Steve Porter

Steve Porter doubles the action and the fun for his Porterhouse, Vol. 2 mix set, which doesn't so much follow up the first volume as take it to a whole new level. Spinning out 57 songs over two CDs, for a mind-blowing 150-plus minutes, Porter once again showcases his skills, his own originals and remixes, the talents of his longtime collaborators, and a plethora of rising stars. Fans will have already worked that out from the track listing -- what that won't tell you is just how incredibly entertaining this set is, the closest the DJ's come to capturing his live shows. Fun is at the core of this compilation. Porter obviously had a phenomenal time putting this set together, and that bleeds through every track and every beat within. You can actually feel the love he has for his job here and the joy he feels for the music, along with a deep desire to share it with the world. If this isn't nirvana, who knows what is. Fabulous rhythms power this set and, as expected from Porter, the energy never flags for a second, but as essential as the beats are, it's the melodies that still reign supreme, pouring forth from the speakers, gently shifting as the tracks subtly change over, transforming and transmuting seamlessly before your ears. Play a few seconds of each track, and it's obvious how distinct they are, but within the context of the set, they're seamlessly bound together, so much so that after a few plays your mind will inevitably segue into the next track whenever you hear the song. As always, Porter's signature style is to the fore, a stellar, eclectic mix of hard house and propulsive trance, funk, and electro that just keeps getting better with time. At Porterhouse the party never seems to end, and every time you think you've reached the midnight hour, the DJ kicks it up yet again. Brilliant! Although 2007 wasn't even halfway over when Porterhouse, Vol. 2 was released, this was undeniably the club set of the year. ~ Jo-Ann Greene, All Music Guide