannes’ vast capabilities as a musician by playing E-Bow on an medieval instrument called the Dulcimer - the results reflect and depth and beauty rarely heard in dance music. 

Overall, his “Dust EP” finds beauty through minimalistic arrangement.

Pre-order

Johannes Brecht - Synesthetic

Grab your copy: https://KompaktRecords.lnk.to/Total19SD

You may ask: "In the day and age of streaming playlists and the omnipresence of freely available mixes, what's the use of a label compilation?" The answer is simple: labels still serve as a dearly needed filter mechanism in this tsunami of music we're facing every day. Labels strive to establish trust between artists and listeners. They're like your favorite restaurant around the corner. On the spur of the moment, you might find more excitement in that hip place that just opened somewhere else. But when the novelty fades, you'll always return to your sanctuary. The safe place where they know your name and the last drink is on the house. KOMPAKT has become such a place for generations of fans and artists alike. And the TOTAL compilation series serves as its menu: always changing but instantly recognizable.

As per usual TOTAL is a collection of the past years biggest tunes, the creme de la creme of KOMPAKT's steady output of 12"s topped off with eight exclusive unreleased tracks that are also available on the 2LP vinyl edition of TOTAL 19.

With JÜRGEN PAAPE, the notorious VOIGT brothers, THOMAS/MAYER and JÖRG BURGER - all founding fathers are on board. Legacy artists SASCHA FUNKE and JUSTUS KÖHNCKE make their long-awaited comebacks, the latter with a kinky Patrick Cowley homage called "Mindless Sex Track". Cologne young blood JULIAN STETTER nails the starry-eyed, romantic KOMPAKT signature sound with his remix for an up and coming local pop outfit called ALBERT LUXUS. Fellow Colonian JONATHAN KASPAR makes his label debut with his slinky track "Renard". DJ BALDUIN definitely is one to watch in 2020. His massive "E.W.B.A." transcends the friendly populism of an ancient Love Parade anthem while capturing the sincere spirit of today's electro revival. REX THE DOG's "Vortex" and TOM DEMAC's "Serenade" perfectly showcase why KOMPAKT is still one of the most played and charted labels in electronic music today. In a scene that is more fragmented than ever these two producers delivered true consensus hits that are cherished on all sizes and shapes of floors beyond genre boundaries.

The second half completely belongs to a whole new breed from our beloved SPEICHER series such as ANNA, YOTAM AVNI, EXTRAWELT, RAXON, BLACKRACHAS, JOHN MONKMAN and LA FLEUR alongside our full time members PATRICE BÄUMEL, KÖLSCH and GUI BORATTO. The energy levels are way up and the mission reads clearly: We'll never stop dancing this way.

- MICHAEL MAYER (Kompakt co-owner, curator of the TOTAL series)

Justus Köhncke – Mindless Sex Track

Buy/Stream: https://KompaktRecords.lnk.to/TheWeightRemixeID

@weval returned in early 2019 with their sophomore full length “The Weight” - breaking their pop-mellow, nostalgia-friendly facet further out in the open as they arrived "at this place again were everything felt spontaneous, new and exciting, like we had in the beginning".

On limited edition, hand stamped vinyl, we present a collection of remixes from “The Weight”. Kompakt co-founder Michael Mayer opens “Same Little Thing” up to the dance floor with an everlasting lush house rhythm. Weval offer their own alternative version of “Same Little Thing” - a more stripped down affair with a solid breakbeat holding the track in sweet momentum. Lake Turner is an artist you will hear more about on Kompakt in 2020 - his interpretation of “The Weight” is a lush, kaleidoscopic crooner. Steve Moore (of Zombi fame) finally returns to Kompakt with a peak time ready techno-fied version of “Roll Together”.

Weval - The Weight - Lake Turner Remix

Weval - Same Little Thing - Alternative Mix

Weval - Same Little Thing - Michael Mayer Remix

Buy/Stream: https://KompaktRecords.lnk.to/TopinamburEPSD

In future times, culture historians will refer to Gabor Schablitzki aka Robag Wruhme as a creator of a singular techno sound, a rock in the murky sea of arbitrary musical dullness that befell mankind in the early 21st century.

Furthermore, a lesser known quality of Schablitzki will be praised and explored: He was a relentless wordsmith, a deeply passionate inventor of elegant idioms that enriched German language. Take ‘Freggelswuff’ or ‘Wemmel’ as shining examples.

It’s within this context that a certain cultural artefact released on a Cologne based record label called KOMPAKT (which towards the end of the 21st century made a hardly publicised turn to manufacturing CO2-neutral wall plug systems) that went by the sonorous title ‘Topinambur’ has to be mentioned. Legend has it that Schablitzki claimed to have created the word ‘Topinambur’, unknowingly that local farmers have been marketing a root tuber under the same name since it got imported from America in 1610 AD. The following tenacious copyright lawsuit between Schablitzki and a large agricultural consortium lasted for many years. It isn’t considered as a highpoint in Schablitzki’s turbulent life but it still serves a staircase wit that is passed on from generation to generation amongst Black Forest moonshiners.

Robag Wruhme - Topinambur

Buy/stream: https://KompaktRecords.lnk.to/PopAmbient2020SD

20 years of Pop Ambient. Already? One didn’t notice. It’s an anniversary which comes quietly. An anniversary with quiet tones. In the spirit of the special restraint of pop-elegance, it has no reason to drawn attention to itself with a big „Tam-Tam“. Or better: „Bum-Bum“. The bass drum stays outside. Nevertheless, in fast-paced, overstimulated times of moving forward, it’s a joyful occasion to look back. What strikes most by putting or listening to 20 years of pop ambient in a row is the central theme that holds together the dense aesthetic concept like the pearls of a necklace. Floral beauty for digital naturalists. Music like flowers, that don’t wilt. Timeless. Ageless.
But with all of the conceptual unity and resolution, Pop Ambient would not be Kompakt without the break, the friction, the expansion of musical boundaries in between tradition and innovation, in between conspiracy and the openness of the discourse. Aestheticism, escapism, acting in the spirit of „nevertheless“. Swans drifting by, clouds pass over, everything is floating and: „Boredom is a stylistic device“ (Andy Warhol).

Pop Ambient Music is medicine against illnesses, that you don’t even suffer from. It’s giving everything, demanding nothing. Musical lotus leafs, off which the virtual wastewater of our time is rolling like the reality is dripping off the matrix. 

In this sense, we’re happy about the pop-ambient anniversary greetings from new and old companions like Thore Pfeiffer, Max Würden, Yui Onodera, Jörg Burger, Thomas Fehlmann, Morgen Wurde, Leandro Fresco aswell as contributions from T.Raumschmiere, Andrew Thomas and, after a long break, from friends from early days like Joachim Spieth, Markus Guentner und Klimek.

Pop Ambient 2020 is released digital, as CD and of course as a chic double vinyl. Also included in the package: The whole distinctive cover-series as an art book of 44 pages. And for all of the old and young fans and collectors there is the Pop Ambient 2001 in a overhauled original version out on vinyl for the very first time.

  Breath in. Breath out. Thank you.  

Wolfgang Voigt, September 2019.

Buy/stream

Thore Pfeiffer – Urquell

Buy/Stream: https://KompaktRecords.lnk.to/KanteEPSD

We welcome to the Kompakt family one of our local Cologne heroes, @jonathankaspar. We’ve appreciated him from afar for some time now thanks to his releases on Crosstown Rebels, Pets Recordings, Ouie and of course our own KX imprint. His single “Renard” was a highlight of our recently released TOTAL 19 collection, so it was time to make our relationship official with a 4 track EP.

Opener “Kern” leads with layers of melodic synths power charged around a playful house rhythm. For the digital release he offers up a Percussion Edit that is intended to bring more depth to the charge.
“Zentrum” is for that peak time pace…elevating melodies caress a swelling mid-tempo beat. Not to mention one of the biggest breakdown’s we’ve had the pleasure to release in some time. We move to “Licht” which literally sounds like it soars, then back to earth comes “Kante” – the most techno inspired track of the EP – an oscillating synth rips through solid low end bass frequencies – with Jonathan Kaspar skillfully demonstrating prime time, peak and valley production.

“Kante EP” brings out his emotive, high energy style of writing and producing in a means that could be pointed to as his best work to date.

Jonathan Kaspar - Kante

Buy/stream: https://KompaktRecords.lnk.to/FrameDraggingSD

It's with great pleasure that we announce the return of New York's synth wizard @stevemoore2600 to KOMPAKT - pretty much exactly 10 years after his much lauded first appearance 'Bayern Kurve' on our SPEICHER series.

Steve Moore is widely recognized as one half of Italo Disco-tinged horror-prog project ZOMBI, his numerous thriller movie soundtrack works (The Guest, VFW, Mayhem, Bliss, The Mind's Eye) as well has his clubbier output on Ron Morelli's L.I.E.S. imprint.

The title track of this 4 track EP, "Frame Dragging" sees Moore in full spine tingling mode. In case you've ever stepped into a hot bath on a cold day (in case you haven't you should try it) you should be well familiar with the phenomenon of being incredibly cold and hot at once. That's exactly what 'Frame Digging' does to the dance floor. Goosebump massacre.

"Gamma Quadrant" combines emotive balearic elements with a rolling minimal house track that reminds us of early Playhouse glory. Or is it early Kompakt?

'Gravity Well' and 'Protostar' are both taking a more chilled out route. They perfectly bookend both sides of the record and showcase Moore's stunning ability of creating suspenseful, spaced out beauty.

Steve Moore - Frame Dragging

Time / Sleeper Must Awaken

Sleeper Must Awaken

Buy/stream: https://KompaktRecords.lnk.to/MusicMadeParadiseWE

Italy’s AGENTS OF TIME have long been on the KOMPAKT radar. It started thanks to their exemplary releases on Correspondant and other labels such as Stem, Ellum and their own imprint Obscura which includes last year’s collaboration with Mathew Jonson (from whom their name is inspired by). Michael Mayer had chance to play with them last summer at one of their Obscura parties and their friendship was cemented. Which leads us now to their five track KOMPAKT debut, entitled MUSIC MADE PARADISE.

From our early days of releasing landmark tracks from JUSTUS KÖHNCKE, the label has never been shy of exploring the enigmatic fringes of disco in our own way. AGENTS OF TIME follow these footsteps but head into galactic territory with MUSIC MADE PARADISE. They continue their knack for bridging synth-wave with modern bass rhythms in a means which are purely designed for today’s dance floors. We’re proud to make their label debut with an
incredible selection of music from this talented trio.

French touch meets Italo chic on Drive Me Crazy. At first, My Heart is A Microchip comes across as a segue track, but opens into cascading synths and a predatory breakbeat to lead its own charge. Under Control is classy Moroder disco brought to the modern age. Aptly titled Interstate 10 is an EP highlight – the percussion lead is infectious and ready for prime time exploration.

Agents Of Time - My Heart Is A Microchip

Parisian Dj
Played at Microclimat, A La Folie, 4 Elements, Leopard Café, La Petite Chaufferie, Le 9B, Chez Kiki (Aux Bons Amis), Le Yono, Le Bloc...

KOMPAKT: Selection

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