Some people truly put their own twist on things and in doing so often create output that transcends any boring fads & trends that exist within music. Peter Kremeier aka LoSoul is one of these artists, with his own take on modern electronics for Germany’s Playhouse and more, releases he created are still head and shoulders above a lot of house music you hear today.

Here are five from the past that still raise ID requests at the booth.

…And breathe

Squarepusher can turn his hand to most things, even dub. So pretty – when that glockenspiel hits it kills me every time.

Early Forest Swords making some amazing bedroom hybrid of Ennio Morricone, gloomy post punk and kind of that really shit sad boy ‘r and b/hip hop’ that people seem to lap up. Somehow he manages to make it all come together.

Was going to write something then read a Discogs review which put it a lot better than I ever could. See below.

Vaguely macabre and menacing, mesmerising yet uplifting was “Maze (Long Version)”, a slo-mo-genre-crossing anthem for the chemically assisted that was both retro and futuristic back in 2010, and still is to this day. Disco, electro, synthwave and bass music are on a boat doing maximum purple syrup and here’s what you get. So much atmosphere in there.

Mmm that sax. I know it has the slight whif of Kenny G but it’s so addictive when wrapped around some lovely Japanese soft psych. DFA seemed to agree.

Hypnotic weird jazz classic. I know very little about jazz but I do know this is genius.

Rohan Walder aka Randomer is someone who is consistently pushing things forward. I love him most in raw electro mode and also his own take on afro drum workouts. Heavy distorted kicks, crunchy percussion and yet always seeming to pack the funk. Five below that if you are gonna go raw, go Random.

Some people have been really pushing things this year with stuff becoming a lot less predictable and more risks being taken, here are five that got multiple plays from me in 2017.

Hands down a favourite artist this year was Manfredas, also check the amazing Glass Walk track from last year and his incredible remix of Moscoman’s Devoue.

A standout house track of the year on a label that’s been on a fine run of form, sounds like what I imagine Kid Creole could have concocted if on a house tip. A very clever sample workout indeed!

Credit to the edit, Kieran Hebden with a masterclass in how to cut up a killer funk track and ready it for modern day dancefloors.

Never failed in 2017.

Another stand out year for the amazing L.I.E.S record label out of NYC, which included releasing the great long player Pacific Alley by Krikor Kouchain. A camp consistently doing there own thing!

An all killer compilation this year came in the form of Elsewhere MCMXIII, packed with the kind of weird stripped back electronics that I absolute lap up. It included the ace Feta Version by Centre Of The Universe.