Minimal/Detroit/Chicago House

Yes, this is essentially a dance mix cd; literally one of millions previously released but the similarities with the norm end there. The Body Language series and the label Get Physical are at the forefront of the UK and European underground dance music scene. Synonymous for releasing minimal house of superlative quality the GP crew went out on a limb, broke with the norm to England's Jesse Rose in to mix Vol. 3. A wise move. The first two mix cd's were excellent and this is no different, featuring some of the best tracks of the moment including the awesomely jaw dropingly original 'Your all over my head' by Rose himself. BC

ROCK N ROLL / BLUES

 

Little Barrie is back with a second album where he sets himself a high standard indeed. New to his crew is Blues Explosion drummer Russell Simins, whose hi hat trickery bolsters the band and punctuates each lyric in this beat driven blues. First track 'Boiling Out' is in their words 'a bastardised bo diddley,' which sets an insistent pace for the LP and catapults you into grimy rock n roll number 'Love You.' The album somehow straddles both jump-up and come-down vibes and will take you along through its ten assured tracks irresistibly. Genius. JJ

Electro House

 

This is offering number five from tireless electro house trio Gus Gus and my days does it shine bright. Throwing down ‘Moss,’ a track by Daniel Agust, is a genius manoeuvre to bolster Earth's vocals, while disco diva Pall Oskar lends her Galazxy smooth tongue to the awesome 'Need In Me,' a tune which demands some serious hands-in-the-air action and takes you back with just the right chords. 'If You Don’t Jump' flirts with rusted guitar samples from 80s Icelandic punk band Purrkur Pillneck and takes you right by the throat. All you have to do now is wait for the remixes. Bring it! JJ

DJ Hell

House

 

DJ Hell has taken over mixing duties from Tiefschwarz and Freeform Five for the third instalment of this soon to be classic series. Hell is a powerful force in house music and has made a big contribution to the emergence of the German house music scene as DJ, producer and label boss of International Deejay Gigolo Records. With two mixes on offer, Disc 1 characterises Hell's production with dark, primal, vocal-free almost soulless electronic house, whereas Disc 2 offers an eclectic mix from his own remixes from artists as diverse as Justice to Grace Jones. DF