Andy Butler, the creative force behind Hercules & Love Affair, set himself a tough agenda when making ‘Sidetracked’ – to include his two signature styles of music, disco and house, but also to bring in music he listens to away from the dancefloor. What he’s done here is combine all three in a mix that strides out confidently on to the dancefloor with Westbam’s ‘And Party’, Sax’s ‘No Pares’, and a new Hercules & Love Affair production, ‘I Can’t Wait’. Butler then lets classics like Todd Terry’s ‘Weekend’ rub shoulders with Daniel Wang’s ‘Zola Has Landed’ and his own home listening, Dr. Buzzards Original Savannah Band. What we have at the end is an original approach to a compilation that recreates the thrill of dancing in a warehouse in the late 1980s, but also brings in some more intimate, after hours listening. Butler’s musical know-how ensures it all runs together like a dream.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Ben Hogwood
