Sander Kleinenberg

There's such an unfathomable number of mix CDs available that it's amazing the market hasn't been oversaturated to destruction. There's too much to pick from and generally mixing is so effortlessly slick that it sacrifices some of the excitement. That's why Sander Kleinenberg's rough and tumble mix, released in late 2003, is such a refreshing surprise. There's the intentionally sloppy packaging, the oddball intro, and the unpredictable sequencing of the music. The first disc has a bit of the straight-ahead tech-house the man is known for, but handclapping disco and downright Detroit-esque techno creep in and totally take over the second disc. While most of the new breed of DJs rely on slowly building things up to a frenzy, there are plenty of starts and stops in Kleinenberg's mix. Effective tricks like hypnotically spinning around before bass beats that demand hip swaying come in work repeatedly on the disc. This kind of manipulation is what separates the men from the boys and the deep from the slick. Kleinenberg has always been talented, but he's now found his own unique voice and style. Renaissance Presents Everybody is the quirkiest and most liberated the DJ has ever sounded, and is a welcome reminder of how exciting mix CDs can be. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide