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Housexy 10
Housexy 10 -
Track Listing
Disk 1Love Sweet Sound - Groove Armada |
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Disk 2Work it Out - Groove Junkies |
Brief Review
The first disk is an excellent display of set progression, tune selection and seamless mixing but with a very average, almost poor, second disk, it's tricky to recommend the album. The tracks here vary from electro-house to chilled beats but if you're serious about house music, you may like to check out this CD for the fantastic first disk.
Full Review
Housexy is one of the finer mini-labels under the control of Ministry Of Sound and have continued to churn out CD after CD of quality house music. From dirty to jackin' to chilled, Balearic beats; Housexy definately doesn't disappoint and 10 albums in, seems to be growing from strength to strength.
The first disk starts out with 'Love sweet sound', a relaxing house tune with an awesome beat and some equally appealing lyrics before being mixed seamlessly into the next tune which rises the temperature of the CD.
'Always' by Christian Alvarez features a relaxing beat and some awesome effect usage. The lyrics aren't anything special but it works extremely well with the bassline and synth used and is definately one of the stronger songs on the first disk.
After the extremely strong first 2 songs, 'That feelin' is a track which feels more like a filler on this album. That's not to say its bad though. The beat is top notch and makes you nod your head but it just doesn't feel as strong as the first 2 tracks.
'Work for love' is then mixed seamlessly from 'That feelin' and really changes the feel of the first disk. Relying heavily on chord structures, 'Work for love' is an excellent track on the first disk that is sure to fill dance floors and please house fans worldwide.
In my opinion, 'Madnezz' is the weakest song on the album, using brass instruments and a very basic progressive beat. The remake of the original 'One step beyond' by Madness isn't as catchy as the original but luckily is one of the only fillers on a first disk filled with quality house music.
After this, the CD then dives into vocal house, whipping up some fantastic records. 'Movin out' guides you gently into this process, with a driving rhythm and some wicked lyrics before being mixed seamlessly into, in my opinion, the best track on the first disk, 'Come get my lovin'. The vocals of Marcella Woods really shine here over the synth-heavy house track and the breakdown is top notch. This is definately one of the best house tracks I've heard all year.
The vocal house then moves into dirtier territory with 'Girlz and Boyz'. A simple little track with a killer electro groove and distorted bassline. Although nothing special, the track stands out here as being mixed seamlessly from the vocal house. Unfortunately, the track seems a little out of place here as this track is the only one on the first disk that sounds very commercial and electro.
Old skool house music is then thrown into the mix with 'Happy clappers'. One of the only noticeable points of the track here being the unique bassline used. The track sticks heavily to the foundations the original was made on but the bassline sounds stronger here.
After the excellent 'Let's be young', Quentin Harris once again delivers another progressive house wonder under the title 'My Joy'. The synth is top notch and the breakdown is equally as impressive. The lyrics are a nice touch and help make this song one of the best on the first disk in my opinion.
'The Love You Bring Me' continues the trend of progressive, jackin' vocal house with an excellent breakdown, some gorgeous lyrics and a killer remix by Eddie Thoneick. The track works brilliantly here and is mixed seamlessly from 'My Joy'.
The mix then takes a turn towards pumping, electro-house with 'Head to toe'. A vocal-heavy track with a driving rhythm that will no doubt rise the temperature on dancefloors world-wide. This track was one of my favourites on the CD, coming at just the right time. Housexy have always had the ability to change the mood of a CD at just the right time and this is never truer here. This was easily one of my favourite tracks on the first disk.
'Better Day' is the mixed seamlessly onto the CD. The electro-house track has just the right vocals to make it sound underground and not too commercial. The guitar used is a nice touch in the breakdown and ends the first disk with a bang.
The second disk then starts with 'Work it Out' and 'Dancin', two mediocre tracks in my opinion and after the amazing finish to the first disk just don't have the same effect as they would do otherwise.
The most recognizable track on the album, 'Uninvited' is arguably the Freemasons' strongest track to date. The simple piano groove and excellent use of vocals here are clever and thought-provoking. It's also worth noting that this track is the only underground-sounding house record that reached the charts and is well-deserving of that accomplishment.
'Generate Love' is another pretty average track in my opinion and has very basic lyrics over a simple groove and rhythm. The breakdown is pretty good but all in all, this track comes across more of a filler than of a quality house track.
The new house track from Fedde Le Grande, 'Get this feeling' is one of the best on the CD and although unlikely to match the success of his previous work, is still an excellent track and couldn't have come sooner after a rather average disk thus far.
The CD slowly moves into darker, dirtier house music with 'Walkin down the street' and 'Give me love'. Both tracks are disappointing here, in my opinion, and you can't help but feel that the quality of the first disk is far superior to the second disk here. Even Armand Van Helden's new track, 'Je T'Aime', although featuring a good breakdown and a wicked synth line, can't help the disk feeling like it was thrown on for the sake of making it 2 disks on the album.
The recent chart success of 'Something good 08' is given a dose of house with the remix and is one of the stand-out tracks on a very average album. The groove is very simple and catchy with lyrics faded in the background. Ian Carey does a good job with the remix and this mix will definately fill dancefloors.
ATFC's new track 'Ya Killin Me' is another average track and couldn't have finished sooner for the next song, 'That look'. The song is a jackin, dirty electro-house record with simple vocals but one of the best breakdowns on the entire album. It builds the record slowly before smashing into the main groove and synth. The lyrics are nothing special but the groove itself is outstanding on a very average CD.
'Shogun' moves the CD back into progressive territory with a hypnotic rhythm and effect-heavy synths. Mark Knight's new record isn't his strongest but is unique for the pure fact that it sounds nothing like his previous productions. The lyrics are chilling and the record is mixed seamlessly into the final track on the album.
'Sample whore' is a bizarre record, using a simple xylophone-sounding synth and sexual moans in the background. Apart from the bizarre use of samples and effects, the record isn't anything special and once again feels more like a filler than a quality drivin' house track.
At the end of the 2 CDs, I was left wondering why the second CD deteriorated so drastically after the excellent first disk. The first disk was an amazing display of set progression, clever use of tunes and seamless mixing. The second disk, however, had less than a handful of killer dancefloor-filling records and although boasting more well-known artists, wasn't enough to lift the 2nd disk from being an average slump at best.
The overall impression is that Ministry Of Sound seemed to have cobbled the second disk together with no thought to what the records sounded like compared to the quality of the first disk. It's tricky to recommend this CD with one amazing CD and the other being very average but if you're serious about your house music, you may like to check this one out.
