Michael Mayer - Connecting The Dots (2020)

KOMPAKT – the Cologne based institution for electronic music has for over 25 years released over 15,000 tracks of all styles, shape and form. This puts us in a unique position, and so we are proud to launch a new mix series entitled CONNECTING THE DOTS. This series serves as an outlet for DJs to dig deep into the catalogue and pull out their unique vision of what inspires them about our labels.

It’s only fitting that the CONNECTING THE DOTS should be inaugurated by the one DJ that knows KOMPAKT’s catalogue best - label co-owner and DJ, Michael Mayer. With over 20 years of DJing under his belt and a new EP out last week, his IMMER and FABRIC releases have earned plenty of acclaim as two of the best DJ mix releases ever.

CONNECTING THE DOTS was originally broadcast as an episode from his 2019 BBC Radio 1 residency. Michael took the time to select a variety of gems from past and present deep in the KOMPAKT catalogue. As the mix was originally intended to serve as a means for listeners to come down from a long night out, the result is an hour long set that excels in his ability to provide a feeling in hope and beauty that emits Michael’s trademark introspectiveness. It felt to us like a perfect KOMPAKT companion for the times.

Exclusively available and in solidarity with Bandcamp for their “no-rev-share” May 1st campaign to support artists impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, all Bandcamp proceeds from CONNECTING THE DOTS will be shared to the musicians whose music is included in the mix and also to local Cologne based club GEWÖLBE.

On a final and important note. Much good can be said about how a number of the current tsunami of live stream initiatives are benefiting the community and organizations that direly need our support during these incredibly difficult times. We here at KOMPAKT are extremely grateful to those of you that continue to buy our records and CDs, download and stream our music. We would cease to exist without your support.

We understand that most listeners prefer to listen to our releases in the mix and over the last decade thanks to the irresponsibility of the music industry, most have expected DJ Mixes to be freely available and consumed at an irrationally rapid rate. Up until recently, DJs have been the ones who have financially gained the most while ones that provide the beat – the musicians - more often than not have little or no gain from their music being used in mixes and struggle to make ends meet. Then there are the clubs - the heartbeat of the scene - and we here at KOMPAKT are feeling lost without them. We choose to support Gewölbe as they are our local and held dear by our staff and many of our artists who call it a second home.