It might sound like an empty phrase, but when Oliver Koletzki founded Stil vor Talent in 2005, he certainly didn’t anticipate where his label would be today. Now – six years and over sixty releases later – Stil vor Talent can look back at many magnificent moments in the label’s history. Originally started to give other musicians the chance to showcase their music, Stil vor Talent has preserved this very down-to-earth attitude until today and has helped foster the careers of producers such as Channel X, Niko Schwind, Juli Holz or David August to name just a few. While there have never been any musical or stylistic limitations, an open philosophy dominated by quality and individualism prevails at Oliver’s label, from delicately designed record sleeves to their own fashion line and to music that varies from house to pop to jacking dancefloor cuts.

Now it is time to congratulate everyone involved and the fans of Stil vor Talent with a special birthday present: a six-year anniversary compilation that celebrates past, present and future of the label on two CDs. The first CD titled “What We Do” presents 17 all new and exclusive unreleased tracks by a lot of the label’s closest artists, while the second CD named “What We’ve Done” is a 70-minute mix by Oliver Koletzki that includes some of his personal highlights of the more recent past of the label. Both CDs show that Oliver Koletzki has a deep love for all avenues of electronic music and that he is surrounded by a group of highly skilled producers who share his musical openness and eclecticism.

“What We Do” is a unique compilation that features 17 new tracks that are very much orientated towards all corners of the contemporary dancefloor. From melodic house on tracks by Niko Schwind, Björn Störig, Mick Rubin, Murat Kilic and Chroma & Inexcess to Animal Trainer’s beautiful early morning anthem “Krambambuli”, house is an overarching theme on this compilation. But other genres find their way into the mix as well: Bruch and Junior have contributed a piece of vocal dub techno with “Slack Me” while Niconé and Sascha Braemer have teamed up with singer Anna Rikje Rosenthal to create a slow-moving pop track with “Never to late”. Leaning more towards the tech-house side of things are the tracks by newcomer Ryan Dupree, Kellerkind, Jürgen Kirsch, Tobi Kramer and the Berlin wonderboys that are Channel X. Last, but not least there are tracks by engineering genius Florian Meindl, with his personal take on disco, and by Daso as well as Oliver Koletzki himself, who chips in a breathtakingly organic cut of soulful disco-tech. It would be impossible to describe all tracks in their density and delicacy, but it is very clear that all of the producers involved were very much aware of the special occasion of this release. These are 17 individual birthday presents.

On “What We’ve Done” Oliver Koletzki has carefully selected and mixed 12 tracks from the back catalogue of Stil vor Talent. While most likely not having had an easy time to choose from all of the many tracks released on his label, it appears that Oliver has decided to showcase both, the more current and the more melodic ones for this mix. Starting out with the two piano-based tracks “Jazzbians” by Bruch & Junior and “Shine” by Niko Schwind, Oliver slowly moves into more peak-time territory that culminates in an early climax with the first ever single of David August, “Trumpet’s Victory”, which back in 2009 catapulted David into the rank of top producers. Things stay hot with Sascha Braemer & Dan Caster best-selling “People” before calming down a little again with Oliver Koletzki’s own “Snug Descent” which features Jake the Rapper. On the last two tracks the mix gets very musical with a Marek Hemann remix of Oliver Koletzki and Fran’s “Arrow and Bow” before things are finished off by a Daso remix of Oliver Koletzi’s own “Since You are Gone”, a track that very much marked a shift in Oliver’s productions towards a more organic house sound. And while this shift has had a great influence on Stil vor Talent itself, this mix embodies the groove and soul of house music while being delivered with the right punch for a hungry dancefloor.

If looking back can sometimes make you sad, it certainly won’t if you know that both present and future are filled with so many happy moments and a group of people around you who share your vision. Stil vor Talent certainly is very happy after six years, but that doesn’t mean they are content. Actually, they are just getting started.

Catalogue number: SVT065