Avatar bring you a sound which is deep, down and dirty but with a kick. �Drift Away� is a cool as you like pounding house track remixed by Minilogue on this first of a 2 disc set. Minilogue take a harder edge on things and use the vocal into a main breakdown before slamming out for a huge riff-filed finale. On the flip side Avatar go all beats and breaks with an original and very unique sounding version. DJ friendly and ultra loud! Superb.

Sunkissed Records goes from strength to strength as each release outshines the last. Bill always enlists the talents of other producers enabling him to come up with some amazing tracks. Next releases include further collaborations with Simon �Redbak� Noble and Noel Sanger. Label boss Bill Hamel picked this up over the WMC along with a solo offering from Thomas Penton - 'Lock Up' (forthcoming on Sunkissed). The label fought off stiff competition from a number of other record companies and are proud to have both of these guys making their debuts on the Florida based labels. Penton�s track record speaks for itself! Put him with new-guy: Pasquale and these two are firing on all cyclinders.....the pair are behind the bootleg of: Madonna - "Bedtime Stories". The A-side is a slightly tribal flavoured house number. The track works with a thumping bassline towards a mid section break that allows a cool floor destroying riff to build before the track bangs back into its finale. The B-side keeps things similar but loses the riff. - one for the slightly deeper floors or those 3am moments.

Vapour Recordings is Kasey Taylor�s own label project and has enjoyed huge success over the years featuring artists such as Jarrod & Taylor�s Blakstone, Nash T�s Bluephaze and Kasey�s own Ocean Wave act. Forthcoming singles will see Jerry Bonham make his debut on the label and Nash T follow up his 'Bell' single with the superb 'What Is Music?'. Fitalic are a Dutch based double act who have been spotted and nurtured by the excellent Pako & Frederik (Bedrock / Coded / Majestic etc). They have a unique percussive sound that crosses tech elements with some more purist trance. Two similar tracks here of which the B side has a overall funkier feel to it by the addition of a cool moving bass line. Building tech trance and extremely programmable for many DJs.

Following the huge success of �Here comes the Pain� and �I Need You�, Tidy�s label manager hits back with two stunning hard trance journeys. Keeping within the style of his sets, Lee�s second outing really encapsulates the hard trance sound that is in the club scene today. 'Music is the Drug' leads the way with pounding kicks, a thunderous off-beat bass and an evil lead synth line, before breaking down to lush strings and the main vocal sample, which has been getting a lot of praise on numerous websites. The main riff follows which really finishes off the track on a euphoric note! On the flip we have 'Your Serve', a rather bizarre track but one that has caused a bit of a stir mainly because of its memorable samples and fun feel. The track really sticks in your head and is a quality B-side to yet another strong release.

'No Way Out' was originally released on parent label Sunkissed Records last year. Mezz comprises of Bill Hamel and Simon Noble (ex Breeder) who have joined forces to work on joint projects. On the A side label boss Bill Hamel has worked on a remix that keeps most of the original elements and a deep dubby feel to this Digweed championed house track. On the flip side US based Noel Sanger has created a slightly more epic mix with wonderful strings and his usual trademark percussion. Two different mixes and a worthy re-release. Remixer, Noel Sanger is one of America�s golden boys and longest standing DJs/producers.. He has released solo and remix work on a multitude of labels including BT�s highly acclaimed 'Music Now'. His greatest moment was arguably the superb �No Greater Love�, which was released on SFP before being released in the UK on Additive.

The A side: �ORIGINAL MIX� is a deep chugging groover, just what you would expect from Darko when writing for Mechanism. The track rolls along in a kind of Peace Division style, the layers of sound building subtlety over that rock solid groove. The track subtly strips down for the breakdown except for that unusual sound that is the core of the track before things kick off again and chug along smoothly. Deep funky grooves Darko style��!! The AA side: �BLACKWATCH SPANISH HARLEM DUB MIX� is best described as a big, phat, percussive groove with all the Blackwatch production trademarks. Deep yet funky this track works itself along beautifully to the breakdown where things fade away to nothing before kicking back in with that solid groove once again. Another sure-fire winner from Blackwatch�check it and groooove. This mix is already featured on some forthcoming compilations including Hernan Cattaneo for Perfecto and Bill Hamel.

Nukleuz Purple has a reputation for breaking new styles of hard house and has featured releases from Nick Sentience and Phil Reynolds among others. This reputation ensures that Nukleuz Purple gets the attention of all fans of cutting edge hard dance and is very well respected. D�Marr Ford is a 21 year-old London DJ / producer who is rapidly making a name for himself with the support of hard house heavyweights Andy Farley and BK who are helping him rise through the ranks. Here he delivers a raucous romp through hard dance land with a nod to the original electro vibes, featuring a massive beatbox section. Absolutely unique and totally memorable! The 12� features a beatbox acappella which is being used by the likes of BK and Andy Farley to spice up their sets. Remixer, DJ Virus, is the boss of the mighty Blutonium Records from Germany. His release �All Your Bass� has been signed to Eve Records in the UK and features in the playlists of Judge Jules, Fergie and many many more. The remix is in the classic �German� hard house style a la Cosmic Gate and has a hard trance edge as well as the track�s trademark beatboxing!

David Duriez presents his fourth release on 20:20Vision, �Get On Down�, following on from the success of last year�s �Seriously Disturbed� and the superb ,'Under Blister', which Darren Emerson used for his Global Underground Singapore session. Over the past 8 years David has recorded over 70 records for many prestigious labels, including F-Com, Jinxx, Stickman, Low Pressings and Gourmet. He is also well known for playing tech influenced, deep house music, which always has a funky edge and loads of percussion. DD can be caught DJing at a myriad of cooler clubs throughout France (Rex, Batofar, Trax etc), England (Hotwatermusic, Notting Hill Arts Club etc), Germany (Nature One, Pfeifferbank etc), America (Chicago, Baltimore, Washington etc), Finland, Switzerland, Poland, Denmark and Canada. With such a hectic DJ schedule and partnership in one of France�s hippest labels, his profile can only go from strength to strength, especially when you have a single as good as 'Get on Down', already played by Tong on The Essential Mix, Yousef, Lottie, Lawson and D�Julz and licensed to Rocky�s mix for the prestigious Faith parties!

Energy UK awards received for 2001: 'New Label Of The Year' No.1 and 'Overall Label Of The Year' No.2 (behind Nukleuz.) The final installment from the Circle Of Friends EP sees two thumping remixes from some of the scene's biggest and best producers. Paul Glazby is one of the most in demand producers in today�s hard house scene, with countless remixes and original tracks under his belt on labels such as Tidy, Nukleuz, Frantic, Kaktai, Tripoli and not forgetting Vicious Circle. Any Release with Paul�s name on it is almost guaranteed to be massive! Hard trance pioneers Phil Reynolds and Steve Blake have cornered the market with their pumping yet uplifting sound. Both producers have worked with the biggest labels Tidy, Nukleuz, Frantic etc. If you want a hard trance anthem, these boys are the people you need to speak to. Vicious Circle has positioned itself as one of the top hard house labels and is widely recognized as one of the best labels for quality and consistency.

Soulful Solutions aims to bring new British talent to the international stage. Not wanting to be pigeonholed into one particular style of music, Soulful Solutions aims to penetrate a variety of markets whilst maintaining its focus on quality house music. The inaugural release on this label, 'Vivid Description' comes from the relatively new collaboration that is Funkin� Yoof. Hailing from the deepest, darkest parts of East London, these guys have one mission: to penetrate soul, funk and house with a mixture of hard beats, intelligent vocals and deeper filters.

"Stunted little samples of strings double up as stabs over the real crisp beats that take us up to the breakdown. Here the track disappears completely as the string samples fade and fade again and again into obscurity, this could seem like an eternity behind the decks but hold tight. Rest assured things bounce back with a spoken vocal repeating "acid jazz" over and over again and more phat percussion on the `Rework Dub Mix`. The Original` is slightly tuffer as the string samples are teamed up with some nice dirty keys and metallic percussion to boot. Good first effort for Phil Martin's new Soulful Solutions stable and it promises more soulful happenings in the future. "

3/5 Yogi Haughton

Ben Kaye goes up against Charlie J to deliver one of Vacuum�s toughest trance workouts. Hard, driving beats give way to a dark and atmospheric trance riff that builds and builds until it drops to great euphoric effect. This track could have taken a predictable route, but the effects and arrangement change throughout, making this a safe bet to tear up any dancefloor. Ingo delivers a bass driven remix that keeps the dark feel of the original and gives it a distinctive Ingo twist, in one of his most effective remixes to date. This is a serious sound, using synth riffs cleverly rearranged from the original and layered on top of each other, strange effects and a spooky vocal to ensure dancefloor mayhem. Play it loud!!

King Unique are two of England�s hottest producers / remixers. Last year they had 5 �Essential New Tunes� on the trot, the last one being their debut artist release for Junior, �Dirty�, one the biggest club anthems of the year. They are currently writing and recording their debut album�. expect big things from these two. This is their first single for Junior under the King Unique moniker � big sounding house music already being played by Tong, Fontaine, Sasha etc.

Following the success of their first release on Untidy, the boys return with another summer treat as we wind down into the cold Autumn. �Love What You�re Doing To Me� comes with two mixes, the Original and the Majestic 12 Remix. The original simply oozes Ibiza, really chilled and laid back which is great for those early or bar sets. On the flip Majestic 12 deliver a slightly tougher version but really keep the Ibiza feel throughout. This mix has already received support from Judge Jules and Dave Pearce off acetate. The last release on Untidy for 2002, see you next year.

Beautiful Records is the new house imprint from Media Records UK and the first release features the varied tastes of the rising star Tom Neville. Tom started his musical career as part of the underground techno and breakbeat band �Sentience� but was to draw away from the harder sound after discovering his love of house music. Now Tom is part of the London underground house collective, the Ignition Crew (www.ignitioncrew.com) and plays in most of the major London clubs including a residency at RIOT!@The End. Having also worked as a professional engineer for Media records for a couple of years, Tom�s production and engineering skills plus his knowledge of dance music have grown to make him a definite contender as a future figure on the UK�s house scene. �Funky Beat� is a Balearic house groover with a beautiful warm bass-line and, funnily enough, a funky beat to match! On the flip �Hot Baby� picks up the pace with a tougher pumping house outing, working the groove, ready for the break down and the kick in.

The New York / Blackpool connection continues to flourish with a track that has been causing mayhem on dance floors both sides of the Atlantic, 'It Won�t Hurt You. DJ Onionz and Master D have been friends and working together for the past ten years and are part of the 6400 Crew, alongside their West coast cousins Tony Hewitt, Hipp-ee and Halo. Master D runs Syntax Distribution full time and Onionz plays all over the world building up a reputation as one of the next wave of superstar DJs, in clubs like Back to Basics and The End in the UK and countries like Greece, France and of course Ibiza. He also has a burgeoning reputation in the studio through remixes and tracks, recording on his own and with sometime partner Joeski as The Barrio Brothers, who have had a great run on Shaboom with Hold onto Your Love and Flippin� It. The two have also just had a critically acclaimed mix CD out as part of NRK�s Nightlife compilation series. Between them, the men behind this record have had releases on Siesta, Champion, Tango, NRK and run Elektrik Soul and Blakhook Records, both of which have on the cutting edge of house music over the past couple of years. 'It Won�t Hurt You' has the Onionz trademark bongos and latin flavas with an infectious bass-line which is pure unbridled dance-floor stuff. It ebbs and oozes with stabs and fx and has been wreaking nightclub carnage at the Miami conference as an integral part to all the 6400 Crew's sets. The flip sees a dub version and Blakkat taking things deeper with his tech-house sound that has been doing things for Terry Francis, Craig Richards and King Britt.

This is the third outing for the man known as Kenny Shifter on Fluid Recordings UK. 'Urban Silence' is the follow up to Six which is in the box of Yoshitoshi, Remy, Lemon 8, Bill Hamel, Three Drives on Vinyl, and became a party anthem at Tribal Sessions in Manchester. With probably his best work to date, �Urban Silence� showcases a �look to the future but don�t forget your past� moment for Mr Shifter. 'Urban Silence� sounds equally at home in a Deep Dish set as it does in an Anthony Pappa set � another accolade to Mr Shifter�s growing reputation. The A-side features the original mix which draws influence from some of Remy�s, Slacker�s and Medway�s better moments. A combination of fattened percussion and sweeping pads mingle with twisted samples that Kenny has brought from way out of the leftfield. The B-side holds possibly the most novel name for a mix this year. The �shutyourfatgobdub� is to the A side what Hyde was to Jekyll. A new dimension is given to the package with Kenny�s usage of the samples, resulting in a mix that is very �now�.

The very infectious 'All Your Bass' by DJ V.I.R.U.S. has already caused a storm from the limited copies available on the original Blutonium Records pressing from Germany. Spread over two separate discs on Recover, Part 1 of this package features a storming new remix by Prime Mover and a pumped up Thomas Trouble mix. The Recover release has already been given tune of the month in both Ministry and DJ Magazines, and early acetate support has come from Ed Real, Andy Farley and Lee Haslam, followed by further heavyweight DJ support: "Excellent package" (Mark Kavanagh), "Awesome" (Jez & Charlie), "One of the biggest tunes in my box" (Danny Slade). Watch out for part 2 with an equally impressive set of more uplifting mixes by K90 and Le Brisc.

'T-Break' is a frenzied attack on the senses - mad fx, vicious stabs and a rumbling bass-line. Just when you think it can't get any more intense, in comes the acid line from hell - pure darkness from Paul & Jules!! Hot on the heels of his awesome mix of �Do You See The Light� by Snap! vs Plaything for Ministry Of Sound, the remix is supplied by man-of-the-moment Steve Murano. He introduces a vocal to set the scene before launching into his trademark driving bass and beats. The fx from the original are here but he twists them into a mind bending re-rub that is sure to satisfy his growing legion of fans. After a few spins from Judge Jules on Radio 1, the phone has been ringing off the hook with enquiries of a release date and more information on the track, not to mention the massive German record label, Tracid Traxxx immediately putting in a licensing request.