To mark the first astonishing chapter of his career, Seth Troxler is presenting ‘This is Then’, an essential ten track compilation album taken from his ever impressive discography. In the ten years since Michigan born Troxler relocated to Europe, he has become one of dance music’s most recognizable figures. As a solo producer, collaborator and founding member of Visionquest, he has set the global techno agenda both in the DJ booth and studio. He’s served up landmark mixes for the likes of Boogybytes and DJ-Kicks, released on key labels from No.19 to NRK, Circus Company to Crosstown Rebels, and now runs his own label Play It Say It, and Tuskagee with The Martinez Brothers. ‘This Is Then’ is a compilation which serves to bookend the first part of his ongoing story, and also highlights how unique a producer he truly is. The album takes in many of Troxler’s different aliases, including an opener from Young Seth which was first released on Omar S’s FXHE in 2005. It’s a dark and involving track with real depth in the drums and atmosphere in the sparse synth work. From there ‘Satisfy’ is a freaky and eerie track of stripped back minimal funk, ‘Friend of Mine’ is a bumping and pared back house cut and ‘Oogity Boogity’, as Thrill Cosby, is another hugely inventive offering of machine made grooves. The second half takes in more singular sounds in the form of the slippery and seductive ‘Still Hot’ with long time friend Shaun Reeves, the colourful and cosmic house of ‘Jus Your’ with Baby Prince, perfectly dreamy and hypnotic depths of ‘Aphrika’ plus the huge Visionquest remix of Kiki’s modern classic ‘Good Voodoo.’ Things close out with a remix of Fever Ray’s ‘Seven’ that shows another side to Seth with its pressured drums and expertly treated vocal. This broad and brilliant compilation is a vital reminder of Seth’s wide ranging studio skills and always innovative musical mind and perfectly encapsulates the range of his productions to date. More

The inimitable Seth Troxler is next up on his own influential label with something of a milestone release: His ‘Finally Physical EP’ is a precursor to a compilation album, ‘This Is Then’, due in May this year. Up first is the brilliant ‘Blackclap’, which was used by Audion on his fabric mix in 2006. It’s a twisted techno bumper with hiccuping synths and skewed pads bleeding out from a tightly programmed drum line. Warm chord smears bring a sense of soul to the druggy groove and ensure this one will work as well in an intimate club as it would on a larger stage. The deliciously dark ‘Aggression’ is a freaky late-night cut with minimal drums and alien lifeforms scurrying all over. It’s trippy and otherworldy, with a rubbery groove carrying you deeper down the rabbit hole through a wonderfully weird spectrum of sound. On the flip is a Thrill Cosby remix of Hearthrob’s ‘Signs’ which Seth included on his Boogybytes mix from 2010. A pressure cooker of white noise, whispers, synth drones and tension building sequences it eventually breaks into a supple and slippery groove that makes you want to pop your body. Last but not least is the skeletal techno funk of Stefan Tretau’s ‘Chittagong’ (Seth Troxler Jack Moves Remix). It’s synthetic and abstract, with watery droplets and coarse claps wrapping round the restless drum line. More

Tuskegee Music was launched in May of 2014 by House Music dignitaries Seth Troxler and the Martinez Brothers. As a ‘label of cultural heritage’ the intention is to package up 90’s-minded 12”s that reach into the heart of Paradise Garage and shed a light on a fertile period of influence in dance music’s history. Now - a year on from its inception - Seth offers up ‘Just Back’ - a brooding 2-track EP that demonstrates perfectly his ability to control tension to rapturous effect and finally satisfies the vehement anticipation bubbling between his peers with what’s set to be Seth’s biggest and most important record to date. ‘CZ’ kicks things off with a contrast that blooms steadily into focus; a jutting funk groove hustles under atmospheric patches that are built from swirling synths and distant orchestral phrases. Tight and purposeful hats propel progress ahead of a mangled organ line that lifts the tenor of the track towards its enlivening conclusion; a shift in intensity that Seth has learnt to harness over his ample experience as a DJ and now translate into a devastatingly effective record. ‘Junkyard Tool’ then snowballs behind rough and rattling percussion before thick, beaming synth sweeps and hallucinogenic high-frequencies are sat atop a full and bumping low-end set to do serious damage on the dance floor. More