STEVEN BROWN: Scandinavia (Skyways)

Forget Detroit, Chicago, London and Manchester, the area of the world producing the best dance music is Scotland. Since the early days of acid house, clubs like Slam, Pure, 69 and The Sub Club have furthered the dance agenda. These hedonistic nights have been matched by the glut of cool vinyl emanating from the Highlands, not least by Edinburgh’s Steven Brown. Like last year’s excellent ‘A Function of Aberration’ for Djax, Brown’s new EP on jackmeister Neil Landstrumm’s Skyways stamp is pure, sleek techno. If twisted beats and rhythms, chiming melodies and frenetic, abstract funk are your thing, then you’ll love this. If not then never emigrate to Scotland. (MK)