When two titans of the world of electronic music combine, the affects are rarely a let down. Case and point: flexing deep house champions Bicep have remixed New York analog jammers Blondes with an articulate icey cold techno makeover. "Ingredients: Juno 6, MPC, TR-909, Korg M1 an’ a whole lotta muscle!". Blondes' self titled LP featuring this remix and a host of others from John Roberts, Andy Stott, Laurel Halo, Teengirl Fantasy to name a few is out on the legendary RVNG and available from Feburary 7th. 

Just had to post this one, do check out Evian Christ's YouTube Channel for even more obscurity and anonymity.

Surely one of the biggest stars of electronic music in 2011, with an outstanding LP and numerous EPs tallied, Travis Stewart aka Machinedrum looks to continue his successful streak in 2012 kicking things off with a new EP on LuckyMe. The 'SXLND EP' is a record 2 years in the making, a contemporary take on Chicago House and Modern UK House, and a gratifying portion of dance music that shows the depth of Stewart's expertise in his genre. The 'SXLND EP' by Machinedrum is out this week on LuckyMe, complete with elaborate 12" packaging, available from Juno and Boomkat. Check the preview below.

Pictures Music, impressed all last year with their carefully selected artist roster deploying a generous and honourable schedule of releases over the course of 2011 from the likes of Koreless, Dauwd, Seams and Dark Sky. Pictures look to maintain the revered output of last year, with their first taste of music for 2012, from new signing Bobby Champs. Notably lacking the subtlety of peers like Koreless, Bobby Champs aims straight for the dance floor with clubbers reactions at the front of his mind while producing some heavy techno and 90s acid influenced beats. Expect Bobby Champs' debut on Pictures Music sometime around March.

Silverback Recordings stood out last year with some notable releases from Nguzunguzu, Damu and Grown Folk, and they are starting this year as they mean to go on, with a very promising EP from The Phantom, the label's very first Vinyl release. The vaguely titled 'EP 2' opens with tinkering piano riffs exploding into the classic house grooves of 'Ceremony'. The rest of the EP isnt as 'classic' sounding, but clearly exhibits The Phantom's more edgy and experimental broken, funky beats, and his Grime, Chicago and Detroit influences. Check out the EP preview below as well as the bonus download 'Late Night Sex'. 'EP 2' by The Phantom is out January the 16th on Vinyl and Digital, and available from your favorite stores.

'EP2' Preview by The Phantom

Here is one of the first releases of 2012 to look forward to, the first official release from Welsh enigma Ifan Dafydd. Treading a tightrope somewhere between melancholy and optimism, these are bold and bright compositions underpinned by weighty sub low frequencies. 'Treehouse / To Me' is out on January the 30th on Push & Run.

Greg Bowler and Jamie McNeil have sadly announced the end of Acid Girls this week, a name that has been all too familiar with electronic music fans and music blog followers in general for the past 5+ years. For those of you who need schooling, Acid Girls originated as a DJ/Production duo in tandem with one of the few early Music Blogs that influenced many other like minded and enthusiastic music lovers (myself included) to do the same and in process help revolutionize the way people discover, listen and obtain music. Sadly their discography never grew as big as their reputation as DJs, but to end the era they are giving away a sort of Album That Never Was to say goodbye. Acid Girls content and mixes aren't hard to find on the web, so Ill leave you with a link to their 'RIP Acid Girls' collection, and a personal favorite. RIP Acid Girls.

Acid Girls - 'RIP Acid Girls' // ♫ 
Daft_Punk - 'Too Long (Acid Girls Edit)' // ♫

More Christmas freebies today thanks to the promising new label Body High, headed by Jerome Potter and Samo Sound Boy. A festive pack of unreleased Body High dubs ready for the clubs this Christmas.

Body High - 'Free Pack 2011' // ♫

---