Review by corque2000

One of the best mix compilation albums in the Watergate DJ Mix series. Ruede delivers a meticulous and flawless sonic journey, moving through deep house, tech-house, and minimal styles. This album is from 2013, but it feels timeless. Highly recommended for fans of these electronic music styles.

A beautiful original album by Ruede Halgelstein, from 2015, conceived a couple of years after his mixed album for Watergate's series of albums mixed by different artists/DJs. An excellent, highly refined musical production, in the deep house and tech-house styles, with several tracks featuring beautiful vocal collaborations. Highly recommended for lovers of these electronic music styles.

A beautiful and refined compilation album in CD DJ mix format (mixed live with vinyls!), created by the German musician, producer, and DJ, Rico Friebe (aka Rico Puestel). This excellent album features tracks that are all Rico's own productions, along with some of his various aliases/groups, showcasing a rich catalog of songs primarily in tech-house, deep house, and dance-pop styles. High-quality house music. Highly recommended for fans of these electronic music styles.

Another great reissue of a classic 90s album, the golden age when many groups created their most iconic techno/electronic albums. The original album is from 1992, and that CD version included three tracks, but the first track contained three songs, and the third track contained four. In this 2026 reissue, all the songs have been placed individually, meaning eight tracks (plus a bonus track, included as a hidden track). Highly recommended for all lovers of the best techno/electronic music of all time.

A double compilation CD album, conceived as a charity project to help children affected by the various wars plaguing the world (a similar project preceded it with another double charity compilation CD in 1995). It features 24 songs (rock/pop/indie/alternative style) from various artists, including original tracks and collaborations, mostly recorded in different sessions at Abbey Road Studios, produced by James Ford (Simian Mobile Disco). Some of the most prominent artists on this album are Depeche Mode, Pulp, Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon, and Oasis (a live track, hidden at the end of the last song). Highly recommended, both for its high-quality music and its charitable purpose.

2025 reissue of the Dub Trees album originally released in 2016. This new reissue includes a bonus track. A beautiful dub album, combining electronic beats and sounds with a wealth of ethnic/tribal instrumentation, featuring legends like Jah Wobble & Youth, among others. Highly recommended for lovers and followers of the genre, especially fans of The Orb.

Kraftwerk's second album, and their second release on Blu-ray Audio, contains the following audio formats: - Dolby Atmos mix - 5.1 Surround mix - Stereo mix, 48kHz/24bit Excellent sound quality, especially for the new multichannel tracks... there's not much more to say about this classic album from the early days of techno/electronic music, except that it's a must-have for any collection

In my opinion, this YMO album is their most emblematic and beautiful work from the early 90s, a time when electronic music experienced a boom with many groups creating their best albums, such as The Grid, The Orb, System 7, Leftfield, The Drum Club, Orbital, The Shamen, Spooky, Jam & Spoon, Moby, Underworld, and others. And this great YMO album is part of that select "Club". This Japanese SACD edition (complete with 13 tracks, the song 13 is a bonus track) has the best sound you can imagine; highly recommended! (note: the sound is stereo; there is no multichannel version yet).

A classic and beautiful Sting album! This expanded edition features an additional CD with B-sides and remixes from the original release period and other more modern remixes (of the song Fragile) Note: This Japanese edition is in SHM-CD format, which enhances the sound quality of this disc, creating the perfect blend of immersive sounds and superior format quality... Every Sting fan/collector will be very satisfied and happy with this great reissue

Another great Sting album, from a somewhat more modern period, about to enter the new millennium! This expanded edition features two additional CDs with B-sides, demo, edit, mixes/remixes and 4 live tracks! ...very very complete! Note: This Japanese edition is in SHM-CD format, which enhances the sound quality of this disc, creating the perfect blend of immersive sounds and superior format quality... Every Sting fan/collector will be very satisfied and happy with this great reissue

Another classic and beautiful Sting album! This expanded edition features two additional CDs, with 2 B-sides and 14 mixes/remixes (10 of the song "If You Love Somebody Set Them Free"!, mostly from more modern periods) Note: This Japanese edition is in SHM-CD format, which enhances the sound quality of this disc, creating the perfect blend of immersive sounds and superior format quality... Every Sting fan/collector will be very satisfied and happy with this great reissue

This 2-CD set includes Boy George's second and third albums: "Tense Nervous Headache": Boy George's second solo album, released in 1988. The original version contains 12 songs, and this Japanese edition, released in 2025, adds two bonus tracks. This album is more intimate, predominantly featuring Soul and R&B styles, all within the pop genre. It's a decent album, but without any hit singles. (4 stars) "Boyfriend": Boy George's third solo album, released in 1989. The original version contains 8 songs, and this Japanese edition, released in 2025, adds two bonus tracks. This album marks a shift in style, incorporating numerous synthesizers and dance rhythms of the era, such as acid house and hip house. It would become the starting point for Boy George's future work, where electronic and dance music would always be prominent. It's a "short" album (similar to an EP) but highly enjoyable. (5 stars) The sound quality is superior, as it's an SHM-CD edition.

Boy George's first solo album, from 1987. The original version has 11 songs, and this Japanese edition, released in 2025, adds 6 bonus tracks. On this debut album, Boy George continues the musical style of Culture Club, leaning more towards pop-rock, but also incorporating some soul... and returning to reggae-pop with the super hit "Everything I Own" The sound quality is superior, as it's an edition recorded in SHM-CD format.

Culture Club's debut album, from 1982. It originally contained nine songs, and this Japanese edition, released in 2025, includes ten bonus tracks. This album marked the band's beginnings, incorporating reggae, dub, and pop styles typical of the era. In the early 1980s, they were revolutionary in their aesthetic. The sound quality is superior, as it was recorded on SHM-CD.

Culture Club's second album, from 1983. It originally contained 10 songs, and this Japanese edition, released in 2025, adds 9 bonus tracks. I consider it a significant evolution from their first album, with songs featuring melodies and rhythms that feel more organized and consistent, more pop-oriented, and with a touch of new wave. The sound quality is superior, as it's a SHM-CD edition.

Culture Club's third album, from 1984. It originally has 10 songs, and this Japanese edition, released in 2025, adds 9 bonus tracks. In my opinion, this album is a step backward compared to their second album and seems more like a compilation of B-sides from their first and second albums. This isn't to say it's a bad album, but rather that there isn't a noticeable improvement in the band's songwriting. The sound quality is superior, as it's an edition recorded in SHM-CD format.

Culture Club's fourth album, from 1986 (and the last of the decade of the lol '80s). It originally has 10 songs, and this Japanese edition, from 2025, adds 5 bonus tracks. This album may not have been a commercial success, and it doesn't have any truly memorable songs, but in my opinion, it sounds very consistent, showing an evolution towards a faster, more powerful sound, typical of mid-'80s pop-rock, while also retaining some new wave influences. That's why I think it's a great album. The sound quality is superior, as it's an edition recorded in SHM-CD format.

This is the album with the most classic techno rhythms by Richard D. James, better known as Aphex Twins (who later became known for more disruptive and experimental sounds). The original album is from 1993, with 9 tracks, and this Japanese reissue, from 2020, is the most complete, with 15 tracks (including the tracks from the Quoth' EP, also from 1993). Highly recommended for lovers of classic 90s techno, and bearing the hallmark of quality and originality of Richard D. James.

Excellent Duran Duran album! ...with original songs by the band and many covers (this 2024 Deluxe Edition includes 3 additional tracks compared to the original 2023 album). The sound is reminiscent of classic Duran Duran albums, with a touch of "new romantic" style and darker melodies, characteristic of the album's overall aesthetic. Highly recommended, especially for longtime fans who love the band's classic era. (Note: This is the European edition, as a Japanese edition has not yet been released)

This is a compilation album by artists Henrik Schwarz, Marcel Dettmann, Frank Wiedemann, and Din. It's a somewhat eclectic mix of electronic music in different styles: ambient, experimental, techno, and neoclassical. It's an album to listen to paying attention to the details, in a relaxed way, without anxiety or distractions... highly recommended if you can manage to find those moments.