December: 18 albums you need to hear this month

Roman Flügel 'All The Right Noises' (Dial)

A good quarter of a century into his musical career, Roman Flügel is still capable of absolutely tearing up dancefloors with electro-techno that straddles credibility and mainstream impact as well as anyone in the game. Here, though, he’s in contemplative mode. This album is, by his own account, an antidote to the wild dancefloors he plays to every weekend – and though there is techno of sorts on ‘All The Right Noises’, it’s very much of a horizontal variety. In fact, the most successful and individualist tracks are the completely ambient ones. If there’s a fault here, it’s that we’d love these totally meditational tracks to be separated out from the more edgy, rhythm-led ones – but that’s just quibbling, really, because every track taken on its own merits is an absolute cracker, and the variety works to the album’s benefit as much as to its detriment. Undulating melodies, exquisite sparkling detail and a sense of vast space all add up to a blissful listening experience. Joe Muggs

8/10

Tuff City Kids 'Adolescent' (Permanent Vacation)

It seems appropriate that Tuff City Kids’ debut album begins with the clang of church bells that bookend the eerie analogue synth opener ‘Ophmar’. This project from veteran producers Gerd Janson and Phillip Lauer is a long-standing musical marriage from heaven that plants its feet firmly in the mid-80s. A small but perfectly formed line-up of guests addd extra value: Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard lends his vocals to the strutting electropop of ‘Tell Me’, while Annie’s saccharine tones blithely counterpoint the spiky Vince Clarke-style synths of ‘Labyrinth’. There’s also a welcome sighting of artful violin-playing polymath Kelley Polar on ‘Aska’ which, along with the bumpy, squelchy house of ‘Nordo’, is one of the album’s purest club moments. Stephen Worthy

8/10

Cristoph '8-Track' (Knee Deep In Sound)

Cristoph’s debut, the first from Hot Since 82’s ‘8-Track’ series, is definitely one of 2016’s finest. Best enjoyed as a continuous mix, it’s a consistent, hypnotic indication of the Newcastle producer’s intricately crafted, journeying DJ sets. ‘Closer’ sets the pace lightly, with dreamy, twinkling keys and a smooth vocal from Jinadu. ‘Rapture’, ‘Alone’ and ‘The Enemy Within’ all build momentum steadily: blending emotive, melodic house with darkening techno throbs taking the dancefloor towards 3AM. The trippy vocal loop and piano stabs of ‘Supreme Solace’ are tailor-made for the sunrise before the skilfully built-up ‘Perplexity’ becomes a monstrous highlight. Ben Jolley

9/10

Erick Morillo, Giorgio Moroder & Mark Brown 'Space Ibiza: 1989-2016' (Cr2)

Carl Cox: The Final Chapter and Space Closing on October 2 were two of the most historical parties in Ibiza memory. At the latter, Erick Morillo and Mark Brown delivered inside the club and out, with Erick playing ‘Rej’ and ‘Pasilda’ by Afro Medusa and Mark closing out with Pete Heller’s never-bettered ‘Big Love’. While Mark opts for a mix of house gems here, Morillo keeps things more current with productions from Claude VonStroke, Hot Since 82 and The Martinez Brothers. And while we’re still not sure if Moroder should have made the jump to laptop DJ, he does at least pick classics over bland Britney collabs – and the opening ‘Giorgio By Moroder’ is still brilliant. Ralph Moore

8/10

Ulrich Schnauss 'No Further Ahead Than Today' (Scripted Realities)

Ulrich Schnauss has always been a connoisseur’s favourite. His albums ‘Far Away Trains Passing By’ and ‘A Strangely Isolated Place’ are two of the best ever in Balearic circles, and his remixes for Depeche Mode, Howling Bells and more have consistently hit the spot. His new LP feels like a return to the resonance of his earlier work. Tracks such as ‘Melt Into Air’ and ‘Love Grows Out Of Thin Air’ demonstrate that Schnauss can still make you swoon from 50 paces. On ‘The Magic In You’, he heads down a scorched road that we wish Trentemøller had trodden for a little longer, while ‘Thoughtless Motion’ is celestial acid of the very highest order. Ralph Moore

8/10

Tiger & Woods 'On The Green Again' (T&W Records)

‘On The Green Again’ completes Tiger & Woods’ journey from fledgling edit kings to established disco dons. It’s their second album since 2011’s standout debut and is a fully realised, wholly accomplished affair that’s stuffed with colour, cosmic charm and boogie basslines. So sugary are its gushing tracks (all of which eschew their usual love of sampling) that your eyes will water as the pumping stabs and joyous arps ring out over and over. Thankfully, some more tender moments exist along the way, too, acting as a palate-cleanser before another dazzling assault of drums and squelchy keys. Flashes of 80s electro sleaze, throwback house and glossy diva vocals all add to the fun. Kristan J Caryl

8/10