Welcome 2005, and the first quarter of the New Year sees the debut artist album from Manhead, aka Robi Insinna (aka Headman), who quite simply, cut a swathe through 2004 with his original and remixed production pieces, in much the same way that Ewan Pearson stood out as THE producer and remixer of 2003. Manhead’s ‘Birth, School, Work, Death’, was one of the underground anthems of last year. Whilst under his Headman guise he kept us all dancing with remixes for Franz Ferdinand, Annie and Mylo, in addition to delivering one of the year’s standout mix collections, his compilation for Eskimo Recordings ‘Headman presents… Dance Modern.’

Whilst best known for his Headman moniker, a name he uses to release his own twisted electro-funk music on Germany's prolific Gomma record label, Manhead was specifically designed to be a separate outlet for Robi’s other musical interests. Robi explains, “It’s just I wanted to have two different styles that I wanted to release. I couldn’t combine the influences, so I made two projects.” With his ‘other interests’ encompassing a talent in the arts, Robi’s projects are also often known for their extraordinary artwork and each release is accompanied by cover artwork designed by Robi himself. “I have a similar approach, when I try to be creative,” Robi says. “Have a concept and an idea and try to realise it that way. Manhead is more my graphic side and Headman more my painting side.”

So there you have it. Manhead, Hyde to Headman's Jekyll, dilutes none of the high-end quality and attention to detail that Headman is renowned for. Manhead meanwhile, maintains a focus on the production of more disco-influenced tracks, music that oozes a heavy Italian feel. But which is Jekyll & which is Hyde? Not necessarily so, according to Robi, who explains, “It’s not really schizophrenic what I do, it’s more I needed to do another project to be able to release all the music I wanted to”.

Not one to rest on his laurels, or be held back by preconceptions, Robi started Relish Records with the notion that it be an outlet for his Manhead conceptualisation. “Relish started 2001, in the beginning I just wanted to release my own music on my label, but since the beginning I had some other music or remixes on it.” In fact 2005 is looking nothing short of busy for Relish with the Manhead 12” and album (which features a Rapture remix), the Italian EP featuring Linus Loves and Glimmers remixes, and a 12” from Dennis Young (Liquid Liquid) that will highlight Headman and Strombo remixes. With releases this strong, Relish stands out as a label for trainspotters to keep a close eye on.

The Manhead EP and album is a combination of early and new Manhead tracks. With the EP already released, a heavy buzz is building on the album. According to Robi “I think it’s an album you can also listen to, but still has loads of dance influences!” Rumour has it that the album is both retro and yet modernly punk. Black Strobe-esque synth slabs and odd bass lines meet Italian disco pop. The album is yet another clear statement of Robi’s intent that Manhead remain a separate project to his Headman alias. “I want to bring the fun back" Robi avows. "It did get boring, all that six hours of DJing nonsense. Now there's more freedom: rock, dance, hip hop, whatever. I'm only interested in taking what I want from those genres, I've never separated any of them.” And his Dance Modern compilation on Eskimo Recordings, what are his thoughts on that? “I was really happy about the feedback! I wanted to make a nice fusion of tracks that I played in clubs for ages and some more unknown weirder stuff that was a big influence on my music. I have just been asked to do another one. So maybe also this year!”

Rewind, and it’s 2001 and Headman’s "It Rough" release on Gomma Records, did exactly what it said on the cover. A dirty, rough mash up of electro and rock influenced tracks that covered a mammoth of genres. How much of his success does Robi feel is owed to this release? “Hard question, I’m sure some people noticed it, together with the remix I did for Manila. That had a similar impact. It took a while that people really noticed…”, Robi replies. And notice they did. With Ewan Pearson’s name bandied around 2003 as the producer of the year, how does the same description sit with such a self-confessed (“I just always try to do the best I can”) perfectionist? Is there added pressure or does it just make picking and choosing projects that little bit easier? “I don’t know, I’m just trying to do my best when I do remixes. Somehow it’s nice but it’s also a bit dangerous, I don’t want be associated just with 04,” Robi affirms.

If the mid 90’s were about progressive house, the noughties so far it seems, are about minimal techno and electro and the genre’s within which Robi produces under both the Manhead & Headman monikers do strongly encompass electro influences. Whilst Electro has clearly made ground in the last 5 or 6 years, compared with early releases Robi says, “Now its not so exiting as it was then. Load of music is starting to get homogenic again. I'm interested in how a track sounds,” Robi insists. “I might work with computers, but I don't want anything that's clean or cheesy. It's all about feelings. There's no tracks referencing flowers or war. It's more conceptual than that.”

With the Manhead EP release, a Manhead album, a Headman album, possibly another Dance Modern compilation and various remixes under both guises all due in 2005, Jekyll/ Hyde, Manhead/Headman… whichever way you look at it the future is looking extremely bright for the artist currently known as Robi Insinna.