DJ Beej - The Big Bang

It's hard to know how to react when the first thing you see on the cover of a Mix CD is a lot of voluptuous ladies fawning over the DJ. Most of the time it makes me think 'generic tracks- compensating with promise of butts and breasts.' It happens a lot with shirtless guys too in the world of dance compilations, which I'm sure you're aware of as well. But with DJ Beej, out of L.A., the cheesecake is incidental. The fifteen tracks on his CD explore the intersections of house, trance, progressive, and epic laser records, all the while keeping the vibe kind of sleazy and inviting.

Beej may headline the Pimp 'n Ho parties, but his relationship with the listener is far less mercenary, guiding the novitiate into some great tracks. Shockwave's "Missing The Beat" could be a next-millennium mutation of Propaganda's "Dr. Mabuse," and the Warp Brothers' "Cokane" has some moist and delicious tempo shifts to keep the proceedings spicy. Beej, judging by this record, understands the need for variety and evolution in a mixed set. My only complaint has to do with the Nightwatchers' cover of Faithless' "Insomnia.

" Anyone other than Maxi Jazz trying to tackle the lyrics to that song just sounds ridiculous, but that's more a problem with the original artist.

Booty may abound in the inside photos (and 'Steamy Photo Shoot DVD' available to those who buy the disc), but what is encoded on the CD is some of the finest in international and domestic indie trance and progressive house, and here's looking forward to more from DJ Beej.

Listen to samples from DJ Beej - The Big Bang
The Reaper - George Acosta WMA / RA
The Pressure - E-Ject WMA / RA
Harder They Come - Target WMA / RA
Missing The Beat - Shockwave WMA / RA
Remember The Day - Jens O WMA / RA
Cokane - Warp Brothers WMA / RA
Ignition - DJ Spoke WMA / RA
Insomnia - Nightwatchers WMA / RA
They Are Somewhere Out In The Space - Chapter & Page WMA / RA
Eriel - Marc La Cruz/Ace Da Brain (Marc La Cruz mix) WMA / RA
No Sleep - Mikado WMA / RA
Oder Braucht - Rave Allstars WMA / RA
Pho - Sioux WMA / RA
Free - Starsplash WMA / RA
Can U Dig It? - Jamx & Deleon WMA / RA