​Jori Hulkonnen - 8/10

Finnish producer Jori Hulkonnen has been at it for two decades now, and it's a puzzle why he's not a global superstar. Even ignoring his back catalogue, just one listen to the opening bars of the slow but emotionally razor-edged synth disco epic 'The Last Cut Is The Deepest' that opens this album tells you you're in the presence of huge talent. Over 12 long tracks, it touches on Superpitcher-style arena indietronica, tearful techno and the sort of neo-Italo that Norwegians like Lindstrøm would be proud of – but always with a huge sense of scale and drama that sets it apart and makes your heart swell. It's not just proof of enduring talent, but a bit of a classic to boot.