Review: Dessous' Best Kept Secrets Vol. 2

In the past four of five years, there’s been much ado about the techno world’s discovery of the joys of good, old-fashioned house music. Probably a reaction to the austere minimalism of much of what was being produced at the time, it was as if a giant lightbulb flashed on over Germany: “Aha! Warm bass and the occasional sampled vocal snippet are kind of cool!”

Berlin’s Steve Bug beat them to the punch. Best known as the headmaster of the techno-oriented Poker Flat label, he’s also been running Dessous—an imprint that seemingly takes its inspiration from vintage American deep-house labels like Strictly Rhythm and Prescription—since 1998. Its “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality, a refreshing stance in the ever-morphing morass of catch-’em-quick, short-lived microgenres, has led to a sterling discography of tunes both thumping and emotive, and Dessous’ Best Kept Secrets 2 compiles some of its recent best (with a few exclusives cuts tossed in for good measure).

The collection is spread over two discs—one presented as individual tracks, the other mixed by Bug himself—but this is an instance of quality equaling quantity, as there’s not a clinker in the bunch. Dan Berkson and James What’s “Keep On” channels the spirit of classic Mr. Fingers, down to Robert Owens’s typically emotive vocals; René Breitbarth’s “Le Groove Rhodes” merges Detroit techno and Chicago house to beautiful effect; and Dplay’s remix of Moodymanc’s “Omelette” plays like an update on DJ Pierre’s patented Wild Pitch sound. Obviously, breaking new ground isn’t Dessous’s raison d’être—but if you’re in the mood for some up-front thumpity-thump beats, Bug & Co. have you covered.

Buy Dessous' Best Kept Secrets Vol. 2 on iTunes

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