Since it's birth in 1992 Harthouse as developed a reputation as one of the worlds leading dance labels. With artists like Spice Lab and Overboust it's not a surprise that in both Europe and America, Harthouse is known for releasing stellar tracks that remain on the tables for months. DJ and recording artist Sven Vath as helped create this strong foundation of sound that puts Harthouse vinyl on DJ play lists around the globe.

On his latest project Vath collaborates with the Harthouse familiar Stevie B-Zet. Together this magic partnership has created one of the smoothest dance records available. Known together as Astral Pilot, their collaboration has spawned a refined sound with a calm, unhesitating groove that translates intimately on the dance floor and the sidewalk.

The title explains it all, Acupuncture - A technique for relieving pain or inducing regional anesthesia. "It comes from an experience I had in Japan," explains Vath. "I had acupuncture on my back, because I had little problems with my back, so I did acupuncture and got inspired by it. It's a very minimalistic album... from the musical side it's not like 'Accident in Paradise' or 'The Harlequin'.

With the whooping chop of helicopter blades, the intro [271 K .au | 374 K .wav] gives it self away to images of Apocalypse Now as the deep, buzzing baseline slides in underneath. The base is one of those deep hums that can only be truly appreciated on a fat stack of club speakers. From there, the track builds speed with a deep Acid tweak and snare. A tremendously good building song with a DJ friendly outtro that leaves the listener riding the base line into oblivion. Spin this one around 12:30.

An erie Halloween-like intro leaves you listening for Vincent Price, but drop that, and cut straight to a complex, but danceable, rhythm [227 K .au | 313 K .wav]. The track builds with slow economy, careful not to give itself up to quickly. The deep, tweeky acid keyboards and undecernable (prob. German) voice sample slowly removes all sensation of reality. Slide on your headphones, close your eyes and follow the beat. A panning delay extravaganza of merging sound textures. Break it all down in the middle and rebuild it better, stronger, faster. True Trance.