Artist: Various Artists
Album: TRAXX The House That Garage Built
Label: Needwant
Release Date: 25/03/2013
Let's bite back the music journalist over-analytical verbal diarrhea here and say that the best bit about TRAXX: House That Garage Built compilation is that it's great fun to dance to and you will recognise heaps of songs. That's not to in anyway diminish the time taken by London based label Needwant in carefully selecting tracks which capture the evolution of a New York and New Jersey House sound through modern UK house and Garage revival filters. At a time when dance music is mainstreaming in a big way, it's important to put the word (and the beats) out about the rich and varied history it has and I'm all for these waves of disco nostalgia, garage resurrections and whatever else is about to fall out of the rave attic (roll on 90s banging trance). Nevertheless, there's something about the unstoppable bounce and friendly textures of this neo-garage house style that just makes my brain switch off and my body want to jump around.
Tracks roll through at a cracking pace, the majority only getting on average four minutes airtime, which contributes to the high energy of this compilation. It's a star-studded line up as far as this scene is concerned, with Ben Pearce's much loved modern deep house tune What I Might Do getting an upbeat garage makeover from Harry Wolfman, the George Fitz classic Like a Child appearing as a NY Stomp remix, Dusky slotting in with Flo Jam and, of course, future garage poster boys Disclosure represented by a Medlar remix of their track Boiling. It's a tie for album highlight, between Breach's You Won't Find Love Again and Rhythm Operator's Anytime, which also made the cut of Spotlight's Top Ten Tunes Of March.
On the whole, TRAXX: House That Garage Built features young and fresh producers putting modern twists on a very retro sound, feeding the growing trend of cross-pollination between genres ... but most importantly it provides a playful playlist that's going to get absolutely rinsed at house parties across the UK. Enjoy.
Tracklist:
01. HNNY – For The Very First Time
02. Ben Pearce – What I Might Do (Harry Wolfman Remix)
03. Dusky – Flo Jam
04. Rhythm Operator – Anytime
05. Disclosure – Boiling (Medlar Remix)
06. Rhode & Brown & Marc Shegg – Joyride
07. Huxley – Can't sleep
08. Washerman – Soulsearch
09. Ejeca – Horizon
10. Breach – You Won't Find Love Again
11. The Real Connoisseur – Faux De Baux
12. George Fitzgerald – Child (NY Stomp Remix)
13. The Mekanism – Body Classic
14. Purple Velvet – Never Do You Wrong
15. Rachel Row – Follow The Step (Trikk Remix)
16. Tomson & Benedict – Switch
17. Citizen – Worship + Tribute (Your Love)
