COMPILATIONS REVIEWS
Spirit Catcher
Above & Beyond
Coast2Coast
Anjunadeep 01
NRK Music
Anjunadeep
Raving or drowning?
Faultless feel-good grooves
Whilst others might be dipping their toes into
Just a few years back, it looked like feel-good
the supposed deep house revival, the Spirit
melodies and credible dance music had
Catcher duo of Jean Vanesse and Thomas
divorced for good. Techno was either k-hole
Sohet have been swimming further out there
psychedelia or jackhammer rhythms, house
than most through their releases on 20/20
all bump and groove whilst trance collapsed
Vision and Systematic. But on this instalment
into meaningless e-fodder. Thankfully, things
in NRK’s ‘Coast2Coast’ series the Belgians
changed and just as artists like Gui Boratto
venture so far out there that they lose sight of
and Eric Prydz brought sunshine chords back
the dancefl oor.
to house and techno, Above & Beyond used
Indeed, after a brilliantly groovy start with
their sway with the trance masses to explore
Soul Designer and Raiders Of The Lost ARP,
their own groove fusions through their
the middle of this CD ends up feeling like the
Anjunadeep imprint. Progressing through
longest half hour since you had to sit through
deliciously haunting rises, deep chuggers,
school assembly, with tracks from Johnny D
aquatic tech groovers and effortlessly gliding,
and Leif splashing aimlessly in a fl at sea of
cosmic numbers, this double CD proves just
minimal beats and occasional squelches.
why James Zabiela, the SOS boys and Laurent
Still, the fi nal trio of Moodymanc, Johnjon
Garnier have all taken notice and given trance
and Carl Craig’s remix of Tribe’s ‘Livin’ In A
(of sorts) a chance too.
New Day’ are a welcome lifeline of energy, just
Admittedly, the Oceanlab vocals on ‘Breaking
about keeping the whole thing afl oat as well
Ties’ might crinkle the odd cringe, and certain
MONE
Y
as the listener awake. Paul Clarke
tracks are just classic prog reborn, but the
SHO
T! clean uplift of both production and emotion
can’t help but raise a smile. Allan McGrath
Commix
Fabriclive44
Fabric
Mood music from
Metal-
headz Midas men
Darren Emerson Fly Girls
GU36: Bogota
Soul Jazz
For a genre that has given us institutions
Global Underground
like 4 Hero’s Reinforced and Goldie’s All ladies and no tramps
Metalheadz, d&b has long been guilty of
selling such heritage short in search of Calibre’s vocal tech-roller ‘Can’t Get Over
South American techno adventures
In some ways, this compilation celebrating
quick fi x dancefl oor smashers. But whilst You’, they’re moments that will last and the best female rappers is quite a depressing
its bass descendent dubstep has been tak- endure — tracks that take you some-
Emerson’s third mix for Global Underground
listen. For when Missy Elliott and Bahamadia
ing the plaudits of late, an underground where — rather than simple high impact
opens with the haunting tones of the
are the most up-to-date artists it does make
renaissance has been brewing within explosions.
Underworld opus ‘Mmm Skyscraper…I Love
you wonder where — with honourable excep-
d&b’s more experimental corners. Always tempering the light with darker
You’. Disc two concludes with the full and una-
tions like the excellent Yo! Majesty — any
Applying old school DJ philosophies to dips, Commix still move into more hazard-
bridged version of the same track. Aside from
lady MCs who could come close to touching
this deeply futuristic mix, the Metalheadz ous territory through Data’s doom-ridden
the obvious sense of continuity, Emerson’s
the likes of JJ Fad or Princess MC are now.
outfi t Commix have crafted a varied ride ‘The Causeway’ and Lynx & Alix Perez’s
choice of bookend says something about his
Certainly not on MTV Base.
through richly textured moods rather than ‘Dangerous’ but, as always, it is still depth
journey to this point.
But even if that had been around during
a simple selection of one-dimensional fi rst, dancefl oor second.
It is a journey that has taken in three decades,
the early ‘80s era from which most of these
bangers. Inspiring in its futuristic aesthetic, the
one of the greatest dance bands of our time
tracks are culled, you doubt any of these girls
Their own productions feature, including mix is still respectful to the golden past
and three mixes for Global Underground. In
would have been seen writhing around on
the crisp opening chords and delighful thanks to an atmospheric XL original
Bogota Emerson has a city of unpredictability
it, preferring to win respect for the depth of
stepping bass of ‘Life We Live’, which con- from Jonny L, Breakage sounding like old
and excitement and his mix captures that
their rhymes rather than the depth of their
trasts with the restless energy within their Reinforced product on ‘Old School Ting’
essence perfectly as a sea of cascading pads,
cleavage. That said, ‘depressed’ is the last
gargantuan dub stepper ‘Bear Music’. and Photek’s offbeat spectral jazz classic
chugging basslines, epic breakdowns and
thing you feel when Sweet Tee, Queen Latifah
Yet the one thing that unites both their ‘Yendl’.
unpredictable drops play out a captivating
or Sequence are in full fl ow, spitting out lyrics
own contributions and the tracks they But ultimately it is the window into the
dance.
with a skill that puts any misogynistic male
blend is that deep dreamboat vibe — that new d&b innovations of acts like dBridge
Those expecting the next instalment to Emer-
MCs fi rmly in their place. Another killer selec-
mood invoking sense of journey. and Instra:Mental that inspire and excite
son’s ’01 GU Singapore CD may be surprised at
tion from the Soul Jazz crew.
Whether it is the whispering vocal the most. A new future for d&b? The stage
the lack of fl uidity but should also be charmed
Paul Clarke
phantoms that haunt Alix Perez’s ‘The is set and, right now, Commix are com-
by a diverse mix that goes direct for the
Reckoning’ or the dark US garage vibes of manding it. Alex C
jugular. Simon Kelly
092
www.djmag.com
DJ470.compilations.indd 92 19/1/09 19:21:12
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