Review: It has been quite a year for the Toolroom institution. Celebrating their 15th birthday last year, they weren't ones to rest on their laurels, instead going full steam ahead with a bunch of genre defining compilations this year. But most importantly they have been instrumental in the comeback of funky house after a 20 year dormancy, with killer releases by the likes of Weiss, Cashio and boss man Mark Knight himself. Add to that one banging party at Chicago Social Club for Amsterdam Dance Event and it's evident that these guys are proper 24 hour party people. With a glorious year sadly coming to an end, celebrate a wonderful one that was on Best Of Toolroom 2019 with highlights not limited to: the rework of the Cevin Fisher classic "Freaks Come Out" by Jack Back, Hannah Wants & Kevin Knapp's deep down and dirty "Call Me" (extended mix), UK heroes Alan Fitzpatrick & Wheats delivering the certified banger "M27" and New York legend Todd Terry teaming up with Tuff London on "Psychodrama" featuring Jasmien Nanhekhan. If that was not enough, ascendant producer Maxinne delivers two mixes compiling all the tracks: one smooth House mix followed by a thumping Tech House mix.
Review: Italian label Sound Exhibitions bring us the latest long-player from Ricky Montana, a native of Rome whose career as a DJ dates all the way back to 1987. Featuring eight original Montana solo productions, plus Col Lawton collab 'Adlib' itself and a Montana remix of fellow countryman Vito Lalinga's 'I Can Feel', authentic-sounding funk and disco grooves with a light house twist are the order of the day here, with highlights including the ultra-jazzy 'Funky Town' (no connection to the Lipps Inc track), the raw funk of 'Old River', the boogie-flavoured 'So Hot', and 'Together', which has an almost two-step kinda feel.
Review: 48 tracks? Asbo you are truly spoiling us. The quality is as high as the quantity too; a selection of Asbo classics and brand new flavours we're taken from smooth silky rolling soul such as Westy's "Making Moves" and jazzy V-style thunder like Savannah's "Glide Away" to hurricane amen depth (Dawn Raid, Gold Dubs & Jinx - "Old Fashioned") and classic mid 90s style jump-up ruffage (Cabin Fever's remix of "Raw Dogs") via warm-as-toast dub soul a la Vinyl Junkie & Sanxion's "Talk Too Much" and Daffy's beautiful "Love Dub". And that's only an eighth of killer cuts on here. Easily one of the best tenners a junglist can invest this month.
