Kompakt: Total 14

Kompakt's ever-popular Total series returns for its 14th outing. Offering tracks from newcomers and stalwarts alike, it's as strong an entry as any that preceded it. Starting with a winner, it kicks off with Dauwd's utterly beautiful 'Lydia', before moving on to Kölsch's piano-heavy Cassiopeia (a sequel of sorts to the wondrous 'Der Alte') and the sinister strains of Saschienne's 'Horacio Delirium'. Tobias Thomas and Michael Mayer’s 'Unter Hölzern' blends detuned piano with a rolling bassline, and GusGus create pure dance-pop with ‘This Is What You Get When You Mess With Love’, while the set comes to a close with the Beatles-esque pomp of Jürgen Paape’s ‘Heuriger’. As usual, Total offers a brilliant cross-section of an always vital label.