Welcome back to the world of , but this time we can come in from the Winter Chill and begin the ‘twisted Journey into the darker side of house’?
The brand offers the usual diverse 2 CD collection, the usual exceptional artwork but unusually this time, they could have saved on time and packaging as CD 1 did very little to excite me. With the exception of the engaging Tiefschwarz Dub Mix of Spektrum’s ‘Kinda New’, a dirty, industrial beat reminiscent of ‘Flatbeat’ teamed with some cheeky schoolyard chanting that got me tapping my feet; and Dylan Rhymes featuring Katherine Ellis telling us all to get a ‘SALTY!!???’ (Yes, ‘SALTY’, make of it what you will), I may have used CD 1 as a rather ornate coaster.
However, to counteract some of the rather bland offerings on CD 1, the second CD demonstrates the funkier side of this house journey. Yer Man’s catchy dance ditty ‘Weird Therapy’ is an arty little piece which captured me completely. I am now using the lyrics as my mantra - ‘It doesn’t mean I’m weird, and it doesn’t mean I need to be in therapy!’ Also included is a bold remix of Mousse T’s ‘Right About Now’ by Gaudino and Jenna which keeps prodding you until you have to get up and dance. This is a remix that works, it adds to Mousse T’s production and it revitalises the original track making use of Emma Lanford’s vocals rather than making them secondary to the remixers creative ego. Bravo! Another notable inclusion is ‘Flashdance’ by Deep Dish which reached #2 in the national charts in November 2004 indicating that lyrics do not always go by the wayside in mass consumed dance music.
But the highlight of this compilation for me is ‘Feel It’ by veteran French DJ/Producer Antoine Clamaran featuring uplifting gospel vocals from Lulu Hughes. This is layers of music, funky gospel house on top of a thumping baseline and rockin’ electric guitars. This song inspired me so much that my advice to you is as follows. When the ONE true day of summer eventually arrives this year, go out driving in your car, to any open air space (you may prefer to be alone or in the company of strangers), take a big ol’ ghetto blasting CD player, put this tune on, turn it up loud, then dance and sing at the top of your lungs like a headcase after too many sugar cubes. However, if you get arrested for disturbing the peace blame , Antoine Clamaran, Lulu Hughes, the sunshine - BUT NOT ME. They may have bail money to get you out of the cells, I won’t. Or better still quote Yer Man. Tell P.C. Plod, your neighbours and the people who have stopped to have a good gawp…‘It doesn’t mean I’m weird, and it doesn’t mean I need to be in therapy! You know what it means? It means it feels really good!’ I digress….
This is an inconsistent collection of dance fuelled house which won’t have you dusting of your John Travolta moves, but it might get you intermittently flinging your limbs uncontrollably for a minute or two.
Release date: 28th March 2005
Words By Rachel Webb
