The Best Electronic Music Of January – February 2023

• Work The Peripherals – Like Lava [Companion]

Guiding weary travellers through an enchanting interdimensional odyssey, WTP’s debut long player ‘Like Lava’ finds a treasured home on Companion. Building on the foundation of four exceptional self-released EPs, WTP continues his exploration into the world of ambient trance. ‘Like Lava’ unfolds across nine tracks that expand and contract through imagined astral landscapes, showcasing WTP’s deft ability to create deep and absorbing techno trips.

Hypnotic in manifold ways, ‘Like Lava’ is a release made for getting lost in. Each track referencing the next, this hour-long journey glides through blissful realms of trance, ambient techno and house – deep basslines, muted breaks and spacious subdued percussion are unified by WTP’s characteristic ubiquitous and sparkling atmospheres.

This is an expert expression of the Companion ethos. By drawing inspiration from the likes of Robert Leiner, Speedy J and Index ID, WTP wields the language of tripped out 90s electronica to allow spellbound listeners the time to contemplate, space to travel and a place to dream.

• Mikkel Rev – TRANS010 [Translusid]

A new released by Translusid.

• Fireground – Recreation [Ilian Tape]

Fireground is the collaboration of Angela and Daniele. The Neapolitan duo made their debut by releasing their first EP (Dualism) on the legendary German label Tresor Records in 2021, marking the beginning of the catalog aimed at celebrating the label’s 30th anniversary.

In 2022 with the release “Dreams EP” Fireground officially begins their residency at Tresor and ever since then the duo has been constantly honing their fast-paced, high-energy techno live set.

• KUZE – Body Posse EP

Music producers from San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

• Levon Vincent – Medium Is The Message II [Novel Sound]

Some 14 years after he unleashed the original version of ‘The Medium Is The Message’ – an attractively deep and melancholic chunk of hypnotic, dub-tinged early morning techno hypnotism – Levon Vincent has decided to revisit and re-make the track on a surprise sequel.

• Kassem Mosse – Workshop 32 [Workshop]

Workshop 32 turns down a more glacial route than the frenetic and kinetic explorations on Chilazon Gaiden. Subtle & singular, explorative, leftfield house journey.

• COR.S – M3 [snu]

Mexican project by Allan Vizzuett.

• VA – INDEXOXO<3 [INDEX:Records]

A third volume of nocturnes devoted to whetting all thirsts.

• Khotin – Release Spirit [Ghostly International]

Canadian producer Dylan Khotin-Foote has kept his Khotin alias going for the better part of a decade; the impressionistic electronic project shifts with the movements in his life. Sometimes it leads, like when the club-friendly grooves of 2014’s Hello World immersed him in the heart of Vancouver’s underground dance scene, and sometimes it follows, like 2018’s Beautiful You, a downtempo salve for DJ fatigue. 

During and after the 2020 release of Finds You Well, his second LP on Ghostly International, Khotin-Foote settled back into a slower vibe in his hometown of Edmonton. Even before the pandemic, his pivots to softer production, and away from DJing, left him with fewer opportunities in Vancouver and club bookings overall, and as a self-identifying introvert, he was fine with that.

• Chestnut People – Chestnut People [Exo Recordings International]

Exo Recordings International introduces the first collaborative project in its history. The Canadian producer Priori and German Exo Rec. founder Ludwig A.F. join forces to create a little slice of happiness that comes with the labels guarantee: works at the club, works at home!