Conforce
“Our Concern”
Rush Hour

Following its recent Population One remixes by UR’s Roland and Aardvaark, pioneering Dutch label Rush Hour continues to celebrate its 10th anniversary in style, with another limited single release from Amsterdam upstart Conforce. Recalling the best work of Kenny Larkin, Aril Brikha, or Vince Watson, melodic synths swirl on top of layered, arpeggiated keys and steady electronic percussion. With a nod to early-’90s trance and mid-’90s tech-house, this multifaceted track should be in heavy rotation throughout the winter.

Burger/Voigt
“Bring Trance Back”
Kompakt

This single dropped a few weeks ago, and has quickly slayed tech and house DJs around the globe. Jörg Burger and Wolfgang Voigt avoid clichés as they revive early-’90s trance-house (think Sven Vath, Jam & Spoon). Their rich melodic mixes feature steely synths, deep pads, echoing melodica, and even Western slide guitars. God, somebody get me a glowstick, pronto! This must-play EP should ready us for the forthcoming Burger/Voigt album, due in early 2008.

Aklimatize
“Aklimatize E.P.”
Future Elements

Here’s a big Latin broken-beat and future-jazz thing from Canada’s Future Elements label. Aklimatize proves he’s definitely one to watch, with three solid tracks in league with artists like Afronaught, Seiji, and Freedom Soundz. “Dime La Verdad” combines Puerto Rican vocals and percussion over a stomping broken rhythm, and UK producer Spiritual South has notched his support for this track. The flip side is a remix of Vancouver group Novalua’s track “Grey,” featuring the silky vocals of Uruguayan-born Valeria Matzner.

Edseven
“Too Much Talk”
Straight Up

With a reputation as one of Sydney’s premier freestyle selectors, Australian production wiz Edseven specializes in rough, funky downtempo and brainy hip-hop beats. His choppy Mr. Scruff-style tracks combine whiskey-soaked samples, boom-bap drum loops and other odd audio elements. If you dig the GAMM label’s club stompers or Madlib’s freeform funk, definitely hunt this down.

Kasper Bjørke
“Back & Spine’”
Plant

Taken from his new Plant album In Gumbo, Kasper Bjørke’s “Back & Spine” EP features remixes from Tomboy and two great album tracks: “Liquid Propagnosia” (with Dennis Young from Liquid Liquid) and the hanuting “Igo Ugo.” The original “Back & Spine” is a sinewy, dirty disco vocal number for fans of !!!, Blondie, or Black Ghosts. Fidel Astro’s heavy industrial dance mix will make you pull out all your old Nitzer Ebb records and have bedroom dance party.

Photo of Kasper Bjørke by Louise Brandt and Jesper Lund.