Vera

Vera Heindel is a gifted selector with flawless technique. Playing records in the way she does takes skill, yet the casual observer might not realise just how much. Technical proficiency is vital but only part of the picture. Her style requires a deep connection with her records, one that lets her join the dots throughout hours of music to create a fluid, mesmerising journey for the dance floor. With Heindel on the decks, you might hear shuffling minimal mixed into acid house, or electro into dub techno, bridged by subtle, speedy transitions that never sound rushed or disjointed. You may not realise a new (and very different-sounding) track is playing until long after the old one has been mixed out. It's an ego-free method that puts music above showmanship. (Matt Unicomb