German producer Kris Menace’s debut LP, 2009’s Idiosyncrasies, was always going to be a tough act to follow, such was its total quality.
Remember ‘Discopolis’, people? Happily, however, last year’s follow up, the futuristic, instrumental Electric Horizon, silenced the naysayers.
Happier still is the fact Christoph Hoeffel has now quickly followed it up with Features, his third album and first to feature vocals. I think I’d become accustomed to focusing on the long, glitchy breakdowns and crisp basslines of his two previous instrumental albums; that said, the vocals on Features lend an added air of accessibility to his music.
Plus, when vocal duties are going to an eclectic number of accomplished guests like House legend Robert Owens, Daft Punk collaborator Romanthony, German soul singer Xavier Naidoo and even Julian Hamilton of The Presets fame, who features on the atmospheric ‘Higher Love’, it’s somewhat of a safe bet.
Features could likely have stood on its own as another instrumental album. I’m glad, however, that Hoeffel has branched out. This is a new side to him, and one I’d like to see more of.
Features is out now through Compuphonic / Balance Music.
