So much
music, so little space! It’s a hard job but someone has to do it as
yet again another month of compilations are rounded up. And as usual
we’ll start it off slowly so as not to give any of our older readers
a heart attack! And what could be more cruisy then the ‘Ministry of
Sound Chillout Sessions 3’? CD 1 is definitely poolside listening
with many down-tempo and acoustic mixes of tracks that have been
buzzing around our heads for the last few months. In fact, this CD
runs the A-Z of chillout out with everything from Air’s All I
Need to Zero 7’s Destiny covered. CD 2, while still
relaxed, is on a house tip and definitely dance floor material with
some of the original mixes of Xpress 2’s Lazy, DB boulevard’s
Point of View and Love Story by Layo & Bushwacka!
all finding their way onto the latest MOS Chillout Sessions.
Keeping
it on the house tip, Chalet Soiree out on Hussle Recordings does the
business with an evocative, soulful compilation perfect for fireside
listening. CD 1 is mixed by Shamus and includes some of the best
discoed up, cruisy house you’re likely to hear with Julie McKnight’s
Home (Knee deep club mix) a high point. Other remixes by Full
Intention and Wok Institute ensure plenty of toe-tapping goodness.
Declan Lee’s CD has a slightly harder, more driving sound to it as
demonstrated by The Chemical Brothers Come With Us (H-Foundation
mix) and the Different Gear mix of It’s Love (Trippin) by
Goldtrix. However, it still maintains the funk to round out a highly
enjoyable compilation that is less commercial than the big name house
compilations you’re likely to hear.
And how
can we talk about house without mention Erick Morillo’s ‘Subliminal
Sessions 3’ out on EQ. A 3 CD compilation, CD 1 eases the listener
in with well known house tracks by Basement Jaxx, Goldtrix and Layo
& Bushwacka. CD contains a much harder, dirtier tech-house sound
with Adam Beyer and FC Kahuna tracks a case in point. CD 3 brings the
pace back down with a number of classic soulful numbers including
Panyard’s Song on My Mind. A compilation that will be loved
by all fans of house music due, in part, to its diversity although I
believe the previous two ‘Subliminal Sessions’ CDs were slightly
better.
The
breaks scene is exploding in Australia and nothing captures this trend
better than the ‘If It Aint Broken, Don’t Fix It!’ compilation
out on AKA records. Some of Australia’s best nu skool breaks artists
are featured including Pure Tone’s (aka Josh Abraham) Addicted To
Bass, EK’s dark and foreboding Tomorrow and Nubreed’s
equally dark and bassey Hardarse. My favourite track on this
compilation is Metal Hit by Soundlab. More dancefloor friendly
and uplifting than many of the inclusions, it would make a great
single in its own right as a showpiece for nuskool breaks. If you’ve
been wanting to find out more about this Nuskool breaks stuff for a
while, this varied compilation may be the perfect starting point.
Keeping
it in Australia, one of the most novel compilations out in recent
memory is ‘Variations to a Theme’ released by Sony. Australia’s
best electronic artists take on the challenge of reworking some of
televisions most memorable theme songs. While the CD is a very hit and
miss affair, it has some great moments including the funky, electro
styled Creepin (Knight Rider) by Fatt Derx featuring Trey.
Another standout is Angel Dusting by The Baggsmen (formerly the
Hive). It is an orchestral sounding drum & bass track inspired by
‘Charlie’s Angels’. And not to be left out is Brewster B’s
rumbling, breaks meets marching music creation entitled Sergeant
Schultz’ Nughtmare. You guessed it…inspired by Hogan’s
Heroes.
Returning
overseas but with a local flavour is ‘World in Progress’ mixed by
Pako and Frederick and out on EQ. This progressive house CD includes
tracks by Melbourne’s Luke Chable and Digby & Oliver ensuring
Australia stays at the forefront of the worldwide scene. This is a
journey in the true sense of the word with Paul Rogers Lazy Monday
an atmospheric, melodic masterpiece before Minilogue takes us deeper
and darker with Deep Motions. Never content to just ‘bang it
out’ like so many progressive compilations end up doing, the mix
ends with Ariane’s (a guise of James Holden) Eternity; a
harmonious finale which completes the circle and brings the mix back
to the chilled out, groove-layered territory as it began.
There
are only three certainties in life: death, taxes and a Ministry of
Sound compilation to be released just in time for my compilation
roundup (and in this case two). ‘Clubbers Guide to Ibiza’ has no
DJ name attached to it but instead allows the music to do the talking.
And as it contains 40 of the hottest trance and house tracks from
recent months, why not? While, as is the norm for a MOS compilation,
both CDs are made up of commercial floor-fillers, this does not mean
that many of the tracks are not fantastic in their own right. CD 1 is
trance heaven with heavyweights such as Ian Van Dahl, Ferry Corsten,
Tiesto, Mauro Picotto and Airwave all featured. CD 2 has a more housey
feel but is equally big with recent hits by Moony, Raven Maize,
Starchaser, Basement Jaxx and PaulMac showcasing the style MOS is so
well known for.
Terry
Goldfain
