Search - Various Artists :: DJ Kicks: The Exclusives

Trumpeting the virtues of DJ Kicks

Jennifer Warner | Raves.com, CA United States | 05/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My reviewer Yuri had nothing but praises in his 5 star review he wrote for Raves.com/Djfix.com: "I trumpet the virtues of Fabric's line of DJ mix CDs all the time for their diversity, celebrating the myriad of electronic music styles. But let's give credit where its due: !K7's DJ Kicks series really kickstarted the idea. The talent that's mixed these compilations (which are correspondingly released with killer vinyl packs of the unmixed tracks - are we paying attention here, Fabric?) is amazing: Smith & Mighty, Tiga, Nightmares on Wax and Andrea Parker to name but an oh-so select few. The whole series was started off by CJ Bolland in 1995, so DJ Kicks: The Exclusives sort of marks an anniversary of sorts, collecting together 14 tracks from past compilations that have helped make the series an institution. And one that doesn't play favorites, either. There's a little something on this unmixed CD (go DJ!) for everyone. For downtempo, check out work by Kruder & Dorfmeister (see the murky jazz of "Black Baby"), Terranova and D.C.'s Thievery Corporation, with the laidback and sundrenched funkiness of "It Takes a Thief." For a little touched by the ‚80s pop, check Tiga's now classic cover of Nelly with "Hot in Herre," some two-step from Vikter Duplaix, mysterious Playgroup electrofunk, synthetic pleasures from Erlend Oye, indie-rocktronic style from the Glimmers, Annie's Scandinavian pop and good ‚ol techno from Detroit legend Carl Craig. Thanks !K7; I think we all needed that reminder of just how hard your compilations do kick.""