For most, Alcachofa is where "Ricardo Villalobos" began. A little known DJ and producer with a few solid tracks to his name in 2003, there were few indications that there would soon be a 3 x 12-inch release on Playhouse that would help change the course of electronic music. After a few years of playing the game as it should be played, however, Villalobos let his freak flag fly in full view on Alcachofa. It was a revelation in both imagination and scope. It was a question. "How out there can we go and still make people dance?" And an answer. "This far...for now." "For now" meant that there were ever-so-slight concessions to the masses. You would never hear the desiccated voice of "Easy Lee" nor would things ever get quite as easy as "Dexter" in a Villalobos track ever again. But the particular genius of Alcachofa is that you only realized that things like "Easy Lee" and "Dexter" were anthems after you listened to them for the second, third or 15th time. It's a nearly impossible trick, making tracks that kept you dancing but which still give up new secrets each time that you hear them. Seven years later, we're still hearing things. – Todd L. Burns