The massively-popular Need2Soul parties attract the deep house DJ elite when they loom at venues like The Key and Canvas and clubs including Fabric, East Village and even the Big Chill Festival. Now they’ve taken the logical step of starting a record label, kicking off this compilation series with Ron Trent and Jerome Sydenham, now this wonderful second set from BBC 1Xtra’s Benji B and Chicago house legend Glenn Underground. Bloody amazing it is too as each charts their individual musical paths. Benji kicks off with the elevatory gospel of Larry Levan’s mix of Celestial Choir’s ‘Stand By The Word’ before straddling a gorgeous spectrum of soul in all its guises from the latin strains of Cerrone Vs Louie Vega’s ‘Love Ritual’ to classics like Serious Intention’s timeless 80s NY radio classic ‘You Don’t Know’, the gossamer-soul of Womack & Womack’s ‘Conscience Of My Conscience’ and Jimmy Abney’s yearning ‘Come Go With Me’. By the time it hits Carl Craig’s sublime treatment of Cesaria Evora’s ‘Angola’ a higher plain of soul-soothing nirvana has been reached, each element gliding in to increase the sumptuous vibe. And that only CD1! For years Glenn Underground has been firing out underground gems from his Chicago bunker and turns in a different but just as gripping set, starting on a jazz tip with outings by names including Swell Session, YMC and himself before steering into deeper house territory with a stream of dreamy beauties from names including Nick Holder, Fini Dolo, Kenny Dixon Junior and Brett Dancer. Ultimately this album plugs into dance music’s eternal spirit, undiluted soul and multi-hued cultures.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Kris Needs
