Sub Rosa vs. Kompakt

Performers: Thomas/Mayer, Jurgen Paape, Dettinger, Freiland, Michael Mayer, Pentax.
Remixes by: DJ Olive, To Rococo Rot, Autechre, Neil Harvey, Freeform, Scanner, Lelonek.
This is part 2 of Sub Rosa's Versus series.
The open-ended VS series finds Belgium's Sub Rosa label taking on its peers on the global stage. It's less an eye-poking, head-butting set-to than a lively engagement between the label's principle lineups. What could be more rousing than a sporting brawl between friends?
Round 2: In this corner, Sub Rosa regulars Scanner, Freeform, Lelonek, DJ Olive, and Neil Harvey--and guest supporters To Rococo Rot and Autechre. In the other corner, weighing in with Berlin's finest line in jaunty, minimal techno-house, the Kompakt crew--Dettinger, M:I:5, Michael Mayer, Juergen Paape, and Profan's sympathetic Freiland 2. The Kompakt crusaders open with five tracks of rubber-mallet beats, synth flickers, and bouncing basslines. Then things get seriously Sally Jesse. Autechre gives Pappe a shocking electro makeover; Dettinger and Harvey lock horns in an atmospheric drum & bass showdown; TRR teaches M:I:5 the finer points of digital slice-and-dice groove; Lelonek chases Thomas/Mayer to India aboard the breakbeat express; Olive takes Pappe to school in Brooklyn mean-streets fashion; Scanner cordially introduces Freiland to his latest ambient-techno appliances; and a Rhodes-wielding Freeform tweaks Mayer with a cheeky "you may be funky an' phat, but I'm all that!" All emerge tired but happy and none the worse for wear.