April: 10 big tunes you need to hear this month

1 Landside

'Signs Of Change' (Robert Hood remix) (Just This)

Already premiered on Mixmag.net, this first-class techno belter from Robert Hood (here flying solo) is right up there with his recent Floorplan originals. Here he’s joined by Bambounou, Etapp Kyle and Edanticonf for edits of ‘Signs Of Change’ and ‘Desert Lake’.

2 Kölsch

'Push' (Speicher/Kompakt)

Kompakt’s Speicher series is the Cologne-based label’s chrome-plated club weapon offshoot; Kölsch’s previous contribution was the epic ‘Grey’ (Speicher 93), so expectations were high. ‘Push’ has a smooth, cinematic intro that bursts into a quintessential big-room Kölsch production.

3 Oxia

'Domino' (Robag Wruhme remix) (Sapiens)

A Kompakt classic remixed/revived on Agoria’s Sapiens label sees Robag joined by Frankey & Sandrino and Matador. “For almost ten years, I did not want ‘Domino’ remixed,” says Oxia. “I received proposals, I refused them all! Then one evening I found myself drinking shots with Seb (Agoria)…”

4 Shanti Celeste

'Loop One' (Peach Discs)

Some fantastic choppy drum patterns – think a less sleepy Burial – on the Detroit-ish debut single from Celeste’s new Peach Discs imprint, which promises to continue the house pressure she previously brought to secretsundaze and Future Times and Apron. Check the Mixmag Gold interview online.

5 Jamiroquai

'Automaton' (Deetron remix) (Virgin EMI)

This is hands-down the best Jamiroquai single since 05’s ‘Feels Just Like It Should’, so kudos to the canny A&R ears at Virgin for convincing Deetron to remix it and continue a hot streak that goes right back to last year’s ‘Houze’ single from Honey Dijon.

6 Marlon Hoffstadt & Paris Brightledge

'Forgive You' (Hot Haus Recs/UTTU)

The unique Paranoid London sound clearly isn’t going anywhere, so nice work Hot Haus for bringing Paranoid’s Marlon together with Paris Brightledge for this crisp and classic Chicago-style vocal houser.

7 Lucky Charmz

'My Luv 4 U Will Neva Die' (Lehult)

Another track tipped by the Mixmag.net team, this looped vocal houser (“Our love will never die”) from the man behind playful house cuts like ‘Latency Jam’ and ‘Coneria’ recalls classic Roulé Records with a contemporary twist – but rather than France, Lehult is based in Hamburg. Sehr, sehr gut!

8 Patrick Conway

'Sandy Lane' (Rekids)

It’s always good to see new producers coming through, and this three track EP from new UK artist Patrick Conway is a wonderful piece of work, with lead track ‘Sandy Lane’ a Berlin-inspired club banger and the more Aphex-ish ‘Orbit’ on the flip one for the 7AM P-Bar heads.

9 Special Request

'Replicant' (Houndstooth)

Mixmag’s music heads collectively silently sighed in relief at the news of Fabric’s return, which (among other things) meant the return of their acclaimed mix series. Inspired by a love of pirate radio (and Blade Runner), this absolute belter from Paul Woolford is up there with his best.

10 Carl Craig

'Sandstorms' (Versus version) (Planet E)

The oh-so-clean serene ’04 original is already one of the best electronic records of recent times, but with this orchestral version, the Planet E peeps are doubtless hoping it hits a whole new audience – and with Pete Tong’s classics comp at No. 1, why not?

Ralph Moore is Mixmag's Editor-at-large, follow him on Twitter

1 ​Landside