This is the mix CD behind superstar DJ Sasha's bi-coastal U.S. jaunt this summer, featuring his new all-digital custom mixer, the Maven. Sasha's own design, the Maven stores his tracks all ready for playback, at which point he cuts, loops, splices and drops partial elements from each one into the live mix in real time howsoever he chooses--so as to create a uniquely and spontaneously remixed track, each and every time. Assuming the device was used in this recording (the presskit's language was awfully slippery about it), Sasha indeed turns in some eerie and interesting treatments to his chosen tracks.

And what an eclectic clutch of tracks it is: what starts out at a rather sleepy pace (mellow electro- and deep-house cuts by Adam Johnson, Swayzak, Beanfield) gives way to so-called "forgotten classics" such as an electro-reworking of Depeche Mode's "Behind the Wheel." Then a strange and wonderful thing happens. The CD's lively electro-housey midsection segues into a 6/8 time signature--at the most crucial point in a DJ's set when he most needs to keep his listeners on the dancefloor. Because, right around the corner from the bumpin' house, we're suddenly loping along to Freaky Chakra's "Blacklight Fantasy," sitting (as it were) zen-like on a giant day-glo mushroom. Unbelievable! Did Sasha's tough New York City crowd actually go for that? Let's hope so, because in my book, this plus the last two tracks, Goldfrapp's pounding, pretty-hateful "Strict Machine" and M83's oddly menacing "Don't Save Us From the Flames" make an unbeatable closing triad. Anyone who saw him spin this year, please tell me how his gig was. (Yeah, yeah, granted, I have no excuse for missing it when I had the chance.)

GASR is Gary Suarez (vocals/programming), Luis Brito (programming/production), and Jim Ankrom (live keyboards). Survival of the Fittest, GASR’s debut effort is a beautifully structured album that is not only emotionally and mentally captivating but also a fresh addition to stagnating dance floor playlists everywhere.

GASR’s Survival of the Fittest is a complex and thoughtful release, visiting familiar EBM and synthpop staples ranging from Neuroticfish to Bigod 20 (leaving nothing untouched between) and taking the combinations to newer and higher grounds. Suarez’s vocals and lyrics switch between intimate and fragile to a darker, accusing tone. The keys/programming, however; are GASR’s real strength. While Suarez’s vocals require a few listens to really enjoy, the programming stands out within seconds.

While I’ll admit I was not instantly carried away by Survival of the Fittest, after a few listens I was completely engrossed. It amazes me the quality and effort this trio has managed to put into just their first release, and I can only hope they continue in this trend.

I have still the well done appetizer "Exterminate Annihilate Destroy" in my ears but now this talented German act is ready to release their first full length release on their new label Dependent. "Published by stark-n/BMG UFA/Warner Chappell", so I can read on the backside, "The definitively best Electro album of the year" or "10 out of 10 points" are the praising words of two leading German print magazines, which stab in my eyes on a sticker on the front side. So it must be any good, right? Better asked: How can I have doubts?
Well, I have now listened this album 10 to 20 times and I still don’t get what it makes that outstanding that so-called "experts" do make such ridiculous ratings. This release is a classical example of how a band fails to fulfill too big expectations. ROTERSAND are producing Electro-, Synth- or Futurepop music with some stylish acceptable ingredients. There is an unavoidable VNV-inspiring syndrome on this whole album, but only at a very few times this band is able to play in the same league. First main flaw is the turn out bad track list producing nothing else than boredom from track 1 to 5. Track 6, "By the Waters" is more calm, features a nice acoustic guitar, and the melodic content co-operates much better with the vocals and the globally mood. The already mentioned "Exterminate..." is still present here and I get slowly the idea that this album gets better and better on the latter placed tracks. Right, so it is and ROTERSAND can finally pay back some credit of the high expectations with the calm melodic last two tracks "All in All" and moreover "Angels Falling". They have definitively their best moments when they leave their rich studio/producer abilities to concentrate on the essential part, the composition and the perfect collaboration to the music itself. Against to this I like their strong studio abilities they have had proven with mastering works for bands like [:SITD:] or PAINBASTARD. But to produce sounds simply taken out of unadorned Tekkno-inspired productions and to bow them like a Tekkno-DJ on his turntables (very bad examples: "Dare to Live" or "Storm") is without claim or innovation. Also to swim hard along the VNV NATION success formula is a point which this band should avoid on future releases. It is for sure easier to be a good copy then to create something individual, but I hope that they have enough inspiration not to repeat this mistake. ROTERSAND suggest here their talent but they do not reach complete originality. There is enough space to develop, so let’s start here!

4X4 is the first Kiss My Asterix/Section 44 release of their multi single project. The four bands gathered in this first issue are Eloquent, Empire State Human, The Thought Criminals and Tristraum. Eloquent present five tunes of their bright and light synthpop that remember me early Cosmicity, Yazoo or some of the band that joined October label on early/mid nineties. Five good tracks that will make you check their first CD released back in 2003. Now that Tristraum's Randall Erkelens joined them, I hope that they will be able to release something new soon. You should already know Empire State Human (I reviewed each of their release and I interviewed them some time ago). Of their four tracks unfortunately only one is exclusive to this release ("Dollar blue collar" is an updated version version of the track coming from "Urbanism"), because the first three are coming from their new album "Cycles". Anyway, the new tracks sound different from their previous release. More modern respect their 80's influence. Is like they kept the 80's keyboards and updated the melodies blending pop with trance. Only "Chase the ace" is sounding like nowadays Dead Or Alive. The THought Criminals' tracks are a surprise: it is like listening to Heaven 17 with a punk attitude instead of their funk influences. "Electricity" and "Automann" made me remember also of Cabaret Voltaire and Portion Control. They are really cool! Tristraum's tracks are remixed tracks of their "First embrace" single. The first version of the track is exclusive to this release, while the second one (remixed by Empire State Human) is also included into the single. "I'm under no one" is another track coming from the single but here is remixed by Blind Faith and Envy. Check this CD, it's worth it!

Spun from Park's "Roxy Re-Modeled" tribute CD, "More Than This" as remixed by both DJ Lenny B and J.A.C.E. (a long and a short version from each) is a complete part of your nutritious mainstream dance-pop diet. Both productions blanket the song with frosty, Arctic synth chill over a smooth yet hot pumping dance pulse, and on his mix Lenny B applies the Vocorder on Park's vocals not-too-liberally. While I wouldn't tolerate such liberties taken with many other tracks in Roxy Music's catalog (especially from their early years), either mix should make those who saw and liked the movie Lost In Translation jump for joy. I'd say if you are one of the cool Club Kids strictly into Deep House, you could definitely get into this. My preference of the two styles is J.A.C.E.'s, which I figure you could somehow segue into Orbital's "One Perfect Sunrise," if you were a ballsy enough DJ.