Writing about music from Canada is almost always a real pleasure, especially when it comes to house music. Since years, Canada puts out quality house records on labels such as 83West, DNH, and obviously lately also Play Records, that push the boundaries of good house. Located in the party town Toronto, Play Records proofs T's reputation with a gorgeous mix CD that showcases the talents of some of Canada's best house producers, and of course the turntable magic of DJ Peace Harvest. And if you thought you have heard it all, think again because this CD has a variety of unknown tracks on it that feature some of the best deep and jazz house wizardry I have heard in years!

Mr. Harvest takes us on a wicked journey into the dark and deep house underground, where the lights are dimmed and people are humping with their eyes closed. From the first to the last track, you will experience the different shades of house, ranging from jazz-infested 118 bpm killer jams to minimal deep house sleepers that will slowly crawl into your brain to free you of all pain and sorrow. Isn't that what house music is all about?

True house music is also about the underground movement; something that nowadays slowly vanishes from our beloved music. However, this is not true for this release which includes truckloads of unknown gems from artists and producers who still breathe and live the real underground, like Marc De Bryne's "Organ Jive," a minimal jazz house stomper that will shake every booty from here to eternity. Who in the world is Marc De Bryne, and where was he hiding all those days?

Another favorite of mine is the unreleased mix of Mr. Hermano's "Corcovada" (Disorient), a beautiful deep house tune that takes a Frankie Knuckles-like piano into jazz house heaven. And let's also not forget the exceptional latin jazz house workout courtesy of Vancouver's Shazzam, a track that is made for the most beautiful part on female bodies.

Thanks to the seamless mixing skills of Peace Harvest, you can experience almost every track in its entire 6-7 minute beauty while enjoying an educational journey through house. This is probably the greatest compliment I have for this CD. It's all about the music, and while I got so tired of "over-mixed" and "over-beatmatched" mix CDs that focus more on DJ skills than music, this one offers a well deserved break. Watch out for Play Records! They might be onto something...

MG
April 2001