Various Artists – Masterpiece: Armand Van Helden – (Ministry Of Sound)
DMC World Magazine
A great choice for a ‘Masterpiece’ triple header, Armand Van Helden is a DJ who is never afraid to take risks, a bit of a maverick willing to cut the crap and just let his music do the talking. It doesn’t matter if it’s crudely mixed or if there are abrupt changes of mood and music – those are part and parcel of his everyday thinking. Here he works with three very different mixes that make a good job of exploring his past as a musical magpie. Taking the second (the softest) first, we have a set of thirteen songs called ‘Yacht Rock Don’t Stop’, getting off to a flyer with Christopher Cross’s ‘Ride Like The Wind’ and including other worthy choices from Kenny Loggins, Toto, Chicago and The Doobie Brothers. ‘Freestyle Forever’, meanwhile, takes electro funk cuts from the likes of Stevie B, India and the wonderful Joyce Sims, capturing innocence and energy with a dash of cheese. Best of all is the first mix though, ‘The Loft – Boston’, where Van Helden cut his cloth. Here we find Mood II Swing’s ‘I Need Your Luv’ (Right Now)’, Jellybean’s ‘Spillin’ The Beans’, Joe T. Vanelli’s ‘Play With The Voice’ and all manner of US house gems. All this and not a note of Van Helden’s own work in sight – the man deserves great credit for that, for giving us an insight into what makes him tick and what makes him as a DJ.
