Hell Teufelswerk

• Words: Shawn Reynaldo
• Label: International Deejay Gigolo
• XLR8R Rating: 7.5/10

Veteran troublemaker DJ Hell has always produced a steady stream of sinister tunes, but few would have guessed that he could drop an opus like Teufelswerk. Split into two discs, the album manages to both reaffirm his mastery of post-electroclash techno and stake a proper claim to lighter parts of the sonic spectrum. Night, the album’s first disc, is vintage Hell, full of cutting synths and driving beats, not to mention vocal turns from Bryan Ferry and a surprisingly hilarious Diddy. The album’s second disc, Day, comes out of nowhere to deliver a chilled-out collection of airy keys and pastoral soundscapes. Apparently directing a night of debauchery isn’t enough for Hell—he also wants to soundtrack the morning after.