Living in Berlin as we do, it’s nearly impossible to find a weekend with nothing good happening. Whether your tastes run toward esoteric DIY events or massive mainstream raves, this is a city where the phrase ‘nightlife’ encompasses quite a few meanings. Gods know, we have a story or two to tell, and we’re sure you do too—after all, Berlin isn’t the center of the universe (stay tuned for our readers’ notes on their hometowns to get the scoop on that) and there’s a plenty of options for the international clubber seeking something truly special—or, at the very least, a big loud box to provide a sonic diversion. When we asked you where you spent your weekends (and occasionally chunks of the weekday), you had plenty to tell us.

Last year your favorite venues were A38, Berghain, The Silent Barn, Millenáris Teátrum, and the sadly-departed Raum. This year started with a reversal of fortunes for last year’s first and second place winners…

1. Berghain/Panorama Bar 

Whether you go there for the multi-day, mind-bending parties featuring some of the world’s most celebrated DJs, or for the variety of live concerts that run the gamut from John Maus to Godflesh, Berlin’s Berghain (and its house-flavored sister club Panorama Bar) is widely considered the best party spot on Earth. It even prompted the development of a controversial “How To Get In” app, though if you actually need such a thing, you probably shouldn’t be there in the first place.

2. A38

Coming up second this year is the Budapest party-boat, and the stunning Danube location combined with the amount of interesting live acts (when else are you going to have a chance to see The Tiger Lillies on a freakin’ boat?) make it one of Europe’s most notable locations for locals and tourists alike.

3. Pratersauna

This artist-run Vienna club was formerly a sauna, but now the hottest thing about it is the wide variety of killer DJs who frequent the decks (apologies for that pun; an uncle wrote this) as well as the cultural events that happen in their art space. Their outdoor deck even has a pool—a vital necessity when you’ve been chemically motivated on the dance floor for the last seven hours.

4. Trouw 

There’s just something so appealing about repurposing industrial spaces in the name of nightlife. Situated in a massive former newspaper printing facility, Trouw’s rotating blend of high-intensity DJs make it an excellent place to lose yourself for a night or three in Amsterdam. It even has a restaurant, so there’s no need to go hunting off-premises for things to keep your energy up (food, we mean). If you need more info, we even did a Slices special on it—so you know it’s quality.

5. Culture Box 

The grittiness of this Denmark club is balanced nicely with it’s high-class sound system and the equally classy acts who use it. The perfect place to wind down after wandering around the nearly-model city of Copenhagen (though we prefer the beauty of the houses of anarcho-community Christiania ourselves). ~

Click here for more results from our 2013 Readers’ Poll.

Last year, Austrian electro outfit HVOB went viral thanks to the Beatport charts, where they made it on number 4 with their Dogs EP. This was swiftly followed by coverage on a number of respected music blogs and, of course, a stunning live set at last year’s Electronic Beats Festival in Vienna. Now the time has come for their first proper album release, which is released tomorrow through Oliver Koletzki‘s easy-tech imprint Stil Vor Talent. We spoke with vocalist Anna Müller for a quick catch-up. Click the pre-stream at the bottom of the page to listen to their mix of sleek beats and sultry voice. We also have three copies of the new album on CD to give away; email us at community@electronicbeats.net with the subject “HVOB” and your name and address in the details. The first three respondents win. Finally don’t forget to check the new Slices DVD for a very special HVOB feature – available March 20.

How did you get signed on Oliver Koletzki’s Stil Vor Talent imprint?
We met Oliver last year at Pratersauna, a club in Vienna. He listened to the snippets on Soundcloud and signed us. It all happened so quickly, because Oliver shares our philosophy as to how a label and a band should collaborate: Oliver supports us wherever he can, but leaves the creative process entirely up to us. He trusts us, and we trust him.

You debut album is out tomorrow, what are your expectations?
Nothing. I have absolutely no expectations, but I wish that people will listen to it. We’re incredibly grateful for our first year, but all we’ve done is made a good start.

How’s the Vienna music scnene, and do you feel a part of it?
The electronic music scene in Vienna is defenitely competitive with the other main cities in Europe, and has a lot of different aspects to show. Just to name a few internationally very successful artists—like Dorian Concept, Elektro Guzzi, Wolfram—or the local club culture, which got two clubs voted in the top 10 by De:Bug’s readers poll 2012. We are very familiar with the Pratersauna crew and are glad to be part of it. We are working together with their VJs lichterloh.tv—videos and visuals are always produced by them. It’s hugely important to us that these things are always produced by the same people, because for HVOB, the music and visuals are inextricably linked.~

HVOB‘s self-titled debut album is out tomorrow in Germany, UK release in April via Stil vor Talent

We know Marlene Stefanie Engel from the work she did for Soundframe Festival and recently for some of the most exciting nights Vienna has ever seen. Marlene organized the first show of Jacques Green, Disclosure and Kidnap Kid in Vienna, and yesterday she even rattled the pots and pans at the delectable new restaurant Zweitbester.

As far as we’re concerned, this is more than enough to declare this girl officially awesome. But on top of it all, she’s gone and started a label! It’s called Moun10, and their first release – an EP by the UK band Rounds – will be out on March 30th 2012. It features four tracks and two remixes, including one by L.A. producer Anenon, (whose first album will be out later this year on NON Projects) and another by Viennese veteran Fauna.

And of course, there’s going to be a release party. We’d advise you not to miss it!

Moun10 Release Party
March 30th 2012, Pratersauna
xxxy, Rounds, IVVVO and many more

Is February Austrian Awareness Month? It is if you’re in Pratersauna! The guys from the Austria club have dedicated all of February to local club music. That means for one moth every artist playing at the club is rooted in Austria, no matter which nationality his passport shows. This is a nice way to say “Fuck you “ to nationalism on the one hand, and on the other hand a good thing when it comes to the ecological footprint. But we already proved the point in the last few weeks, when we did short interviews and features on Wolfram, Herb Piper, Ken Hayakawa, Makossa & Megablast, Dorian Concept, Ogris Debris, Elektro Guzzi, Luv Shack Records and many more.

If you’re in Austria during the next three weeks, you should definitely pay the Pratersauna a visit!