Ricardo Villalobos: 20 you might have missed

Few artists in the modern-day house and techno scene are as revered as Ricardo Villalobos. Now 53, the Chilean maestro seemingly shows no sign of slowing down, with a packed-out gig schedule and his place amongst the pantheon of electronic music greats all but assured. 

A man who continues to fascinate, beguile and enthall, Ricardo truly is one of the scene’s greatest characters. But beyond the onstage (and sometimes, the off-stage) histrionics, it’s his lifelong obsession to music - and especially, dancefloor dynamics - that continue to define him as such a firm favourite. 

On the production front, Villalobos’ tracks are legendary among house and techno enthusiasts. His remixes, including interpretations of ‘Everywhere You Go’, ‘Sinner in Me’, ‘Cellphone’s Dead’, and ‘Electrolatino’, have kept dancefloors spinning for years, while originals such as ‘MDMA’, ‘Easy Lee’, ‘What You Say…’, ‘Que Belle’ and ‘Fizheuer Zieheuer’ have proved no less emphatic.

But shining a spotlight on these tracks is something that’s been done before (and, admittedly, something we’ll probably return to at a later date). And as we thought we’d pay homage to Ricardo here, we figured it a nice idea to focus on some lesser-known efforts of his. With this in mind, we decided to dive deep into the rabbit hole (a task he’d no doubt approve of), to unearth 20 RV tracks that might have passed you by. No doubt we’ve overlooked some great ones. But that’s where you come in, as we’re naturally very receptive to your recommendations. For now, we hope you enjoy our spotlight on some of Villalobos’ hidden gems… 

Ricardo Villalobos - ‘N-DRA’ [Hörspielmusik] 1996

Villalobos’ debut EP came way back in 1996 on the now defunct Hörspielmusik label. The track, which is more "techno" than his later work, runs over 13 minutes, offering an early glimpse into the long, epic tracks that would come to define his style.

Ricardo Villalobos - ‘2000 Abdominals’ [Perlon] 1999

At the turn of the century, Perlon wasn’t quite the trendy powerhouse it is today, but Zip and Markus Nicolai’s label has always on point, as evidenced by the signing of a Villalobos’  ‘Frank Mueller Melodram’ EP. The key record here is ‘2000 Abdominals’, a minimal, barebones track that immediately signals the producer’s knack for the quirky and unusual side of techno. 

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Ricardo Villalobos - ‘Früh’ [Playhouse] 1999

Released as part of the ‘Ibiza99’ EP, with a title like that you might expect this one to nod to the trance stylings of the era. But not so. Alas, Villalobos takes us on a 14-minute journey here, and it’s one that’s a bit sticky, a bit humid and ever-so-slightly uncomfortable. An irony not lost on anyone who attended Sven Väth’s Villalobos-soundtracked Cocoon parties way back when.

Tony Senghore - ‘Where Is The Love?’ (Ricardo Villalobos Remix) 2002

Now this one is a total banger. With a killer vocal refrain, it draws parallels with Ricardo’s iconic remix of Mari Kvien Brunvoll’s ‘Everywhere You Go’. Deep but delightful, it’s also got just enough oomph to ignite the dancefloor.

Ricardo Villalobos & Luciano - ‘You Wanna Start?’ [INEEDAFREAK] 2004

A collaboration with compatriot Luciano that showcases Villalobos in peak-time form. The sample might be obvious, but only producers of this calibre could flip it so brilliantly. Whether MJ's estate earned anything in royalties for this one... I guess we'll never know.

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Sieg Über Die Sonne - ‘Love Is OK’ (Ricardo Villalobos Remix) [Multicolor Recordings] 2004

Trying to categorise this track is nearly impossible - but then, isn’t that part of Villalobos’ appeal? Imagine a mash-up of Kraftwerk, Carl Craig, and The Human League and you’re halfway there. A description Villalobos himself would probably laugh at.

DJ Hell - ‘Listen To The Hiss’ (Villalobos Screen Kiss Remix) [International DJ Gigolo] 2004

Much like Sven Väth, Hell is a good-time partyman and serious musician who’s had a profound effect on Villalobos. This remix is as madcap as you’d expect, with muffled, screamed, nonsensical vocals - a Villalobos trademark - making their presence felt before a funky piano line unexpectedly appears. As likely to divide as it is to delight.

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What Time Is Love? - The KLF Vs Ricardo Villalobos [Veto Retro Mix #1] [Blaou] 2005

Tackling a classic like ‘What Time Is Love?’ is no mean feat, and anyone familiar with Villalobos’ ‘Cafe del Mar’ remix can attest that his approach to “remixing” can be tenuous at best. Maybe he just remixed this to tackle some some-indulgent production itch? That’s not for us to say, of course…

Rhythm & Sound w/ Ras Donovan - ‘Let We Go’ (Villalobos Remix) [Burial Mix] 2006

Villalobos remixing a reggae track might sound a bit odd on paper (and it sounds a bit odd in relaity too to be fair), but one listen to the dubby original and you’ll understand the appeal. Though it’s unlikely to appeal to hardcore reggae fans, Villalobos fans who share his love for the wacky are sure to lap this one up. A bit cheeky - and a lot of fun. 

Shinedoe - ‘Phunk’ (Villalobos Remix) [Intacto] 2007

Minimal yet captivating, this shimmering, mesmerising tracks somehow manages to keep our attention locked until the last thanks to a pensive tension that lingers throughout. A crafty little DJ tool that again showcases the producer’s ability to keep things stripped-back and restrained. 

Ricardo Villalobos & Jay Haze - ‘Sunday Prayer’ [Contexterrior] 2008

This track is all about that trumpet line, the likes of which reminds me of peak-era St.Germain. It also begs the question: where has Jay Haze been hiding all this time?

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Ricardo Villalobos Feat Los Updates - ‘Baile’ [Sei Es Drum] 2009

Why did this track fly (slightly) under the radar? Perhaps because the flip side was Reboot’s Ibiza-defining classic ‘Caminando’. But don’t overlook this one—a killer acid line and party-starting Latino vocal make it a real dancefloor weapon. Big with Luciano and the Cadenza lot, too.

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NDF - ‘Since We Last Met’ (Ricardo Villalobos Remix) [DFA] 2010

The vocals here instantly reminded me of Benoit & Sergio (remember them?), so I wasn’t very surprised to learn it came about on iconic New York label, DFA. Ricardo, of course, is no one-trick pony, and his ability to conjure up genuinely fascinating moments (and to work around different vocal types), is another string to his bow.

Max Loderbauer - ‘Angelus Novus’ (Ricardo Villalobos Remix) 2006

A swinging, crunching track that retains both the deepness and the funk. Yes, it takes a while to get going (a theme you’ve surely noticed here), but when it does, it really does serve up a treat worth waiting for. 

Ricardo Villalobos - ‘Detroit Heroes’ [Raum…musik] 2015

An obvious nod to Detroit, this track features Villalobos at what I consider his best - namely creating tense, dancefloor bombs that need to be handled with extreme care.

Freaks - ‘The Man Who Lived Underground’ (Ricardo Villalobos Remix) [Music for Freaks] 2015

Aptly released via the Music for Freaks label, this microhouse oddity recalls producers like Isolee and Akufen and labels like Playhouse. If you don’t know… get to know!

Sneaky Tim - ‘Mental Combat’ (Ric & Mso's Sneaky Chic Soup Remix) [Chiwax Classic Edition] 2014

A remix collaboration with M/S/O (who tragically passed away just a few years after its release), this one is a rework of Sneaky Tim’s Dance Mania classic ‘Mental Combat’. Released on Rawax’s sublabel Chiwax Classic, it’s brilliantly funky beats are well-worth getting lost in.

D.F.X. - ‘Relax Your Body’ (Ricardo Villalobos Remix) [Autum] 2016

Villalobos strips back this early 90s techno classic, creating an introspective take that contrasts with the original’s peak-time energy. More k than e, if you catch our drift…

Ricardo Villalobos - Mandela Move [Deset] 2019

A staple in both Villalobos’ and Raresh’s sets, this one - released via Caruan’s Deset - is a party starter that begs to be experienced on a big sound system.
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Ricardo Villalobos - ‘I’m Broken’ [BQQ Trax] 2023

Released via Dana Ruh’s Brouqade sub-label BQD, this track is a melting pot of Villalobos’ signature oddball motifs—female vocals, an unsuspecting bassline, tension aplenty, and meandering synths. A suitably amazing piece to close our list.

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