Luke Solomon

This 1998 mix by Classic Records owner and house music auteur Luke Solomon proves that truly great house music never sounds out-of-date. In fact, this timeless mix continues disco's tradition of life-affirming rhythms without ever mimicking the well-sampled sound. The mix opens with Chez Damier's "Close," which starts with an eerie cricket-like chirp before evolving into a warm and luxurious groove. The follow-up, Matthew Herbert's "Going Round," is one of the most intriguing house selections ever composed, with the liquid bass wrapping around a perfectly margined beat and Dani Siciliano's waifish jazz vocal. Solomon's own productions with partner Justin Harris appear twice, first in their highly praised Freaks guise, and then under their lesser-known Future Movements moniker. Both are casually jacking cuts that mix perfectly with both the filtered disco loops of DJ Q and the classic garage swing of Blaze's "My Beat." The entire CD moves swiftly without ever rushing, a result of Solomon's flawless programming that knows exactly when to bring in an inspiring diva vocal and when to just let the groove play out. The closer, Plastic Avengers' "Sideburns," melds the two into one of the best single house tracks ever recorded. Its dizzying filtered string loops lace between a throbbing rhythm and an absurdly uplifting vocal mantra that simply repeats "feels so good to me!" Solomon truly knows how good it can feel. ~ Joshua Glazer, All Music Guide