Deep in Germany's Black Forest, from a small house surrounded by thousands of mighty firs, Patrick Chardronnet - locked away in his room of humming machines - has dedicated well over a decade to honing his signature sound as an artist: crisp, high-definition beats and minimal grooves harnessed to an intuitive understanding of structure and melody. In between, he has toured extensively, intoxicating dancefloors across the USA, Japan, Europe and Russia and amassed a portfolio of stellar remixes.
This compilation captures the spirit and highlights of this outstanding career, taking you from 'Ledge' - the debut that brought him to the attention of Poker Flat label boss Steve Bug, its booming menace and power undimmed - to two new exclusive tracks, fresh off the press and shortly to be featured on a brand new EP: the bobbing, deep hypnotism of 'Wobbler' and the downtempo 'Slowmo' - a masterclass in melancholy and meditative house.
Needless to say the rest of the anthology is all killer no filler. On the remix front, Freak Me's 'Going Insane' is given a minimalist makeover, packed with virtuosic flickers and flecks while 'Almost Nothing' by Adultnapper (aka Francis Harris) becomes a skilfully layered dancefloor bomb, bound by its simple, yet brutally effective synth riff. Benny Rodrigues's 'It's A Spiritual Thing' is overlaid with halcyon pads and a whirring distorted synth line, while Afrilounge step up to the plate for a playful, mellow collaboration that showcases Chardronnet's versatility.
Above all, the big-hitting solo tracks are present and correct. The rushing surge of 'Pleasant Day' is Chicago clubgear par excellence, characterised by a meaty pulsing bassline, high, distant strings and climactic subs.
'Boggler' is exactly as advertised - completely mind-boggling - while 'Karma' works its charms through metronomic repetition. Last but not least, the minimalist groove of 'Eve By Night' builds and builds till it utterly envelops you while its 2004 counterpart - the Ibiza smash and international bestseller 'Eve By Day' - is still as infectious as ever with its classic bass repetition and ethereal high end: a singular sound from a singularly exceptional talent.