*Compilation of The Month*
Whole 9 Yards, Vol. 1
Various Artists
Whole 9 Yards
Loaded with whopping tech-house and tight breaks, this hot comp of U.K.-produced work also veers onto the dark side of the dancefloor. Big winners: Dark Globe’s bomping breaker “Some Say She’s Retro” and d-n-b-ish “Arnica” (Teminalhead Remix), Rhythm Division’s searingly techy “Red Raw & Sore,” DJ Hyper vs. Dylan Rhymes’ insidious “Trigger” and Solid Ground’s unrelenting “Firefly.”
– Jim Tremayne

"When I Fell In Love 2001"
UBQ
Music Plant
Music Plant reaches back into its Vibe Music collection and drops a stunningly new version of “When I Fell in Love,” complete with remixes from Terry Hunter and Georgie Porgie. Hunter, of course, drops a soulful vocal house journey that is busy, yet has a nice sleekness and some very cool horn and keyboard work. His dub version gets deeper and comes through with an almost tech-house vibe. Georgie kicks a more anthemic style on his mix. But the most interesting mix is Stephen Mandrax’s “Phunky Club Mix.” With his almost Timo Maas-like vibe, Mandrax creates a bit of breakbeat/house with a seductive bassline as its foundation.
– Phil Turnipseed

"Strangle In My House"
Tamia
Elektra
Two slammin’ remixes – one from Thunderpuss, the other from Hex Hector – work the room equally well. For the dancefloor, this number is like the next generation of Deborah Cox. When you hear Tamia’s voice and see the reaction on the dancefloor, you will know exactly what I mean. Just remember how your floor reacted the first time they heard “Things Just Ain’t the Same.” A must have.
– Joe Bermudez

"Pleasure"
Mandel Turner
Captivating Records
This chunky new houser features four rugged mixes that are definitely on the deep tip. Bottom-heavy with gruff basslines and laced with a harmonic styled vocal hook, “Pleasure” will work your floor. Of the four mixes available, we’re definitely feeling the minimal taste of the “Automagic Superdub” and the filtered, uplifting vibe of the Freedom Sound Underground. Check that crazy synth loop on the latter mix – wild.
– Phil Turnipseed

"The Fields Of Love"
ATB Feat. York
Radikal
This Euro-house flamethrower is a sure-fire dancefloor hit with remixes by York and Darude. Check the Darude mix, which offers heavy synth sounds and just enough bassline to keep your feet moving.
– Michael Taylor

“Someone To Love Me”
La Rissa
Aureus
This highly polished radio charmer offers an addictive melody and a contagious bed of progressive dance rhythms. A frenzy of Spanish percussion on the “Latin Mix” will work your dancefloor.
– Peter A. Colón

Ritual
Noel Sanger
Sunrise
Producer/DJ Noel Sanger gets down and dirty on this tough 11-track continuous-mix CD thriller. With a deep, sturdy trance/tech-house vibe, the beats are clean, sharp and hypnotic throughout. Some standout cuts include Spanish Archer vs. Tilt’s “Beautiful Inside,” BT’s “Never Gonna Come Back Down,” Memmon’s hypnotic “Desire” and Sanger’s own pumping “Dissident.” All cuts are tailor-made for underground consumption.
– Phil Turnipseed

"I Believe"
Ricky Montanari
Azuli
This screaming vocal house record is already being blasted by the likes of David Morales and features mixes by the Pasta Boys. With a bassline from heaven and a hot diva turning out inspirational vocals, this import is a peak-hour crowd worker. Try to get your hands on one.
– Shawn Christopher

"My Love"
Kluster Feat. Ron Carroll
Filtered
Vocalist Ron Carroll gets serious on this filtered garage thriller. With a great vocal hook and a snazzy rhythm arrangement, this cut also features lots of great keyboard work and a pumping vibe. “My Love” delivers on all fronts. Carroll’s stirring performance gives this cut exactly what it needs – emotion. Remixer Jr. Jack drops both a phat vocal and an “Extra Filtered Dub” that not only sounds completely different from the vocal mix, but has the potential to be a bonafide club hit on its own. It has an infectious rhythm track and recalls a watered-down “Big Love.” It’s workin’.
– Phil Turnipseed

"Body Music" EP
Ashtar Afterhours
Plastic City
elivered here in a gorgeous new piece that contains five moody cuts. We’re feeling “Lite Of My Life,” a sexy, deep-house gem that features a sweet synth chord overlaid by another sweet synth hook. There’s also “Taeya vs. Gia Marie,” which also has that deep approach and vibe synth work.
– Phil Turnipseed

"Around The World (La La La La La)"
ATC
Universal
Right from the start, this out-of-the-box smash features an extremely addictive chorus that sparks the rest of the song. Along with its driving bell taps, thumping beat track and edgy string patches, “La La” has everything it takes to heat up a dancefloor and create a memorable impression.
– Peter A. Colón

Tech House Classics
Dave Mothersole
Eukahoused
This fierce tech-house set is full of sizzling grooves that showcase dance music’s fastest-growing genre. Compiled and mixed by Dave Mothersole, it is a journey into deep minimal beats, heavy hypnotic basslines and sexy, synth grooves. Aggressive without being offensive to the ears, this comp doesn’t include cuts you’ll hear on your local radio station, but they are certainly club essential in every way. Eleven tracks are featured and Mothersole’s flawless mixing is off the hook!
– Phil Turnipseed