Francesco Tristano certainly gets about as a performer, moving effortlessly between the edges of classical, jazz, techno and house. What might not be common knowledge is that he is just as adept when playing records, bringing his different hats together for a couple of sets that work really well. Joe Zawinul freshens up the start of the mix with ‘The Harvest’, and from then on we hear tracks from either Tristano himself or his colleagues, The nagging piano of ‘Amnesie’, a collaboration with Luciano, has a cinematic feel with its widescreen strings, while the deep dark ‘Hungry For More’ by Danton Eeprom is also a standout. Tristano’s own material includes the stabbed piano motif of ‘Gaza World Cup’, then a seamless quartet culminating in the tough beat and jacking bass of ‘Dminorloop’. From here it’s sharper dancefloor sounds, right up to and including the bracing ‘What is House Muzik’, DJ Pierre remixed by Roland Leesker. Carefully planned and clinically executed, this is definitely one of the best in the excellent Body Language series. Clearly Francesco Tristano puts a lot of thought into making people dance!
5 out of 5
Reviewed by Ben Hogwood
