Spacetalk don’t release a lot of records. But any perceived lack of quantity is more than made up for in quality. If you weren’t aware, the names of Danny McLewin (Psychemagik), Simon Purnell (Leng) and Paul Murphy (Claremont 56) are behind the label. Safe in that knowledge, most things can be forgiven. As well as a few choice original releases the label does a high end job on the compilations front. 2023’s ‘Traces of Illusion’ got some very heavy rotation in this parish. Every track a ‘where did this come from?’ moment.

Going back a little further, Ilan Pdahtzur’s first iteration of ‘Night City Life’ was a deep dive into his synth obsessions. It was a selection of surefire winners from across his spectrum of finds and rarities that shone a fluorescent glow on the depths of his collection. Now back for part 2, it’s no surprise that he’s matched that selection with another 14 picks of offbeat, obscure but accessible electronic oddness.

As with all Spacetalk releases this is no fly by night effort, tracking down original artists as much as they can to get the stories behind the music. Doing the right things in the right way. Breadth of style and tempo comes through linked by that common neon thread. Playground’s ‘Rainy Day Woman’ comes with electro ballad feels, just a simple keyboard line with aching vocal on top but super effective. ‘The Spirit of America’ from Spinnaker oozes Balearia via its guitar and warped organ combination. Natalie Ann does a pops her funk a little with ‘You’ve Got To Feel’ then Shamor drop a killer chorus heavy dose of synthetic Africanism with ‘Close To You (Bwela Pafupi)’. If this doesn’t move you, nothing will.

House via the Souk gets a little nod with Sharon & Tracy’s ‘The Sheik’. A familiar rolling piano break gets twisted up with something a little more shake. Funk is never far below the surface across these choices, but it bubbles up properly on Claudio D’Ignoti’s ‘Anche Per Noi’, Sicily can bounce. A dub presence is also felt throughout, and Jimmy D drops the echo for the dub version of ‘Rescue Me’ perfectly.

There have already been a few runners and riders for comp. of the year ‘25, but this has to be in amongst it.

Night City Life II is out now on Spacetalk and available via their Bandcamp and out and about.