Wolfgang Voigt

Originally released earlier this summer as three EPs, Kafkatrax is exactly the kind of sonic curveball long-time techno fans have come to expect from veteran Cologne producer and Kompakt co-founder Wolfgang Voigt. The 11 tracks follow a strict conceptual policy of sampling only the voice of 20th century literary giant Franz Kafka, hence the title. As with more recent Voigt productions, the inclusion of a beat isn't intended for the dance floor, although a more adventurous DJ would have a ball with this, but more so as the hypnotic glue that holds together his avant-garde tendencies. Silent for many years, Voigt was fortunate enough to witness the cultural value of his Gas alias from the turn of the century capture the imaginations of generations of ambient, electronic and indie fans alike. But his return to music since 2010's Freiland Klaviermusik has proven that, so far at least, he has no plans to repeat himself. That's refreshing and so is Kafkatrax, if taken on its own terms.