For the second release in their Nectar mix series, Orlando-based Agave Records have tapped Chicago DJ and producer Johnny Fiasco to lend his name and considerable talents to selecting, mixing, and remixing fourteen tracks of fresh and funky house music. Johnny's better known as Juan Lopez to his moms and his Latin roots definitely peek through in spots, as with the Mario Fabriani mix of Manuel Tur's "In The Ghetto" or Jason Merle's "Sound Bomber." But funk is definitely king on this project, and nowhere further out in front than the aptly-titled "Funkyard Junk" from Sound Republic that showcases sax licks that would make Maceo Parker proud, following nicely from the similarly jazzy sounds of Leon Louder's "Do It Again." Johnny is also not afraid just to let the bottom end drive the music – Eddie Leader's "The Pit" is a straightforward 4/4 pounder that segues in Mark Militano's "Think Of A Place" (and we have to believe the "F" in "F Thing RMX" is none other than our man Mr Fiasco) and then to Johnny's original track "Reflex," full of flexing synths and some hot-blooded conga action. The album lunges for the finish with the cool pulsations of Spettro's "Nothing Particular" and the almost glitchy Luckystars track "Swimming Under the Ice" before closing with a bang courtesy of a smokin' Jazzanova remix of Ian Pooley's "What's Your Number." Save this record for when the floor is full and you want to keep it that way – nectar is always sweeter when it's shared.
