Review: For the latest volume in Quantize Recordings' Quintessential Sessions mix series, DJ Spen has handed over the reins to London scene stalwart Booker T. His mix is naturally hugely entertaining and expertly crafted, but the real boon is the wealth of unmixed tracks. Highlights come thick and fast throughout, from the sprightly piano house soulfulness of Booker T's own rework of 'L.O.V.E' by Beloved and Sheree Hicks, the vibraphone-laden warmth of Sean McCabe's revision of Spencer Morales' M.F.S.B-sampling 'Without Your Love' and the organ-sporting bounce of Manoo's take on Dave Anthony's luscious 'She Don't Know', to the booming big room muscularity of KlavaKeys' 'Power Drive', and the bumpin' late night fizz of Spen & Thommy's re-edit of 'Let It All Go' by Pat Bedeau.
Steve Silk Hurley & Greg Gibbs - "The Glow Of Love" (Steve Silk Hurley 12 Inch) - (10:28) 128 BPM
Immaculate Styles & Lisa Shaw & Steve Silk Hurley - "I Wanna Let You Know (S&S Remixes)" (Steve Silk Hurley S&S Epic Orchestration - Bad Boy Bill edit) - (6:00) 124 BPM
DJ Skip - "The Hustle Of Life" (Steve Silk Hurley S&S Club rework) - (6:28) 125 BPM
Syleena Johnson & Steve Silk Hurley & DJ Skip - "Peace Pipe" (Steve Silk Hurley And DJ Skip S&S original extended mix) - (6:16) 126 BPM
DJ Skip Feat Howard Hewett & Carolyn Griffey - "Don't Go" (Shane D's Glitterball Club remix feat Howard Hewett/Carolyn Griffey) - (7:09) 127 BPM
Spencer Morales And DJ Spen - "I Need Your Lovin" (feat Tasha LaRae - Spen & Thommyas Strings Of Love remix) - (6:21) 122 BPM
Randy Roberts And Richard Burton - "Stairway To Heaven" (Nigel Lowis 10th Street dub) - (5:49) 120 BPM
Dave Anthony - "The Gospel Dub" (Dubkeys Re-edit) - (6:27) 125 BPM
Beloved/McLeod And DJ Beloved - "All We Do" (Sting International Combo ReVamp) - (12:30) 126 BPM
Deva Mahal And DJ Spen - "Wicked" (DJ Spen & Reelsoul Comin' 4 Ya dub) - (6:11) 121 BPM
Michele Chiavarini/DJ Spen And Little ALa - "Everybody (On The Dancefloor)" (feat Samantha-Antoinette - DJ Spen & Thommy Davis Hump mix) - (5:28) 122 BPM
SEL And Gary Hudgins - "The Sweetest Pain" (MoBlack Soul mix) - (7:42) 120 BPM
Review: No one does contemporary disco like Dimitri From Paris. And no one has the compilation licensing clout like Defected. Naturally this is a match made in glitterball heaven as DFP spans 40 years of grooves with a spotless collection of his own edits and upfront jams. Ranging from his own twists on standard disco gems such as "Le Freak" and "Lost In Music" to the likes of Disclosure's "F For You" and Todd Terje's "Delorean Dynamite" this is, without question, one of Defected's most extensive, expansive and exciting collections to date - which really is saying something. A natural fit for all house, disco and funk fans young and old.