Electronica Staff Picks

UnionJack’s Simon Berry and Claudio Giussani have been with the Platipus label for over 15 years. They’re considered major players in the early development of trance, and their song “Red Herring” makes an appearance in our "Trance Classics" playlist. Their new single, “Papillon," revisits the early days of the form in one of the purest examples produced in recent years.

Musical architect Darren Cunningham operates under the codename Actress. “Ghosts Have a Heaven” is his latest production for the Prime Numbers Label. The title track hypnotically joins its steady shuffle to a slow-motion melody of static, all while abiding to the accuracy of the kick pattern. Simple but effective, and leaves no bitter aftertaste.

Dakota is the latest project from Markus Schultz. Operating under this new moniker, he goes deeper and serves up disparate electro sounds. Two tracks into this release you can tell that Dakota means business. Sweeping from near-minimal sounds to an almost possessed electric feeling, each new track grows from the ground up. Thoughts Become Things doesn’t entirely abandon Shulz' regular production techniques, but when played side-by-side it’s clear that this is an alternate but equal passion that is taken seriously.

Scotland’s Craig Morrison and Graeme Reedie make up Silicone Soul. Whenever these two set out for a production, the results have consistently been phenomenal. Their unique approach to house music puts their self-titled release into the same phenomenal category. Tracks like “Right On Right On” put them in the public eye, but it’s their mellow musical blend that approaches acoustic-like characteristics that separates Silicone Soul from so many others.