Plastic City

For anyone who enjoys the soulful, spiritual sound of Jean Frank Cochois (a.k.a. The Timewriter), this first LP on Germany's Plastic City imprint is a must-have. While the U.S. was first introduced to The Timewriter in his triumphant 1998 album "Jigsaw Pieces," released domestically by Twisted America, "Letters From the Jester" actually predates the former by a year, showing us a somewhat sparser production quality that undeniably exudes more "tech" than "house" with its austere drum programming and analogue bass synth lines. Nevertheless, this is a true tech-house masterpiece that features classic tracks that range in style and emotion from the unforgettably funky "Soul Freak Music (Second Sight)" to the moving "Let's Keep Our Love Going," from the jazz-infused "Did my Time (City Lights Sax Mix)" to the lush and sensuous "So Much Pain Inside (Album Version)." Note the latter third of the album clearly points to a progression of Cochois's musical identity and production skills toward the monumental "Jigsaw Pieces."