It starts off in the best possible way with the ghost siren intro to Vapourspace’s timeless ‘Gravitational Arc Of Ten’…and then goes into 70s space rockers Hawkwind’s ‘Hash Cake ’77’! 23 tracks later they’re winding up with a rock tribute to Johnny Cash. Optimo – headed by veteran DJ Twitch and Jonnie Wilkes – is the Edinburgh-based operation which runs one of the city’s most successful clubs. This CD is meant to reflect a typical night’s musical voyage – and takes the term ‘eclectic’ to new levels as disco classics (Herbie Hancock, Dinosaur) mingle with classic acid house (Mr Fingers, Fast Eddie), early electronic gems (Silver Apples) hump early Warp sub ‘n’ bleep clonkers (Sweet Exorcist, the Step) and then unexpected ditties ease in from names like the Stranglers, Simple Minds and The Temptations (with ‘Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone’). They even throw in the Chambers Brothers’ psychededelic funk stomper ‘Time Has Come Today’. Unfortunately for some djs, several previously secret weapons are unearthed, like Koenig Cylinders’ rush-fest ‘Carousel’. The best thing is, it all sounds totally natural and provides a eliciously intoxicating journey from start to finish.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Kris Needs
