Various Artists: Modeselektor - DJ Kicks: Modeselektor Various Artists: Modeselektor

Modeselektor – aka Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szary – is one of the most original acts to emerge from Berlin's techno underground. 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 DJKicks. 

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. 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. 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. Across the mix, Szary's selections lean more beatless and ethereal, while Bronsert is the dancefloor specialist. 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."