Soulphiction aka Jackmate aka Michael Baumann has a new album out on the indisposable Berlin label Sonar Kollektiv. How they manage to be both prolific and quality is beyond me, but I have to say they’re holding the standard for cool electronic dance scene nowadays. Baumann is a prolific artist like Sonar; I think he’s more famous under the dancefloor oriented Jackmate moniker yet his Soulphiction stuff (alongside Manmade Science) sounds better for me. “Do you overstand!?” has 14 tracks and it’s the perfect sequel to 2006’s “State Of Euphoria”. This one goes even further in ditching the glitchy minimal beats for more organic sounds and laidback stuff, moving away from the dancefloor to stripped down but soulful ways of Moodymann or Theo Parrish. The Detroit influence is much more evident in some more experimental tracks like “Velveteens“, and there’s much much more than simple 4/4 dance music; taking from jazz & hiphop as well making this a quality leftfield longplayer. Fear not though! even the laidback ones are gonna make you shake your hips. Best electronic/dance album of the year yet!?.

Soulphiction – Ghana Wadada
Soulphiction – Touch From The Past