OUR ALL-TIME FAVOURITE ALBUMS

Kangding Ray – Or
[Raster-Noton, 2011]

Released a decade ago, this album has totally transcended my vision of electronic music. Complex rhythms, unique atmosphere, twilight and tribal, with moments of grace: such conditions make me instantly lose ground with reality. There are very few albums that manage to give me goosebumps as much as “Or”, which is a timeless wonder, sublimated by its titular track.

Voices From The Lake
[Prologue, 2012]

This album is not one of the greatest hypnotic techno classics for nothing. I think it deeply impacted each of us in the community, including myself, for its innovative vibe, giving peaceful moods and colours to the genre. “Circe + ST”, in particular, brings me exactly where I love to be: a beautiful forest by the river on a sunny autumnal day, when the sun sets behind the hills. I get totally immersed in the musical ecosystem, commuting with life and feeling it, with my heart wide open.

Forest Drive West – Apparitions
[Livity Sound, 2018]

When considering the fusion of sounds collected in the hypnotic techno genre, Forest Drive West has become one of my definite go-to producers. This LP specifically speaks volumes as to why this is so. Captivating drum and bass rhythms roll into soothing melodies, atmospheric drones and spacey chords. It is a constant reminder to myself how vast, and emotionally powerful the genre can be.

Pact Infernal – The Descent
[Samurai Horo, 2016]

As evoked in the title, this is a trip, but not an ordinary one. Our journey brings us all the way down, far below the surface, accompanied by Pact Infernal, guide of the underground. Best is to make the whole trip, to enjoy the second-best overview after Dante’s Inferno. Every circle is introduced little by little, allowing us to feel the vibe and the dark colours. Then, the doors open to let us join the parties, each with its own world, each with its own sin…

Irammm – Les Deserts D’Irammm
[Shaded Explorations, 2017]

What is a great album? I would humbly say that the answer first lies in the heart, before reaching the mind. It’s only then that subjective criteria can be expressed. On my side: my hyperactivity requires rhythms, challenges, while my imagination is looking for depth and beauty. I also relish when dialogues are initiated between sounds and opposing forces. Regarding Irammm’s deserts, they are yet too close to my heart to be one day thought by my mind.

Joachim Spieth – Irradiance
[Affin, 2017]

I will never feel a connection to an album more than “Irradiance” as I have heard it in full during its making. I had the honour to name the album’s opening track “Iliachtides”, which means “sun rays” in Greek. I also had the chance to hear the artist playing some of the tracks for the first time at Affin’s showcase in Musikbunker in Germany, along with Deepbass; one of the best club nights of my life.

Cio D’Or – all in all.
[Semantica, 2015]

This album is a beautiful synthesis of Cio’s gritty, dense and emotional universe. It goes from dark cinematic ambiences in “after and before” to some spooky spaced-out deep hypnotic techno in “XXXIII”, while also touching neo-classical aesthetics in “now and then”. Rich dark organic textures meet deep atmospheres, granular textures and IDM-infused clicks for an unforgettable journey.

Dino Sabatini – Shaman’s Paths
[Prologue, 2012 / Outis Music, 2018]

When listening to an album, no matter which music genre it comes from, I’m looking to feel and experience deep stories. This is because I usually enjoy playing such works in full rather than jumping from one track to another. The consistency and entirety of “Shaman’s Paths” remind me of a meditation session: the smooth rhythms and tribal motives instantly take me on an introspective journey, that shuts down the outer world and makes me practice Sabatini’s shamanic healings.