Just hearing that Steve Lawler has been mixing ‘Lights Out’ compilations for a decade made me feel old – but it’s a tribute to his craft that it doesn’t feel like he’s been around at all long. The original compilations were mixed for Global Underground and built up something of a cult following – and the decade celebration looks set to reward those buyers handsomely, especially as Lawler has taken care to include as many exclusive remixes as possible. His trademark deep, dark and pretty dirty style remains, and has no need to change as both mixes explore percussive territory. In CD1 some fine examples from his own VIVa MUSiC label mingle with the likes of Ralph Silwinski’s ‘Minomess’ and Frivolous’ ‘Ostalgia’, where the mix really gets going. CD2 is a bit quicker and more tribal, Lawler pacing his cuts to perfection and really hitting a groove for Richie Santana’s ‘Lower East Side’, Kaiserdisco’s ‘Amalfino’ and Lauhaus’s ‘Poison’. This is house music with a deeply beating heart, and if you shut your eyes you can be in the club, right there with him, which is surely the sign of a fine DJ mix.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Ben Hogwood
