DJ Hell's much-lauded Munich based imprint, International DeeJay Gigolo, has been hording its cult status since 1997. With this CD that's about to change.
Embracing a range of musical styles, including what has become a staple of electro and synth pop, the label's distinct sound has been shaped by Hell's A&Ring, which is entirely based on his personal taste rather than a distinct genre.
If there is a continuity then it's the presence of a deliberately raw, lo-fi and acidic aspect to the music. This roughness around the edges works in much the same way as early Daft Punk material and digs an unexpected energy out of the equipment.
Complied by Montreal based DJ of the moment, Tiga, 'American Gigolo' trawls back through IDG's 80 strong back catalogue and picks 25 of label's defining moments.
Naturally the album is littered with lip smacking tasters. Linda Lamb's 'Hot Room' provides a succinct introduction to the basic elements of the label's sound.
From here we twist deeper into the electro world with the slow building 'Electric Day' from Trike featuring Audiomat.
Naturally Tiga includes his own hit in the making, 'Sunglasses At Night'. Co-recorded with Zyntherius, aka Jori Holkonnen, 'Sunglasses' has already reached the top 25 in the German singles chart and is scheduled for release on UK imprint of the month, City Rockers, this April.
Other stand-out tracks include Dopplereffekt's 'Porno Actress', which Tiga layers over three tracks, DMX Krew's 'Cold Heart', Trike's 'Talk Back' and DJ Naughty's 'Boing Bum Tschag'. Marc Almond teams up with System F for the electro pop of 'Soul On Soul' and Jeff Mills is represented by 'Theme From 2000'.
The label's biggest ambassadors to date, Miss Kitten and The Hacker, appear no fewer than three times on the album, initially with the dark and cutting critique of VIP lifestyle, 'Frank Sinatra 2001'. While 'Gratin Dauphinois' is more a minimal, and directly electro offering.
Mitsu's 'Shylight' is based around a chopped up funk guitar break, while Filipo Naughty Moscatello's 'Communicate' introduces a US garage vocal and Christopher Just's 'I'm a Disco Dancer' warps the two four groove into 303 driven Eighties electro funk.
Finally Fischerspooner's post new romantic synth pop on 'Emerge' brings the album to a sublime close.
