M.A.N.D.Y.

The baldly but accurately titled mix disc that Get Physical released to celebrate two years in the business serves as what it's intended to be: a solid overview of the German label's agreeably sleazed-out funk-techno, with prime space given over to M.A.N.D.Y. and Chelonis R. Jones, along with other friends and cohorts. Lopazz's "Take Me Home" kicks it off, klaxon sounds, and deep-voiced dance commands setting an enjoyable robot porno mood, and from there M.A.N.D.Y. take charge. As with any mix-disc worth its salt, it's technically flawless, so the quality comes down to the flow and the selection of material, both of which are pretty solid -- sometimes one-label-only mixes rise and fall on the variety of what's on offer, but Get Physical's coterie is so enjoyably dedicated to its early-'80s party vibe shot forward into the future that everything becomes one hell of a good party. M.A.N.D.Y.'s own contributions are sharp, with "Our World (Our Music)" as a strong statement of purpose, though Tiefschwarz's mix of "Sunsetpeople" isn't far behind. Jones' various entries confirm his knack for heavenly soul vocals in the vein of Robert Owens -- in a time when everyone from the Junior Boys to Justin Timberlake has found ways to deliver the goods on that front, his approach is equally welcome, sweet, just breathless enough, happily campy on the breaks (check "Blackout" for a great example) and always soaring. The Justus Köhncke remix of "I Don't Know" is a total killer. DJ T's various entries, especially "Starlit," are notable, but his best moment there involves the mix from Booka Shade's "Up" into his "Phantomas," with its deadly effective bassline. ~ Ned Raggett, All Music Guide