My mother always told me that excitement ends in tears, and to that end I’ve always erred on the side of caution with new albums by my favourite artists. Because when I love someone I believe in them wholeheartedly. Even the smallest things, down to the ‘United Kingdom’ detail on Busy P’s scarf when we met him in Manchester recently. And what if one day it’s just no longer possible to live up to this idolisation?

So I was understandably reluctant to review the new Ed Banger compilation Let The Children Techno. Ed Banger DJs play to the crowd and off each other’s enthusiasm in their live sets, and throw hip-hop-indie-rock curveballs, so I wasn’t sure how this would transfer on to an album, particularly an album of all-new unreleased material. After all, as an electro artist asked to contribute just one track each to a ‘techno’ album what would one submit?

Of course I needn’t have worried, this album is FUCKING fantastic. I try not to swear here, but it really is exceptionally good. What really surprised me was how mature it is, it contains layers upon layers. Each different artist is a veteran and a star of their game, so they bring with them a collection of hugely diverse influences that transcend history. I hear N.E.R.D., I hear Run D.M.C., I hear DJ Mehdi and Busy P…

The compilation as a whole is greater than the sum of its parts, which isn’t to say that individually the tracks are anything less than great, but I couldn’t help but feel that I was being taken on a musical journey, being given an education, that Ed Banger are compiling this as a commentary on what they believe to be the finest music today has to offer.

I was particularly surprised by Riton’s One Night Stand. An impressive dubstep deviance which is the sexy partner to Skream’s Boat Party, sounding incredibly fresh and new. It makes me think that Riton’s travels with Mehdi and the crew this year have broadened his musical horizons, with new influences including perhaps from other contributors to the album, Flying Lotus.

There’s also an important sense of humour. Mr Oizo sets the scene with an announcement that as it is 2017 and World War 5 has now ended, the children should techno, which is juxtaposed with the aggressive synths and vocals in Monseuir Winter’s contribution Procrastinator. Lighthearted and carefree funk appears throughout; in the rhythms and low basslines of Siriusmo’s Idiot, the happy disco of Breakbot’s Shades of Black, and the smooth and beautiful production of Para One and Tacteel’s partnership remix Infinity Riser. There is much beauty to be found, and I particularly love Claude Violante’s vocal in Feadz’s Far From Home.

Mehdi brings us back to his hip hop roots with his offering TragicoMehdi, which, alongside Mattie Safer’s Is That Your Girl? adds some swagger. And we’d feel cheated if there wasn’t a healthy dose of Ed Banger electro-techno too, in the form of Zombie Nation’s Daft Punk-inspired Relax, and present as a running theme that ties all the details together.

This album is the gift that just keeps on giving; just listening to it you feel like you’re involved in something important. I’d call it intelligent techno, and at 20 new tracks even listening on repeat you’ll find songs or details that you hadn’t noticed before. I really cannot rate this highly enough; Busy P has been talking a lot this week about the 8^th Anniversary of the Ed Banger label, and it feels here like a group of true musical pioneers has taken that time to really consider where their history has led them, and where they think the future might take them. Five stars, A-plus, ten out of ten.

The album graces stores with its honoured presence on 14th February, and you can sample Ed Banger’s delights (watch out for the curveballs) before then as they’re taking over XOYO this Saturday 5 February for Lovebox’s Bang The Box, with the monster line-up of Busy P, DJ Mehdi and Cassius. Get there EARLY for limited tickets on the door.