No less than FOUR CDs are lined up by Rhino to celebrate their best-selling series, and getting Matt ‘Jam’ Lamont to mix them live is the cherry on the cake. It’s surprised quite a few people – myself included – how this style of music has had its longevity, but when you get tracks like (deep breath) Smokin’ Beats’ ‘Dreams’, Kristine Blond’s ‘Love Shy’, plus Tina Moore, Dream Teem and Todd Edwards, all before the end of CD1 (the ‘Old Skool Originals’), you know things are happening right. Lamont gives good credence to this year as well, including Estelle’s ‘American Boy’ with Kano, Wiley and Dizzee Rascal biggees on his ‘Nu Garage Bassline’ CD. ‘Vocal Anthems’ includes N’N’G, Glamma Kid and Shola Ama, Wookie and Jaheim – alongside one-offs you might not be so keen on, such as Pied Piper or ‘Sweet Like Chocolate’. ‘Classic Bass’, meanwhile, bothers the woofers with ‘Flat Beat’, Azzido Da Bass, CJ Bolland and the immortal ‘RIP Groove’ of Double 99. Outstanding value for money.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Ben Hogwood
