:: Various Artists - Defected Presents Def Mix Classics: Mixed and Compiled By Hector Romero & Simon Dunmore

Various Artists

Legendary American House imprint and production team Def Mix celebrates its 20th anniversary with this retrospective 3CD compilation. IDJ Magazine recently labelled it, “The only classic House album you will ever need”, and, perhaps for the first time ever, they’re not exaggerating. This is, to put it bluntly, a first class offering of classic house productions and remixes compiled by some of the industry’s most revered movers and shakers. Partnering with UK House stalwart Defected Records, the Def Mix team - consisting of industry legends Frankie Knuckles, David Morales, Satoshi Tomiie and Hector Romero – have served up the perfect mix of underground classics with more accessible dance floor remixes.

Robert Owens’ ‘I’ll Be Your Friend’, Ten City’s ‘Whatever Makes You Happy’ and Grammy winner Frankie Knuckles’ own ‘The Whistle Song’ mix seamlessly into more familiar tracks by Mariah Carey, Jamiroquai, CeCe Peniston, Toni Braxton, Simply Red and U2, whose ‘Lemon’ remix appears for the first time ever on a compilation, showing just how respected the Def Mix team are twenty years after they founded the label, management company and DJ agency. Variety is the name of the game here and, as Frankie Knuckles said in an interview last week, “This [release] is when House music was at its peak.” As if a wrap like that from the man who invented house music wasn’t enough, let me clarify; this is a brilliant offering with something for everyone and sounds as fresh now as it did nearly 20 years ago.

Read a profile on David Morales in the Music Spotlights section.