1. BOOM featuring INAYA DAY - Hold Your Head Up High (Jeff Poirer/Marcello Holloway) - Following up on the success of the remix of "Keep Pushin'", Ms Day releases new mixes of her self-penned 1997 hit "Hold Your Head Up High". Jeff Poirer turns out a driving tribal monster while the Marcello Holloway mix has a more Thunderpuss kind of sound. Pumpin'!
2. GIPSY - Gipsy (Robbie Rivera) - For me, Robbie Rivera is a little hit and miss. But when he hits, he hits hard (ooh, daddy!). His Miami Dub of this track rocks. Driving beats, squiggly synths...at times, classic acid house; tension filled break-downs rising up to frenetic madness. Peaks and valleys baby, peaks and valleys. Absolutely brilliant!
3. 11TH AVENUE - Feel Much Better - Built around a vocal sample from the 2002 hit "At Night" by Shakedown, this mash-up crosses over between the filtered-house and the circuit sound. Peak-time monster!
4. GUSTO - Disco's Revenge (Laurent Wolf) - The original 1996 hit was based on a sample from Harvey Mason's "Groovin' You". It went on to rule the world. Well, it's back with new mixes, the best of which is the Laurent Wolf mix. Same infectious hook but with more energy. Floor-filler.
5. ROBBIE RIVERA - Which Way You're Going (Wally Lopez) - Hypnotic, trippy progressive-house. Trademark acid house touches over dreamy synths and percussion. Makes me all squishy.
6. ALICIA KEYS - Diary (Hani) - Taken from the CD "The Diary Of Alicia Keys", this track highlights Ms Keys' unique vocal style that makes her stand out from the rest of current R&B crowd. Hani's mix is the perfect accompaniment, letting the vocals breathe and never overpowering the track. Subtle and sublime.
7. ULTRA NATE - Free (Oscar G) - The original 1997 Full Intention mix of this track has got to be one of the all-time house classics. This new Oscar G (one half of the production and remix team Murk/Funky Green Dogs) mix is a driving, dubby version. Although it will never replace the original, it's a definate "must have".
8. MIRABEAU - Back From Outta Space - Already doing serious business in Europe, this filtered-house gem is built around a sample of Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive". Moody percussion and a nice keyboard hook along with the strings and vocals from the original make for a sweet, dreamy little number. Yummy!
9. RUSS CASTELLA - So Exotic - Not my usual cup-of-tea. Hard, fast and intense. Pounding drums and swirling synths with trippy female vocals. Dark and driving!
10. GADJO - So Many Times - Latin-flavoured filtered-house. The vocals and piano drive this track, but the timbale work takes it to another level. Excellent!
HONOURABLE MENTION:
ALYSON - What're You Gonna Do (Ralphi Rosario)
SUPERCHUMBO featuring CELEDA - Dirtyfilthy
AMBER - You Move Me (Mike Cruz)
HIKARU UTADA - Devil Inside (Scumfrog/Richard Vission)
RUPAUL - Looking Good, Feeling Gorgeous (Gomi)
JOSE NUNEZ - Bilingual
DEBBY HOLIDAY - Dive (Chris Cox)
KESHIA CHANTE - Bad Boy (Polarbabies)