:: Various Artists - Alumbra In The House

Various Artists

The UK’s premier house imprint has teamed up with Melbourne’s revered Alumbra club for an Australian-only double CD compilation and the result is - as you’d expect when two successful things go together - yet another success. Throw in UK heavyweight production duo Copyright and Australia’s own underrated DJ-producer DJ Jorj on mix duties and Australian House fans have all of a sudden got an upfront collection of both classic Defected anthems and brand new bombs from the world’s premier producers. Clearly signalling their international expansion intentions, Defected are now actively expanding throughout mainland Europe, Asia and Australia by targeting select clubs and DJ-Producers for partnerships in the way of Defected In The House events or - like in this case - linking with clubs to promote an exclusive compilation. Perhaps Copyright’s own Sam Holt said it best in a recent interview with Mediasearch. ‘Defected wanted to reach out and do a few territory-specific compilations in countries. I think it’s something that going to happen in a few other territories where there’s some partnerships with some good clubs, we can get some good residencies going and just try and build from the ground up like that.’

Following a similar release in Japan late last year, it seems the independent label is really hitting its straps and we can conceivably look forward to Defected and Strictly Rhythm having a much larger presence here in Australia in years to come, a prospect that will no doubt have any discerning ‘Head smiling. But onto this new Alumbra In The House release. Mixing CD1 are Defected label darlings Copyright. They rocked both Alumbra and Sydney’s Arthouse during their whirlwind two date tour here last month, and also made an in-store appearance in Melbourne to promote the release. Their mix on CD1 is an upfront selection of the latest cuts to drop on both Defected and Strictly Rhythm. Miami tunes feature heavily, including Copyright’s own latest dancefloor destroyers ‘Wizeman’ featuring Imaani and ‘Shake Shit Up’ featuring Mr V and Miss Patty. Elsewhere, Sandy Rivera’s Kings Of Tomorrow production outfit come correct with the beautiful, piano-laden ‘Can’t Stop’, while Dutch duo Hardsoul also feature with their track ‘Self Religion (Believe In Me)’, here given the Copyright Edit treatment. House mainstayers Quentin Harris, Conan Liquid, Marlon D and DJ Gregory also feature on CD1, making it an overall tight package, benefiting obviously by Copyright’s tight mixing skills and smooth flow. CD2, mixed by Melbourne’s own massively-talented DJ Jorj, is a collection of past Defected classics. The Melbourne-based DJ-producer and Alumbra resident has released some fantastic cuts on Jon Cutler’s Distant Music imprint, Sir Piers Curious label and Germany’s Knee Deep over the past few years and is certainly no slouch behind the decks or in the studio. Suffice to say, it shows on his mix on CD2, an up-tempo selection of feel-good, main room House. DJ Gregory’s classic ‘Elle’ starts off proceedings and from there we’re treated to fantastic offerings from the likes of Dennis Ferrer (‘Church Lady’ and ‘Touched The Sky’), Johnny Corporate (‘Sunday Shoutin’’) Mr V. (‘Put Your Drink Down’) and DJ Jorj himself, who includes his own gem ‘Es E Zulu’. Julien Jabre rounds off CD2 with 2005’s massive ‘’Swimming Places’ making CD2 a bit more positive and boppy than Copyright’s effort, which is a trademark Copyright (every pun intended) tribal-laced, deeper, at times darker, effort. Both discs, nonetheless, are superbly mixed, selected and packaged into the first Australian-only Defected release; we only hope it’s not the last.

Alumbra In The House – Mixed by Copyright and DJ Jorj – is out now through Defected/Stomp.
Read here for a recent feature interview on Copyright.