San Francisco’s Om label celebrates their tenth anniversary with a trio of compilations. In many way ways the label’s ‘sound’ is characterised by the opening cut on ‘ReMIXED 2’ – Miguel Migs’ ‘Come On’. It’s all smooth house with big beats, snappy chorus hooks and those ubiquitous chilled touches of saxophone and sultry female vocals. Long at the forefront of the American house scene – due in no small part to the sheer consistency of releases – it’s left to the likes of Jay-J, Derrick Carter and Fila Brazilia to breathe new life into an aural journey of sought-after house, down-tempo rarities and a wealth of new music to be discovered. If it sits nicely in the background like many past Om releases, then Sneak’s mix up is definitely in-ya-face house. Coinciding with the label’s summer residency at El Divino in Ibiza, this rhythm-smart mix-up builds across a broad spectrum of genres; progressive baselines sit comfortably alongside disco loops, twisted percussion and anthem vocals. It’s an enjoyable audible journey that takes in jazz scats from DJ Spettro, the Lawnchair Generals’ Balearic beauty ‘The Truth’, Joeski’s jazz-disco offering ‘Find A Way’ and the Sneak’s own chant to action ‘Funky Rhythm’. Finally it’s left to Om founder and Afro-Mystik beat master, DJ Fluid, to construct a sizzling soundscape of broken-beats and deep jazzy-house taking in prime offerings from JT Donaldson (‘Trust Me’), Kaskade (‘Sweet Love’) and Colette (‘Feelin’ Hypnotized’) along the way.
4 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Lewis Dene