This week's electronica CDs reviewed

STEFAN GOLDMANN
The Emopty Foxhole Mule Electronic **

Whatever about the future of CDs, spare a thought for the mix-CD format, once a cash cow for dance music labels. The advent of countless free online mixes and podcasts means that mix CDs have been rendered almost obsolete. But new technology is not the sole cause for their woes – also to blame is a tendency to favour the safe programming that dominates German DJ Stefan Goldmann's new release. Goldmann opens and ends the selection with layered, noisy ambience of his own Five Boroughsand Tuomi's Mourning Eyes, but the rest focuses mainly on vacuous European minimalism and trancey techno. Occasionally his selection proves inspiring, thanks to the inclusion of Nail's sublime deep house and Balil's crystalline deconstruction of Francesco Tristano's The Melody, but they're not enough to prevent Foxholefrom being predictable.

Download tracks: Stefan Goldmann, Five Boroughs; Tuomi, Mourning Eyes; Nail, I Don't Wanna Hurt U; Francesco Tristano, The Melody(Balil remix)