Modeselektor - DJ-Kicks

Modeselektor, one of the most original acts to emerge from Berlin's techno underground, are in a period of transition. Earlier this year, the duo — aka Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary — moved into a new studio after many years based above the infamous KitKatClub in Mitte. After more than three decades of astonishing work—spanning cult labels, critically acclaimed albums and EPs, and era-defining releases as part of Moderat—they remain at the top of their game, as hungry as ever for the freshest electronic music from around the world. In 2025, the same year DJ-Kicks and !K7 Records celebrate their 30th and 40th anniversaries respectively, the duo are finally set to deliver their edition for the vaunted mix series. Modeselektor's passion and drive are writ large across DJ-Kicks. Contributing to the long-running series has always been on their bucket list. Then, finally, this year, the stars aligned, and they set to work on their edition of the compilation. Bronsert and Szary gathered tracks in their new studio, designed and built in collaboration with Sascha Ring, by restructuring the remnants of an old industrial site. "We decided not to overthink it too much," said Bronsert of the curation phase, "and just followed our instincts." At the same time, Szary added, "When you ask Modeselektor to make a mix, it's not a normal process." The rhythmically compelling release came together over a matter of days. It features 22 tracks, including two original Modeselektor cuts, plus field recordings from tour—listen out for the lively discussion toward the end, recorded in a studio in Kingston, Jamaica. True to form, the mix stitches together an impressive mishmash of styles, from Kenyan sound artist Slikback and beloved London rapper Little Simz to Berlin techno darlings Ben Klock & Fadi Mohem. Moods and sounds change like the wind. "We didn't want to make a club mix," Bronsert said. "I love club music, so does Szary. But we didn't want to give people the full package, so we tried to tell a story. This mix is for listening in the car, or at home. It's weird, but not too much." The opening section sets the tone. Leading with the tender pads of Szary's "PREY," a reworking of a track from Moderat's More D4ta sessions, the energy gradually ramps up from there, with the occasional detour. Standouts include the world premiere of Kitschselektor, a long-awaited link-up between Modeselektor and popular German producers KITSCHKRIEG; Modeselektor's previously unreleased "MEGA MEGA MEGA," which hits the duo’s typically euphoric high notes; and Slikback's stormy "Sea," which landed on iconic dubstep label Tempa early in 2025. The atmosphere shifts again—like sand through your fingers—with the breathy vocals of GAISTER (aka Olivia Salvadori, Akihide Monna, and Coby Sey), another Szary pick. Across the mix, Szary's selections lean more beatless and ethereal, while Bronsert is the dancefloor specialist. "He chose all the tracks without drums," Bronsert confirmed. "A lot of very interesting music I never would've discovered myself. He's looking for non-structured music. That makes for a very interesting balance because we're fighting for our ideas all the time." The first major gear shift arrives 20 minutes in, as fast, crisp kick drums burst through the murk. Released in 2024, "Mood Swings" by Little Simz is one of many new or unreleased cuts on the mix—an intentional decision to create "a fingerprint of a moment," said Szary. Forays into the past occur sporadically, like a revisit to the thick bass and heavy air of Modeselektor's 2021 collaboration with legendary dub techno vocalist Paul St. Hilaire. The blend into Ben Klock & Fadi Mohem's industrial clanker "The Machine" is mind-blowingly seamless. Modeselektor built their name on creating spellbinding musical moments by boldly fusing disparate sounds. Going from "The Machine" into American indie folk project Beirut, and back out again into the loopy techno of Kaan Pirecioglu's "Spellbound," should rank as a career high. Beirut's "Spillhaugen," a firm Szary favourite, is disarmingly beautiful, with Zach Condon's dreamy vocals building to a shimmering crescendo. "We always try to find music in the timeless zone," said Bronsert. "That doesn't get old too quickly." Taking the non-linear approach has always been the Modeselektor way. No two tracks on DJ-Kicks sound alike, meaning the magic often happens in the liminal spaces between tunes. Take how Untold's "Discipline," the oldest track on the mix (2008), folds perfectly into the lively techno of Erik Jabari's "Stone Rinse," released last year. (Jabari is a current employee of historic Berlin record store Hard Wax, where Bronsert once worked.) Or the way Julien Bracht's emotion-rich "Melancholia" collapses into the grand finale, "Koko," a quirky, piano-heavy cut that premieres on the mix, delivered by close collaborator Siriusmo. The beauty is in the lining—in listening to the mix again and again, and uncovering fresh details and earworms each time. Despite its modern bent, it has an everlasting quality, much like Modeselektor and DJ-Kicks themselves. Both are totems of Berlin's rich, shape-shifting electronic music culture. Decades later, they remain as relevant as ever. "Don't skip the tracks," laughed Szary, when asked how fans should approach the mix. "And just enjoy it."