It's meaningless to review these sort of releases track-by-track as I feel compilations, or mixed ones anyway, are there to serve a different sort of purpose. Whilst it's without doubt the DJs selection that's most scrutinised, it's what the selector does with those tracks and how they present them that matters. Flava D's effort, number 88 in a line of mixed-genre and frankly mixed-quality releases is a shining light.
The best DJs utilise tracks in this release format by creating a theme, a scenario, some sort of state a listener will instantly connect with. Anyone who's been a keen raver over the last few years will instantly feel at home with this mix - even from the comfort of your own living room, there's a legitimate sense that you're actually somewhere much livelier, perhaps not even raving per se but just in the club, existing amongst the music.
Largely the mix is influenced by Flava's own productions, most of which are modern, garage-tinged efforts, the culmination of growing-up through the Grime era whilst being under the heavy influence of pirate radio 2-step, her time amongst labels such as Butterz undoubtedly spiriting her willingness to go further than the standard expectations. As a mix the joints are thrown in and out quickly, exciting the listener with build-ups and drops in the right places, switching between the silkier gloss of 'Closer' and the waving bassline of 'Bleeding' all the while encompassed by frantic bursts of energy such as Riddim Commision's D Double E collaboration 'Dem Tings Dere' and DJ Q's 'What I Like' remix.
In regards to my earlier comment on creating feelings, 'Conflict' is a great example of that. If you could capture the sound that accompanies the sometimes distant moments you have during the night, that sort of subconscious stop in time where you briefly acknowledge your surroundings and all there is in the background is that one pulsating rhythm, a continuous thump from the sound system, 'Conflict' is that. I don't think tantalising would be too extreme a term to use - Flava's mixing style married with the right beats is a tease - a rave that jitters along steadily but gradually sparks into action, inducing audible ecstasy with bangers like 'Happy' and 'To My Heart' whilst appealing to the serious gun-finger crowd with Distro's 'Off The Chain' and Terror Danjah's 'Juicy Patty/Dollar Sign' combo.
Purchase via this link.
The best DJs utilise tracks in this release format by creating a theme, a scenario, some sort of state a listener will instantly connect with. Anyone who's been a keen raver over the last few years will instantly feel at home with this mix - even from the comfort of your own living room, there's a legitimate sense that you're actually somewhere much livelier, perhaps not even raving per se but just in the club, existing amongst the music.
Largely the mix is influenced by Flava's own productions, most of which are modern, garage-tinged efforts, the culmination of growing-up through the Grime era whilst being under the heavy influence of pirate radio 2-step, her time amongst labels such as Butterz undoubtedly spiriting her willingness to go further than the standard expectations. As a mix the joints are thrown in and out quickly, exciting the listener with build-ups and drops in the right places, switching between the silkier gloss of 'Closer' and the waving bassline of 'Bleeding' all the while encompassed by frantic bursts of energy such as Riddim Commision's D Double E collaboration 'Dem Tings Dere' and DJ Q's 'What I Like' remix.
In regards to my earlier comment on creating feelings, 'Conflict' is a great example of that. If you could capture the sound that accompanies the sometimes distant moments you have during the night, that sort of subconscious stop in time where you briefly acknowledge your surroundings and all there is in the background is that one pulsating rhythm, a continuous thump from the sound system, 'Conflict' is that. I don't think tantalising would be too extreme a term to use - Flava's mixing style married with the right beats is a tease - a rave that jitters along steadily but gradually sparks into action, inducing audible ecstasy with bangers like 'Happy' and 'To My Heart' whilst appealing to the serious gun-finger crowd with Distro's 'Off The Chain' and Terror Danjah's 'Juicy Patty/Dollar Sign' combo.
Purchase via this link.
