Famous, not dead
Playhouse is a record label that has been building itself quite a reputation by releasing their unique take on techno, house and other things inbetween. With artists on the roster like Isolée, Captain Comatose, and Ricardo Villalobos that have established themselves fully, as well a whole set of artists that haven't yet got there, the label has really become a powerhouse in the international scene. The label is owned and operated by Ata and Heiko Schäfer, a pair DJs from Frankfurt, with the help of Roman Flügel and Jörn Elling Wuttke, and is the sister-label of Klang Elektronik, known for releasing generally more straight ahead techno, including Alter Ego (Flügel and Wuttke's own project).
I've always found that one of the best ways to get to know an electronic label is to buy their compilations and mixes (for instance the Kompakt Total series). In the case of comps, Playhouse has a series that is genuinely worth owning every one of, Famous When Dead, the first of which was released in 2001, which helped get the stellar Isolée track, "Beau Mot Plage," stuck in more people's heads.
Coming out today is FWD volume 4, and it includes my favorite track from Isolée's amazing We Are Monster album, "Schrapnell," along side the title-track from Captain Comatose's newest album, a Two Lone Swordsmen remix of Villalobos' "Dexter", Losoul featuring Malte, a great track by John Tejada and Arian Leviste, brilliant techno by Lindstrøm, and a gorgeous pop tech song by Rework.
I decided to go with this cut by My My because I don't know them AT ALL, they only have one 12" out on Playhouse, and this track is a totally genius piece of work. A real a slow-burner kind of song that unfolds over the entire length of the track, with elements bubbling up out of the murky bass sounds, squiggly synths and fractured electronics fizzing in the background. It even swings like one of my favorite producers' best works, Matthew Herbert. I just put it back on my stereo and turned it way up, so I could see how it would might work on the dancefloor - right around the halfway point the bassline, the drums, and the synths all get going full-force, and it really hits hard. Solid.
Buy Famous When Dead 4 direct from Playhouse or from our friends at Forced Exposure - you will not be disappointed.