The S-Man gets a well-deserved retrospective from Defected, bringing together a collection of his various aliases to show just how deep and wide his output is! They present a trio of CD-length collections, with one dedicated to his remixes, one for original work and the third for Strictly Rhythm releases only. To be honest it is all a treat, but it is the second disc that carries the greatest impact, with brilliant tracks like ‘My Organ’, a wonderfully free improvisation, and the invigorating ‘I Want Your Love’. The remixes are good too, with Billie Ray Martin’s ‘Your Loving Arms’, Incognito’s ‘Givin It Up’ and ones you might have forgotten, like Howie B’s ‘Making Love On Your Side’. Finally ‘The Strictly Years’ presents stone cold floor fillers like ‘Shake Shake’, ‘Get Hi’ and – under other monikers – Underground Solution’s ‘Luv Dancin’ and Brotherhood Of Soul’s ‘I’ll Be Right There’. Sanchez has been incredibly prolific in his time at the top, so there was no chance of giving a full overview of his work, but this collection will please fans and newcomers alike. It is also a masterclass in how dance music can be both deep and uplifting at the same time!
5 out of 5
Reviewed by Ben Hogwood
