Arguably one of the more important dance DJs in the United States, with accomplishments that include a long-standing residency at legendary New York City radio station WKTU (The Beat of New York), a devoted following at the hottest nightclubs on the east coast, and a slew of successful compilation CD releases over the last few years, The Riddler is an authority on most things dance. I will stand by the DJ who has comic book-like superpowers (minus the mask), as any loyal fan should, through both the good times and the bad. Unfortunately for Rich Pangilinan, aka The Riddler, times are tough…
The man behind the name has had a long and successful career as a dance DJ. Starting life in Chicago; it should have come as no surprise when he dropped traditional instruments such as the piano and the trumpet (both of which he is extremely talented with), and after meeting Bad Boy Bill, took his place behind the decks. Riddler has experienced some of the highest accolades that a Jj in the United States can attain, such as Billboard reporting status in several different markets in Texas, and catching the eye of Clear Channel Programming zeitgeists, who asked him to join the on air team at WKTU in 2000.
Club Anthems 3 (Ultra US), mixed by DJ Riddler, had the right idea in mind: Take the hottest music, which has burned up both the clubs and the radio from coast to coast, and a respected DJ like The Riddler, toss the mix against the wall, and hope it sticks. Behind the scenes, however, it's a balancing act of what the DJ wants and what the record label can give him/her, which doesn't usually end up being the same thing.
With any really great DJ mix, there is a certain vibe, a flow which sets that DJ apart from others, and it seemed to be missing from Club Anthems 3. As my local grocery store just ran out of 'hater'aide, let me highlight some of the good stuff, and back off about what didn't quite make the grade. Included on CA3 are a handful of really powerful songs that will make your heart beat and your feet move, even when the vibe is lacking.
Filterfunk-SOS (Delano & Crocket), is a remix of a cover of the Police's SOS (Message in a Bottle), which I have yet to hear. Different versions of the track hit the dance world hard this summer. This particular remix has a sinful filtered bass loop, which adds even more heat to a track that was already smoking. Mynt's newest track 'You're the Only One' is also featured on CA3, and with the legendary Al B. Rich powering the remix, it's well received.
I was given an opportunity this summer to see Cascada perform, in an environment that suits them the best. The Sacramento Music Festival played host to globally recognized electronic music artists and DJs. Cascada, Keoki, Ian Van Dahl, Sandra Collins, and Baby Anne, just to name a few. We had time to see Cascada rock the main stage, before the cops shut the all night event down. 1500 Candy Kidz can't be wrong. The performance was great and the music a serious crowd pleaser. 'Every time We Touch' was a smash hit for Cascada, and a great way to round out the mix on Club Anthems 3. I'll almost guarantee you'll end up doing the same thing I did… BOB YOUR HEAD (oh yeah you wanna rock!?)
It is an unfortunate thing that DJs don't have as much control over what music ends up in a compilation release. When a DJ is personally invested in the music that they are playing, it really has an effect on the end results of the mix. You can hear the results of that situation on Club Anthems 3. Although the music is favorable, the product isn't as highly charged as the name implies.
