If Kompakt is generally a good gateway label for those testing that old critique of drab uniformity in techno music, perhaps Russian duo SCSI-9 design some of the label’s most palatable starter sets. This isn’t the pejorative remark it may seem; it’s a testament to the duo’s confidence in their base. SCSI-9 specialize in poppy, hypermelodic tech-house streamlined for swift emotional resonance with minimal compositional frustration, made to warm the couches and cushions before a body in recline can fulfill the task. Their tracks are quickly consumable, but gently persuasive.

Their fourth full-length and second for Kompakt, Easy as Down, sees these talents spread over eleven tracks of lava-lamp minimalism, with subtle nods toward slippery electronica and cozy chillout fare. SCSI-9 forge an effervescent comfort of sounds that blurs the fore- and the background. With its cheery synths and chugging rhythms, “Tu Eres Mas” resembles the permasmile pop of the likes of Lemon Jelly or Underworld’s “Born Slippy,” while the aptly named “Waterglide” resembles the opaque ambience and strobe-light synths of a label like Traum.

Next February sees the release of the Prodigy’s new album, of which the title has not yet been revealed. The album is the official follow-up of Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned, and sees the return of Keith Flint and Maxim Reality.

Liam Howlett, front man of the band, has released a short statement on the group’s website saying: “we are at final stages of mastering our record in new york. man we r so charged up about these tunes, they r sounding big. just finished recording the last one which is called ‘run’ with keef on vocal. its a killer fast tune, it makes me wanna smak my head against a wall 11 tunes in all on this record. (…) enjoy, master H” The new album features contributions by enigmatic vocalists Keith Flint and Maxim Reality, who have been with the band from the very beginning. In a recent interview with Mojo magazine, Howlett admits that the soloproject nature of the previous album almost resulted in the demise of the band, as the release proved to be way less successful than their multi-million selling 1997 album The Fat Of The Land. “This is going to be our best album to date. It’s more melodic, but it’s gonna be a real blast!”. The Prodigy will embark on a short tour through the UK in December, for which all tickets were sold out within one hour.

French producer Mr. Oizo will release his third full-length next month.

Entitled Lambs Anger, the effort sees Quentin Dupieux taking even more inspiration from the Ed Banger crew, as the album sounds heavily indebted to the treble-heavy sound that the imprint has come to be identified with. Even so, Dupieux laces the album with enough detours to remind that this indeed an Oizo album, including an intro that claims that some of the songs on the record “are good, some are bad, some are just OK.” Of course Dupieux doesn’t tell you which ones are which, but we suppose that’s part of the fun.

In order to promote the record, Oizo has put together a video which references Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dali’s Un chien andalou and Oizo’s own “Flat Beat” video in only 47 seconds. Check it out below.

Ed Banger will release Lambs Anger on November 17.

An unequivocal industry visionary, DJ Hell’s career has embodied and then transcended his many guises: Anti-Superstar DJ, International DeeJay Gigolo Label Boss, GQ Man of the Year, Playboy, Jetsetter, Bon Viveur, Munich Machine, New York Muscle. Seeing, and envisioning - that is of enormous relevance to Hell. He managed to convey pure artistic prowess as well as pure style during his thirty year DJ career. The individual look, the

Thievery Corporation are set to release their 5th studio album entitled Radio Retaliation on September 23rd on ESL Music.

The album was recorded in the band’s hometown of Washington DC and the vibe is decidedly political which is no surprise given the high profile presidential campaign happening this year. A pre-release will be available on Itunes on September 9th which will feature an exclusive non album track entitled “Philosopher’s Stone”