While paying homage to the mighty chicken once more with the 2020 Soundsystem tune of the same name, Ralph Lawson has managed to surround said track with a veritable rooster’s monster-stiffie of a label mix album.
2020’s recent singles, like Simon Baker’s ‘Bandit’ and Mike Shannon’s remix of Brett Johnson & DJ Heather’s ‘Everything Electric’ [both here], have been cataclysmic and intoxicating while encapsulating the label’s up-for-it but always-progressive take on the true house music spirit. This set highlights further corkers to propel the sternest shorts into pants-banana bulge action featuring names like Art of Tones, the firing Nick Chacona, Burnski, Audiojack, incendiary Basics rez Paul Woolford as Bobby Peru, the Youngsters and stalwart Random Factor. By the time Spirit Catcher’s ‘Harmonize’ is playing tag with Marc Romboy and Stephan Bodzin’s ‘The Alchemist’, the set has reached a delirious plateau of true house music euphoria which those who’ve witnessed Ralphie Boy in action will know and cherish. A must-have winter soundtrack from one of the UK’s most essential labels.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Kris Needs
