I’ve long been a fan of Modeselektor, but when I think about the German DJ/production duo, the one release that always pops into my head is their 2009 installment for Get Physical’s Body Languageseries. Somewhere in the last 20 minutes of the mix, a space techno woosh morphs into Animal Collective’s song “My Girls.” It was completely unexpected and made me fall for a song from a band that I was otherwise ambivalent about. The best DJs do that and Modeselektor are still amongst those I would consider the very best.
Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary are back in the mix, this time for !K7’s prestigious DJ-Kicks series. That it’s the label’s 40th anniversary and the mix series’ 30th makes the Modeselektor’s installment all the more momentous. But, the duo didn’t throw down a party mix here. Instead, they take listeners on a ride from the crib to the club and back again. In terms of selection, Szary tended to pick out the more atmospheric tracks while Bronsert brought in the dance floor cuts. Tying it all together is a smattering of their own productions, including the drum-heavy single “MEGA MEGA MEGA” and their collaboration with fellow Germans Kitschkrieg, “Permit Riddim,” released under the moniker Kitschselektor. They’ve also included field recordings from tour, which lend fly-on-the-wall quality to the mix, as if you’re actually on the road or in the studio with Bronsert and Szary.
Over the course of the 57 minute mix, Modeselektor keeps the rhythm in constant flux. Tempos rise and fall, then build up all over again. During the first listen, it is virtually impossible to anticipate where Modeselektor will be taking you. When you suspect they have settled into.a chill out zone, they pump up the energy with Little Simz “Mood Swings,” but before the throb of warehouse techno can overpower you, they shift vibes again, segueing from Ben Klock & Fadi Mohem into Beirut’s tune “Spillhaugen.”
Even three listens into this DJ-Kicks mix, the unpredictability remains and that’s what makes this a brilliant mix. Modeselektor pays no mind to genre. They are not playing to the crowd. Instead, they’re sharing the music that we need to hear and would likely miss in the mess of incredibly formulaic, hits-driven playlists that dominate everything from Spotify to Mixcloud to YouTube. If you too are bored to tears with your playlist recommendations, get Modeselektor’s DJ-Kicks mix. Be sure to listen to the continuous mix as opposed to the individual tracks. It will remind you of what DJs can do.
DJ-Kicks: Modeselektor is out now.
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Liz O. is an L.A.-based writer and DJ. Read her recently published work and check out her upcoming gigs or listen to the latest Beatique Mix. Follow on Instagram or Bluesky for more updates.
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