Active as a DJ since the late 90s, Cinthie released a few electro-breaks records in the early 2000s before laying low for a while and tending to personal matters. After connecting with Berlins D.I.Y. party scene, she became re-inspired and took up music full-time, co-founding the Beste Modus collective and devoting all her time to DJing and producing music, mainly using analog synthesizers. In the space of several years, shes formed several labels, owns a record store (Elevate Berlin), and released her debut album on Will Sauls Aus Music (2020s Skylines - City Lights). Her first commercially issued mix is the 77th volume of the DJ-Kicks series, and it is a delightful, seamless session which never fails to uplift. Fitting 23 tracks into 70 minutes, Cinthie seems eager to share a few all-time favorites as well as newer obsessions. None of the individual tracks seem to spend too much time in the mix, yet she never seems in a rush to switch to another record either. Her mixing is remarkably fluid, flowing from piano-driven deep house to swinging garage with ease. Cinthies original contribution, "Organ," arrives early in the mix, and its a shimmering beauty that helps set the vibe for some of the wilder tracks which arrive later in the mix. Camion Bazars garage track "YLB," significantly pitched down from its original tempo, has sharp, zig-zagging bass and bits of crashing breakbeats, yet Cinthie manages to handle it so that it doesnt burst out of line. Cinthie pays particular reverence to Chicago house, incorporating tracks by the late, legendary Paul Johnson (calling out dancers for essentially giving new names to old dances) and Boo Williams. In between those selections are two standout breakbeat-driven tracks, Ben Haukes slightly juke-influenced "Aint Bad" and Logic1000s piano rave belter "I Wont Forget." She saves the most unabashedly disco-loving track, Chevals "Please Dont," almost for last, with Anna Walls acid electro cut "The Storm Ends" serving as an end-of-night comedown. ~ Paul Simpson

Rovi