Kompakt has had a big year, quantitatively and qualitatively. Releasing an astonishing number of LPs, 12-inches and singles over the last 12 months, it seems futile for the Cologne-based label to represent their recent accomplishments with a measly 25 cuts.
Yet Kompakt's tracklisting for Total 16, the latest in their yearly compilation series, comes off as shrewd as it is digestible, as they've thrown in a number of left-field choices that include new remixes of old songs and unreleased tracks. It starts strong, kicking off with a trifecta of songs from Kompakt's most talked-about albums from the past year, including the Field (who contributes a wonderful Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith remix of "Reflecting Light") alongside an album cut from Weval and a Teebs remix of the Orb's "Moonbuilding 2703 AD."
The remainder of the 2-hour-and-44-minute compilation features releases from mainstays John Tejada, Rex the Dog and Reinhard Voigt, along with remixes from Patrice Bäumel (Blond:ish's "Endless Games"), Ulrich Schnauss (Dave DK's "Kronsee") and DJ Hell (Terranova's "Kepler186F"). But what helps makes Total 16 one of the series' premiere releases is the pure quality contained within the eight unreleased tracks, including standouts from the Modernist (featuring vocals from Hot Chip's Joel Goddard), Matias Aguayo and Kompakt founder Michael Mayer.
More than just a retrospective, Total 16 stands out as one of the year's best-constructed mixes.
(Kompakt)Yet Kompakt's tracklisting for Total 16, the latest in their yearly compilation series, comes off as shrewd as it is digestible, as they've thrown in a number of left-field choices that include new remixes of old songs and unreleased tracks. It starts strong, kicking off with a trifecta of songs from Kompakt's most talked-about albums from the past year, including the Field (who contributes a wonderful Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith remix of "Reflecting Light") alongside an album cut from Weval and a Teebs remix of the Orb's "Moonbuilding 2703 AD."
The remainder of the 2-hour-and-44-minute compilation features releases from mainstays John Tejada, Rex the Dog and Reinhard Voigt, along with remixes from Patrice Bäumel (Blond:ish's "Endless Games"), Ulrich Schnauss (Dave DK's "Kronsee") and DJ Hell (Terranova's "Kepler186F"). But what helps makes Total 16 one of the series' premiere releases is the pure quality contained within the eight unreleased tracks, including standouts from the Modernist (featuring vocals from Hot Chip's Joel Goddard), Matias Aguayo and Kompakt founder Michael Mayer.
More than just a retrospective, Total 16 stands out as one of the year's best-constructed mixes.