- Here on Thrive Records we see DJ Dan gets his chance to do his very own compilation the way he likes it. Dan has been a prominent figure in dance music in the states and across the globe while being one of the few who can say they were around from the start.
Last year RA interviewd Dan and asked him about this compilation with the response being “I approached it as if I had a live crowd in front of me and rocked it out as if I was playing a full set in the club. Disc 1 starts out really funky with a few of my new collaborations and then goes really dirty and slightly anthemic towards the end to celebrate the close of the set. Disc 2 is a bit darker and techier”.
The first disc starts out with DJ Dan’s collaboration with Hatiras titled ‘Come Together’ featuring the sweet vocals of Mandy J and sets up a nice pace with bouncy basslines while giving the vocal full play. Jacque Bauer sets up next as his extra funky piece called ‘Grade A Bitch’ blares away that blends nicely with ‘Baked from Scratch’, another DJ Dan and Hatiras production delivers with pumping beats and singing guitar samples. ATFC supply their remix of Seamus Haji’s huge tune ‘Last Night A DJ Saved My Life’ that keeps with the extra funky mood. Smoothing things out is Denis The Menace Presents Tube6 with ‘Funkadelic’ though elements of funky madness keep the mood rolling and is complemented nicely with Da Skunk’s ‘Cuban Cigar’ with its deep vocal rants and simple basslines.
Next up is another Da Skunk tune with a Macca & Hatiras remix of ‘Hot Box’ that unleashes infectious vocals with swirling bleeps and distorted basslines. DJ Dan’s ‘Illectrolingus’ with a remix from Macca continues to devastate with grinding basslines and huge horn samples, though around the corner is ‘Decadance’ by Antoine Claraman which extends on the grittiness and turns things bit upside down. As guitar influences start ring out, DJ DLG delivers ‘Rock Your World’ which lives up to its title adequately and partnered with the Acer mix of Hysterie’s ‘Imagination’ lifts the mix up into new territory. Dave Armstrong & Redroche makes things happier again with ‘Love Has Gone’ as it features nice uplifiting piano hooks and synths. Nearing the end, Richard Grey Presents United States Of House with a whirling tune by the name of ‘Be Good’ buts it’s the finishing track of Jon Pegnato’s ‘Flexible’ that keeps the funky madness up and the feet moving.
Moving onto the second disc we see The Loose Cannons Superstars via a Boris Dlugosh & Michi Lange mix kick things off and creates a nice uplifting break beat feel. Squelching and bleeping into the next track is the Plump DJs with a funky piece called ‘Acid Hustle’ but is quickly shadowed by ‘Infatuation’ by Jan Francisco Meets Joseph Armani which blows the roof off with huge electro melodies and pumping beats. As the pace and mood lift, DJ Rooster & Sammy Peralta provide their big tune ‘Shake it’ with blasts a dirty electro melodies with sprinklings of vocals. Steve Angello’s remix of Disco Construction’s ‘Can’t Get Enough’ is an absolute stormer with full fronted guitars and infectious grooves and is complemented nicely when mixed into Macca’s ‘Ride Me Baby’ which is equal in its infectious qualities and booming basslines.
Next up is the an impressive Chris Kaesar tune called ‘Boogie Star’ as we hear the sound change a bit too a more big room house feel as the basslines become more prominent with uplifting breakdowns and vocals. Next we see the mix smooth out a tad though still rockin courtesy of an acid dub mix by DJ Dan of New Order’s ‘Krafty’, though around the corner the mix is turned a bit upside down with Sebastian Ingrosso at the helm of a killer remix of ‘Peace’ by Tony Senghore that features a devasting electro bassline with dark undertones. Next up is a huge crowd pleaser by The Drill with a self titled tune and it’s a overload of stabbing electro hooks just rolls on and on, though we see even more heavy electro madness with Mike Balance on ‘The Rhythm’. Who’s Who? steps up for the next 2 tracks as ‘Lipstick’ punishes the stereo with pounding drums and deep, rumbling basslines though ‘Not So Dirty’ tries even harder not to be upstaged as a filthy electro bassline blows up in a big way. Finishing off is Einmusik’s quirky remix of Coburn’s huge hit ‘We Interrupt This Program’ which lets loose some nice breakdowns but it’s the very distinct bassline that keeps this track unique.
This is definitely a mix that encapsulates the DJ Dan live set on both tips of the scale. Disc 1 is just packed with funk, fun and dirtiness while Disc 2 caters for a little bit of darkness, but packed with loads of punch. Any fan will appreciate what he as accomplished here, a no holds barred compilation.
Disc 1
1. DJ Dan & Hatiras feat. Mandy J - Love For The Weekend
2. Jacque Bauer - Grade A Bitch
3. DJ Dan & Hatiras - Baked From Scratch
4. Seamus Haji - Last Night A DJ Saved My Life [ATFC Ayteez Ayteez Remix]
5. Dennis The Menace Presents Tube6 - Funkadelic [Go To The Club Mix]
6. Da Skunk - Cuban Cigar
7. Da Skunk - Hot Box [Macca & Hatiras Remix]
8. DJ Dan - Illectrolingus [Macca Remix]
9. Antoine Clamaran - Decadence
10. DJ DLG - Rock Your World
11. Hysterie - Imagination [Acer Mix]
12. Dave Armstrong & RedRoche - Love Has Gone
13. Richard Grey Presents United State Of House - Be Good
14. Jon Pegnato - Flexible
Disc 2
1. The Loose Cannons - Superstars [Boris Dlugosh & Michi Lange Vocal Mix]
2. Plump DJs - Acid Hustle
3. Jan Francisco Meets Joseph Armani - Infatuation [Main Mix]
4. DJ Rooster & Sammy Peralta - Shake It
5. Disco Construction - Can't Get Enough [Steve Angello's Re-Mode Mix]
6. Macca - Ride Me Baby
7. Chris Kaeser - Boogie Star
8. New Order - Krafty [DJ Dan's Acid Dub]
9. Tony Senghore - Peace [Sebastian Ingrosso Remix]
10. The Drill - The Drill
11. Mike Balance - Rhythm
12. Who's Who? - Lipstick
13. Who's Who? - Not So Dirty
14. Coburn - We Interrupt This Program [Einmusik Remix]