Slovenian techno DJ/producer Umek lives, breathes and sleeps techno. Known for his fierce technical skills behind the ones and twos, as well as a huge back catalogue of productions and his labels Recycled Loops and Consumer Recreation, Umek's style has evolved from raw old skool loop techno, through minimalism to what he describes as 'astrodisco'. Never one to compromise, the technoid firebrand has championed the music in all its incarnations and sees the current resurgence of the genre as just the beginnings of an inexorable rise. "Techno needs to stay fresh and if it does that then I think it will become even stronger," Umek opines. In 2008, his tireless devotion to the electronic cause took him all over the world, from his hometown of Llubjana to Turkey, Greece, Spain and Romania. Most recently, he embarked on a South American tour, where he played Kraft and Clash clubs in Brazil, the further-flung Maria Angola Centre in Peru and Columbia's Club Paradise. This year also saw him launch another new label, Sixteenofive, with VoRr's 'Outlaws' and a re-release of his 2002 classic 'Gatex', backed by a sick remix from Fergie. He's hit a creative purple patch too, with four releases already out on Pilot 6, Ultra Records, Renaissance and Circle Music, and an avalanche of more new cuts due soon. "I've got stuff coming out on Audiomatique, Circle Music, an EP on Armada Music with Beltek, Tronic, Soundz Limited, Pickadoll, Manual, Dieb Audio, Excentric Music, Terminal M and Mantra," shares the prolific producer. No doubt these cuts will keep Umek's dancefloor reputation bubbling through '09 and beyond.