Roman Flügel's debut on Running Back under his given name (Roman IV doesn't count) is a wonderful confirmation of his outstanding position in the past, present and future of electronic music. Needless to mention all his merits (or monikers for that sake) and excessive in almost any style, "Garden Party" highlights his competence in the dance hall and sees Flügel in a jovial mood. Presented by someone who knows the roots of it all, you can hear and envision traces of disco, stories of Manchester's Hacienda, memories of the night life in Frankfurt as well as the reflections in and of US-American mirror balls. But simultaneously, the rich content here also shows the blossoms of the seed, if one avoids the danger of retromania. This is serious fun and as uplifting as a garden party should be. Or based loosely on the creator's thoughts: if ABC's blue-eyed soul stems from punk and new wave, Flügel's "Look of Love" is a direct result of more than 25 years of kick drums.
