DJ Hell CD Eleven

• Words: Shawn Reynaldo
• Label: International Deejay Gigolo Records
• XLR8R Rating: 6.5/10

While the International Deejay Gigolo imprint may be forever tied to notions of electroclash, head honcho and Berlin veteran DJ Hell continues to press on and take the label back toward his techno roots. While the tracks presented on CD Eleven undoubtedly bear traces of electro, the double-disc compilation is a surprisingly deep and measured affair. Sure, artists like Motor, Seelenluft, Fetische and Me, and Hell himself will drop in their fair share of squelchy synths, but the music never feels theatrical or over-the-top. The second disc is particularly tasteful, at times even dull, prompting thoughts of whether IDG would be better served by letting just a tad more of that old partying spirit back into its tunes.