★★★★☆
Hail to the latest Tiefschwarz weight loss program — you’re always bound to sweat off a few kilos in their deep house gym, though this is a straighter, narrower circuit compared to the sometime off-the-cuff kinks of say, Chocolate. Between their customary furrows through the night (Dischords) and teasers of beats lighter on their feet (Axel Boman’s “Cubic Mouth”), your schedule finds the sweeter scents of Eric Volta & Jonny Cruz and the almost inevitable appearance of Koze’s “Royal Asscher Cut,” amidst travels through synth pop provocations. Ewan Pearson acts on behalf of Bachar Mar-Khalife, and Michael Mayer plays hard nosed yet immaculately manicured. Knox’s offer of a lovingly weightless there-there, as Ali & Basti roll in blue grass, approves the mix’s unity under disco lights (or lack of them).
Though the burn you feel is not a trial by hot coals, Martinez & Carballo will sound better if you get your head down. Tiefschwarz’ “Voices” and Elon’s “Andres” test you as the mix’s mugginess starts to rise and drowsiness drifts in time with fluctuating blood sugar levels, and the gritted teeth of Kenny Leaven wants your all or nothing. Put work in and thou shalt be rewarded – those rewards being Dyed Soundorom’s immaculate swing jacker, Sonodab’s funky worm, and more synth turns through constellations. Tiefschwarz’ turning of the reps up and down gets you plenty of variation subtly locking together the transparent and translucent.
File under: Tale of Us, Mathew Jonson, Isolee