Screen Shot 2015-07-09 at 11.33.08This year, the leading Berlin record label Stil Vor Talent will be celebrating a decade of delivering cutting edge underground music. So far in its ten year history, they have consistently stayed ahead of the game, curating a catalogue of forward thinking and diverse releases from deep electronica to driving techno. And it’s latest offering is no exception.

After a successful release in 2014, Swiss producer Benotmane returns to take the reigns once more with a stellar display of production skills in his beautifully crafted ‘Cross Hands’ EP, containing four stunning original tracks, plus remixes from Karmon and Nico Schwind.

On first listen you might think the title-track ‘Cross Hands’ is the most stand out, a complex web of swirling synths and bittersweet chimes over a hypnotic groove and bassline worthy of the biggest closing sets of the summer.

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However the rest of the EP is equally consistent in quality, making it impossible to pick a favourite. ‘Beyond’ is a trance-leaning peak-time track with a driving kick and an atmospheric synth-lead, which also forms the foundation of Karmon’s reduced and epically building remix. Due to the tension between melancholy and euphoria, handled masterfully by Benotmane, ‘Abydos’ is equally mesmerizing. On his remix, Niko Schwind then translates ‘Abydos’s hypnotic qualities into a darker, surprisingly techno oriented framework. ‘Lemha’, the final original, proves to be a trip into a paranoid realm of shadows, perfect for the late hours.

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Cross Hands EP is out on 8th May 2015.

Follow Stil Vor Talent: www.stilvortalent.de