The fourth release on Cologne's Kompakt label, M. Mayer's 17 & 4 12" features three untitled tracks -- a lengthy A-side and two shorter works on the flip. The A-side is a busy, forceful stomp with an array of FX thrown on top. The beat occasionally drops out and places emphasis on the extra synthetic percussion and a dreary synth tone. It's one of Mayer's most aggressive productions. The first track on the B-side sounds like an odd cross between Adonis' "No Way Back" and the Art of Noise's "Beat Box," pairing a deep, dark bassline with lots of rattling percussive elements. The closing track, later placed on Kompakt's Total 1 compilation, is the clear highlight. Mayer does what he does best and creates something haunting and sublimely hypnotic out of a small number of elements. B-side wins again.