Search dance music

Review: Given her current popularity, it's no surprise to see all-conquering house hero Maya Jane Coles mixing the latest instalment of !K7's long-running DJ Kicks series. The diminutive DJ/producer is in fine form, too, mixing up typically atmospheric house cuts and clandestine deepness with saucer-eyed late night faves and forgotten B-sides (see Bozzwell's surprisingly emotional "In My Cocoon"). As a mix it's as deep, melodic and groovy as you'd expect, with a strong vocal theme running throughout. As it progresses, it tiptoes further into bleary-eyed darkroom territory, via stand-out cuts from Marcel Dettmann, Caribou (his thrilling remix of Virgo Four), Gerry Read and T Williams.

Review: It's been four years since globetrotting Glaswegian Jackmaster's last mix CD. This time round, he's opted to pay tribute to the sounds of the cities that have most inspired him, namely Glasgow, Detroit and Chicago. In essence, that means a fast-paced, thrill a minute ride through his house and techno influences that builds impressively over 80 action-packed minutes. Highlights come thick and fast, from the woozy synths and loose breakbeats of Denis Sulta's "MSNJ", and Mike Dunn's throbbing jack-track "A Groove", to the bombastic dancefloor funk of Lory D, the hazy hypnotism of Mr G, and the wonky techno hustle of Ricardo Villalobos.

Review: The long-running DJ Kicks series has prospered largely because of the opportunity it gives to well known DJs and producers to showcase the breadth and diversity of their record collections. That's certainly the case with this latest volume from global house superstar Maceo Plex, who impressively opens proceedings with a string of stargazing Detroit electro cuts (see the contribution from DJ Stingray) and atmospheric IDM jams, before peppering the mix with such inspired choices as Charles Webster's sublime, long-forgotten version of Kumbu Kimbra's "Raise The Dead" and Vivandi's decidedly stone cold classic "Racing Tracks". Of course, there's plenty of typically touchy-feely Plexian fodder, but it's far from the mix you'd expect.

Review: South Korean star Peggy Gou continues her seemingly unstoppable rise by serving up her first ever DJ mix CD. It's a contribution to one of the longest running series in the business, DJ Kicks, and she's used the opportunity to showcase the depth and variety of the music in her crates. Beginning with the classic early '90s ambient of Spacetime Continuum, Gou flits between humid, mid-tempo Balearic house (her own "Hungboo"), acid-fired downtempo electronica (Pearson Sound), throbbing 1990 peak-time anthems (Weatherall's ace but largely forgotten remix of Sly & Lovechild), hypnotic techno minimalism (Dorisburg), main room throb-jobs (Hiver), pulsating electro (DMX Krew), classic breakbeat hardcore (Shades of Rhythm), post-dubstep (Kode 9), dark tribal drum jams (Black Merlin) and sunrise ready Motor City brilliance (Deniro).

Review: Those who checked John Talabot's excellent debut album, Fin, will know that his approach to house music is a little left-of-centre. Clearly inspired by the genre's quirkier fringes, he appears to enjoy creating tracks that veer from woozy and intoxicating, to tropical and pagan. Here, he makes his approach even clearer with a triumphant 27-track mix-up for the long-running DJ Kicks series. Variously deep, melancholic, unusual, inspired and atmospheric, the mix contains impressive contributions from the likes of Young Marco, Pional, Andy Stott, Jus' Ed, Joe Clausell and Talabot himself, as well as a rare outing for the rare (and rather fabulous) "Innermind" by Paradise's Deep Groove