Umek - Posing as Me

Slovenian master of techno Umek launches an all out electro-house assault in the floorfilling euphoric stomp of Posing As Me. The record successfully marries the heavy techno beats for which Umek is most famed with a strong hip-electro edge. On the title track the bassline broods, throbs and roars behind a monotone vocal track lyrically and aurally ploughing the same ground as Miss Kittin (and virtually every vocal electro track since Kittenz and the Glitz). On the other side, Scathead fires up a beastly synth-fuelled monster, a storming dancefloor smash in the Frequency and Rocker vein. Though almost nauseatingly unoriginal, Umek's skill as producer turns what could have been an average release into an uplifting and self-consciously slick record. Umek's hinted he'd like to make an electronic pop album – this is perhaps one step closer, but he's still dancefloor minded enough to keep those hands waving. [Calum Rodger]