Debut album for Konstanz-based producer Zigon, born Patrick Schmutz, who has previously only put out tracks and remixes (Highgrade, Galaktika and Coccoon). The album is released one-year later than expected due to a switch of labels.

Named after a mental state of total relaxation reached shortly before and after sleep, Zigon employs the album title to imagine how The Alpha State can be entered into via the hypnotizing rhythms of dance music. An idea no doubt aligned to trance music, in particular, which has - alongside drug use - often been celebrated for its frenzied ability to open portals into our subconscious.

Approached with no-doubt a slightly less contrived mindset, Zigon’s album can merely be construed as his deep and colourful take on modern electronic dance music. Zigon's approach being to propel his beats into a cacophony of insistent grooves with plentiful room for peripheral sound design.

This comes by way of earthy ragga vibes (Momento Magico feat. Caramelo Criminal), seated handclaps, muted trumpet, polarising melodic tones and the occasional use of vocals (often spliced into small parcels).

Alpha State does not employ the dry, lifeless properties of functional dance music, but is in an intricate, delicate, soul-influenced collection of tech house tracks. Moving beyond what the dancefloor might crave or expect, Zigon fashions a record for dance aficionados more likely to study the handcrafted production than whatever's likely to satisfy the needs of a specific niche.

Groundbreaking? Certainly not, but Alpha State rises above monotony to produce tech house for the thinking man, with a side-serving of jazz/soul - check out the lithe rhythms of Spotoma (with Mark Ash) for a peak moment alongside the opening Momento Magico.