various: speicher 100

Succeeding a recent run of much-acclaimed outings by stand-out artists such as Laurent Garnier, Kölsch, or Christian Nielsen and Locked Groove (KOM EX096EP), Kompakt's Speicher series hits the magical number 100 with its latest installment, an action-packed double 12" pack that includes brand new belters by Kompakt trailblazers Michael Mayer, Jörg Burger, Jürgen Paape, and Voigt & Voigt. The Speicher series actually has two birth dates: a first one in 1999, when a "Kompakt For Cisco" 12" special edition inadvertently created a new sub label with the rather pragmatically titled Kompakt Extra 001. Two years later, a Kompakt 12" sampler called Speicher 1 introduced the name of the series that is known today -- and a blueprint for idiosyncratic, powerful techno with clear dancefloor ambitions. Michael Mayer was featured on both of these parent releases and also co-helmed the iconic Speicher 2 vinyl from 2002, which offered two essential Kompakt cuts, Mayer's "Pride Is Weaker Than Love" and Reinhard Voigt's "Supertiel" -- more than enough reasons to have him start off the celebratory 100th Speicher with a bang: "Lout" sees Kompakt's label head engage in bold, synth-laden prime time techno and the kind of epic noise break that informed his earliest output as a producer and DJ. Kompakt stalwart Jörg Burger is another usual suspect when it comes to label classics, and his Speicher releases as The Modernist or Burger Industries mark early milestones in the series. His "Beatmesse Pt.1 & 2" focuses on the atmospheric side of Speicher and presents a deep, mutable groover. Meanwhile, Jürgen Paape's "Whisper Echo" and "Rodeo" unearth the series' not-so-secret pop sensibilities -- just as he did on Speicher 47 and Speicher 45 featuring the notorious "Take That". Voigt & Voigt complete this 2x12" vinyl series profile in style, thanks to moody shuffle bouncer "Leise" and the raucous, spiky banger "Bum Bum Bar", featuring Chris Trance -- it's a fitting conclusion to Speicher's 100th release, coming from the duo that made a habit out of dropping legendary techno jams, from founding bangers "Korn/Roxy" and "Vision 03" to the most recent Speicher 99.