Everyone wants more of Mauro.

IF you're in the hard and fast lane of dance music, the chances are you have Mauro Picotto, right, on your stereo.

In the last few years, the Italian DJ has forged a worldwide reputation for titanium trance, achieving hero status at Gatecrasher and Inside Out.

The DJ, once known as the Lizard Man after his habit of calling tracks after giant reptiles, has began a shift away from the excesses of Trance. Frustrated at the lack of development in the scene, Mauro is moving to a darker Techno sound. He says: "The quality of Trance has gone down a lot, but of course there are still good trance producers, but the majority are using the same formula as four or five years ago. Techno music is a lot more exciting and refreshing for me."

Since he first exploded on to the scene with Iguana'nearly four years ago, his reputation as a producer has also soared, leading Muzik magazine recently called him: `probably the most important producer in the world'.

Now Mauro, who recently left label BXR to concentrate on a new album, has an urge for underground sounds.

He says."I have had the chart success, but now I'm producing music for the real clubber. Credibility isn't the main issue, because I love my job and, to continue to do this, I must produce music I believe in." Sadly for the legions of Mauro's UK fans, he plans to cut back on his dates in this country, concentrating instead on the likes of Russian and Romania.

He says: "These are all traditionally techno territories and I'm really excited about playing new clubs."

Fans needn't be too despondent - Mauro has plans to start his own clubbing franchise, Meganite. Also the name of his new album, Meganite will pin Mauro down to four dates a year in countries around the world, including Scotland.

He says: " I know next year I will be in New York or Japan four times, instead of aimlessly travelling all over the world."

Mauro Plays Glam, Circus, Dundeetomorrow and Inside Out, Arches, Glasgow on Sat, December 28.