ERIC KUPPER Vinyl & CDs

Review: Frankie Knuckles collaborated with Eric Kupper for many years, but it was arguably only when they joined forces as Director's Cut, late in the Godfather of House's lengthy career, that the most musical magic happened. This excellent compilation of Director's Cut productions and remixes- the third to date remixes - offers further proof of this assertion. Full of colourful, tactile, classic-sounding house in the typical Knuckles mode, the collection's many highlights include a soulful, sing-along interpretation of Inaya Day and Duane Harden's 'Good Feeling', the piano-smothered brilliance of Peyton's 'Beautiful', a wonderfully shuffling, organ-rich rendition of Marko Militano's 'Good People' and a simply sublime, glassy-eyed take on Vintage Lounge Orchestra's memorable cover of Fleetwood Mac classic 'Dreams'.

Review: In 2009, longtime collaborators Frankie Knuckles and Eric Kupper made their production partnership official via the Director's Cut project. This epic retrospective gathers together the best tracks and remixes the duo completed prior to Knuckles' death in 2014. Disc one offers up original productions, including ear-catching re-makes of some of Knuckles' most famous early works (we're particularly fond of the versions of "The Whistle Song", "Your Love" and "I'll Take U There"). On the second disc you'll find the best of their remix work, with standouts including a sublime take on Candi Staton's "Hallelujah Anyway" and a storming, previously unreleased version of Lou Rawls' "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine". As a bonus, the third disc mixes the best of the lot together in one suitably gorgeous, non-stop journey.

Review: As the title suggests, Eric Kupper has indeed spent a lifetime in dance. This vast 24 track collection celebrates that worthy career in sound and does a fine job of laying bare his influxes, and influences. His fine studio skills are on show across the music which also shows his skills as a remixer. This is a second volume but is one no less superb than the first with top class originals next to his own spins on bona-fide greats such as Whitney Houston, Earth, Wind and Fire, Curtis Mayfield and Moloko.

Review: While not as celebrated as many of those he has worked with over the years (most notably his late friend Frankie Knuckles), Eric Kupper has built up a mighty discography, with untold production, remix and engineering credits to his name. A Lifetime in Dance Music celebrates this, picking out eight highlights (with more to come on subsequent volumes) from the New York house great's long and successful career. There's plenty to set the pulse racing throughout, from a fine revision of Depeche Mode's 'Wrong' and the classics organ-and-piano-heavy US garage flex of Degrees of Motion's 'Shine On', to a soaring house makeover of Diana Ross disco classic 'The Boss', a delicious tribal house take on Fuminori Kagajo's 'The Blue', and the immersive, loved-up deep house lusciousness of 'Electrikiss', a cut originally released under his occasional K-Scope alias.

Review: Apparently made in tribute to the legendary Paradise Garage club some years ago, these two previously unreleased workouts are the work of Kenny Summit, Eric Kupper and the late, great Frankie Knuckles. Side A boasts the trio's near legendary (and previously unavailable) remix of Lou Rawls classic "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine". It's a wonderfully positive and life-affirming affair, with the three legendary producers wrapping echoing guitars, warming disco orchestration and Rawls' sublime lead vocal around a deliciously percussive Afro-house groove. The flip features another unseen and unheard gem from the vaults: a loose, groovy and positive soulful house wiggler featuring the seductive vocals of Yasmeen. Terrific stuff.