We turn to a relatively unknown, yet already quite influential figure, in Germany for our next podcast. Sander Baan has only the odd production and remix to his name (on labels like the ever-consistent High Grade) but already is he shaping the house and techno world through other means… namely his labels Phonocult and Feeling High Records which have released classy music from producers including Guido Schneider, Barem and Bruno Pronsato.  As a DJ is how Baan earns his crust, however, spinning deep and connoisseur selections of house and techno that work their way under your skin, soothe your soul but also get you dancing.

Justin Miller is an important pillar of the New York scene. Although now, Miller is focussed on DJing on a regular basis at a range of  venues around the city. Miller, then, clearly has an ear for a tune, so it’s no wonder his wide ranging DJ sets are akin to soundtracks for the way they unfold, and it should come as no surprise that the American has been passionately collecting records for years.

Despite having released only a couple of EPs, it feels like PillowTalk have been around for ages. As soon as they arrived on first Visionquest then Life & Death during last year, the San Fran trio’s Motown tinged, rhythm and blues influenced house sounds fit in perfectly with the so-called underground melodic pop revolution along side acts like Tale of Us and Footprintz.  With a new EP out on Wolf & Lamb now, a release, Strange Love, on Bang the Box out mid-Feb (complete with John Tejada remix), as well as an increased number of live shows planned for the first part of the year, PillowTalk look set to be at the forefront of all that is hot in 2012.