Shhh! be quite Masters are at work. Lil Louis Vega and Kenny Dope put it down in a serious fashion on this 2CD collection. Let it be known that Lil Louis and Kenny Dope are the Kings of House undisputed. And for all those who don’t know go out and get this CD and get to know. For those already initiated in the ways of the Masters go out and buy the CD and just bask in the music and the capacities of your already enlightened musical knowledge.
CD 1 is the Kenny Dope disc and it is deep House, hypnotic and thumping but executed properly as only a master could, so it is not sleep inducing. The classic ‘7 Ways To Make You Jack’ featuring Hercules is an all out declaration of dancefloor mastery. Hercules who sounds somewhat like Baron Samedi from the James Bond film Live and Let Die is enticing you to ‘lose control’ and ‘lose your soul’ and ‘jack’ in group setting. It all sounds rather sordid and Baccalian to me but nevertheless you will get up and shake it all around sooner rather than later because Hercules commands ‘you will move’. Of a similar high quality is ‘I Wanna See you Freak (Like Dis)’ by Cassio Ware, Chip E and The O.G.’s this is Prince meets the Kings of House on a hot sexy Miami club dance floor and thankfully without too much of the unsophisticated touch of the contemporary Hip-Hop generation. Dirty and sultry with a piercing thud of a bassline, ‘I Wanna See You Freak’ is perfect for getting well and truly liberated on the dancefloor in the company of others of a similar mindset. But remember whatever happens on the dancefloor stays on the dancefloor, right?
Lil Louis Vega keeps it extra sexy on CD2. It is sweaty soundtrack for sweaty, half clothed, heaving bodies on the dancefloor in the early hours of the morning. This is for the grown and sexy full stop. Or just as useful for me while I’m doing my hovering. There are many great track on this CD for example ‘Your Love’ by Frankie Knuckles Featuring Jamie Principle uses the instantly recognisable Candi Staton ‘You Got The Love’ backing track but it is breathy and sensual think Madonna Justify My Love without all the contrived desire to shock. Robert Owens ‘I’ll Be Your Friend’ is as spellbinding and enticing as ever. Standing the test of time as a classic piece of House music ‘I’ll Be Your Friend’ is able to move old and young House heads in equal measure.
If there is one negative about this compilation it is that there is none of the goddess and vocal tour de force that is La India. There is none of the MAW material featuring India included on these CD’s. I suppose they can save that for Kings of House Volume 2.
Release Date: 22nd August 2005
Record Label: K7 Records
Words By: Rachel Webb
