It`s always good to start the new year with something special and in this case it`s the release of the “Underground Railroad” 12inch from SoulPhiction. While his last album “Do You Overstand?” on Berlins Sonar Kollektiv as well as his infamous remix for Ian Simmonds “Whos Blues” on Musik Krause is still in mind he went straight ahead on the work for his upcoming album… So “Underground Railroad” prepares us for his new lp coming in autumn 2009 on Philpot! Three tracks to choose from, starting off with the title track “Underground Railroad", a lo-end House track with a thick atmosphere rooted in Jazz… On the flip the first track is called ” Things To Get By", a reminiscence to the classics, timeless House music to the bone! To round that up the last track “Regrets” is a stripped down percussion tool, an “instrumental version” of the original contained on the album. Enjoy!

Fact Magazine: “ I'm sure that I'm far from being the first person to ask, but is Philpot the best house label in the world? Based in Stuttgart and run by Tobi Ettle and Michel Baumann, it specializes in 4x4 with a decidedly grainy, soulful quality; a little bit messy, yes, but thoughtfully and elegantly so. I mean, artists like DJ Koze, Reggie Dokes, Move D and A Made Up Sound have all seen fit to release 12"s on the imprint, which is a recommendation in itself. This track is by Baumann under his Soulphiction guise, and it actually came out last month on the 'Underground Railroad' 12". A bass and conga-heavy, jazz-tinged workout, it's joyously abstract but still more immediate than the slow-burning groovers on his Do You Overstand? LP which, incidentally, I also strongly recommend. ”

Fact Magazine (UK): “I'm sure that I'm far from being the first person to ask, but is Philpot the best house label in the world? Based in Stuttgart and run by Tobi Ettle and Michel Baumann, it specializes in 4x4 with a decidedly grainy, soulful quality; a little bit messy, yes, but thoughtfully and elegantly so. I mean, artists like DJ Koze, Reggie Dokes, Move D and A Made Up Sound have all seen fit to release 12"s on the imprint, which is a recommendation in itself. This track is by Baumann under his Soulphiction guise, and it actually came out last month on the 'Underground Railroad' 12". A bass and conga-heavy, jazz-tinged workout, it's joyously abstract but still more immediate than the slow-burning groovers on his Do You Overstand? LP which, incidentally, I also strongly recommend. ”

Groove: “Seit mehr als einer Dekade feilt Michel Baumann bereits an seiner Interpretation von House-Musik aus der Umgebung der großen Seen. Große Gegensätze verband er dabei immer gekonnt, und so setzte sich seine Musik oft über Genregrenzen hinweg. Genau dieser Spagat ist es, der seine Stücke interessant macht, muss man doch immer auf eine Überraschung gefasst sein. So auch bei „In Dub“ auf der zweiten „Chocolettes“-EP, das die längste Zeit als normaler Dubtechno-Track vor sich hinwummert, bis kurz vor Ende an Steeldrums erinnernde Versatzstücke einen nicht vermuteten Klangraum öffnen. Auch „The Royal Pennekaums“ erzeugen eine reizvolle Spannung zwischen einer Acid-Bassfigur und einem charmanten, leicht dilettantischen Gesang. Deutlich stärker im House verwurzelt ist „Underground Railroad“, das mit einem Walking-Bass und Sprachfetzen das Gefühl eines verrauchten Jazz-Kellers verbreitet. Wenn plötzlich der Bass aussetzt, enthüllt sich ein Shuffle-Monster von einem Track – aber nur für kurze Zeit, dann rollt der Zug weiter. Heraus sticht die B1: Mit ausgefuchstem Drumprogramming und warmen Flächen entsteht ein klassischer Housetrack. Ob das Gesangssample gefällt oder nicht, „Things To Get By“ kann Freunde des gebrochenen Beats genauso begeistern wie Househeads. CDG”

Jose Belo Dance Club Magazin (: “this is pure class. starts with the cover, bringing me to "undercurrent" by bill evans and jim hall, and keeps on going in the vinyl, with three solid and forwardthinking house tracks. amazing.”

Mathias Kaden (Freude am Tanze: “very good as usual!!!!”