Album Reviews

Album Review: Various Artists – From Disco To Dubstep (Exceptional Records)

By Paul Vig | Published on Tuesday 13 July 2010

Part of electronic record company Exceptional’s tenth anniversary celebrations, this album sees a stack of the label’s finest former releases remixed for the party.

As the title suggests, the collection is meant to take us on a journey from disco to dubstep, taking in, so the press release tells me, “lounge, electronica, house, electro and breaks” along the way. Certain sub-genres are better represented than others; anyone looking for some full on disco’s going to be disappointed.

But funky beats there are aplenty, especially on the opener, Mock & Toof’s remix of Plej’s ‘Borderline’, an interesting groove that gets things going nicely. There’s another Plej remix along pretty soon too, with the Toby Tobias mix of ‘Safe Place’, which keeps the funk, while getting us ready for the retro feel of Butti 49’s ‘Alan Accelerates’.

Highlights include Falconcrest’s rework of Cloud’s ‘Innocence’, which is definitely worth checking out, while techno legend Ken Ishi’s ‘Awakening’ gets the Jimpster deluxe retouch, so, needless to say, that’s a real recommend. Meanwhile, the Tom Middleton remix of Blue Mar Ten’s ‘All Over’ provides a real hands in the air moment.

There are some weaker points, the Rogue Element remix of The Nursery Of Naughtiness in particular, though Mr Element sort of redeems himself with his own track ‘Hive’, although that might be down to Raffertie’s rerubbing for all I know. It’s here you get your dubstep, albeit dubstep with a madcap feel.

All in all, there is something peculiar about the selection here, it’s definitely not one hit after another, but as a mix it generally works well, a diverse and horizon-widening piece of work for more open ears. PV

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