Systematic Colours Vol. 2

Ever-changing in its style, Systematic can usually be depended on for quality music, revolving around fusions of techno and electro with crisp, powerful sound and strong melody. Other than that, you never know quite what to expect from each release – which is definitely one of Marc Romboy’s label’s fortes.
 
A Nathan Fake-esque Stefan Goldmann re-rub of Romboy & Chelonis R. Jones’ Helen Cornell kicks off the mix in atmospheric, faintly eerie fashion, before we lunge into deep, snappy techno – Audio Soul Project’s Taking Shape (Version 2) pressing all the right buttons with its tech house b-line tasty Detroit stabs. Melody gets laid on thick in the sublime Callisto by Stephan Bodzin and Marc Romboy – an undoubted highlight of their back catalogue – with a fierce bastard of a riff cutting through on the dark The Club (Version 1) by Romboy & Blake Baxter.
 
The rhythm changes to a swinging minimal techno one next, with the sexy clicks, echoes and swirling subby bass of Hugo & Daniele Papini’s Softeur and the seductive womping and other-worldly melody off Gui Boratto’s remix of Robert Babicz’s Sin. The graceful tones of Dusty Kid’s Milk suggest a euphoric finish ahead, but Romboy would have it otherwise – smacking us out with D-Nox & Beckers feat. Gabe’s driving Alphaville and then bringing us back down to earth with Oxia’ subdued, throbbing rework of Marc Romboy’s Karambolage. You’re left feeling satisfied – a great compilation that’s been put together well and never sticks with one vibe for too long. A perfect reflection of the label then.