Sheffield Mix Sessions (Mixed By Chris Duckenfield)

Mix Sessions, from Montreal label Turbo Recordings, is undoubtedly one of the most sophisticated series of DJ mixes around. This one by Sheffield's Chris Duckenfield is no different. A sparse, minimal journey through techno and tech-house, The Sheffield Mix Sessions includes a number of Detroit (like Ibex's "The Last Laugh") and Chicago-influenced selections. The disc has such a fluid motion that each track fills in a part of a very grand picture of an urban community where all its members are ready to dance. Fortunately, Duckenfield knows when to say when and keeps the beats minimal and swelling rather than sharp and overly upbeat. This is groove at its best, especially with hard analog funk trips like Marschmellow's "Soulpower" and Swirl's "People We Are." The record does dwindle a bit near the middle and rests for a while on some rather nondescript tracks before it jumps back into heavenly dancefloor madness with contributions from Simon and Crispin J. Glover. Though not quite as varied as the Mix Sessions installments by Tiga or Kenny Glasgow, The Sheffield Mix Sessions proves that Duckenfield's a DJ worth his salt and worth his inclusion in this impressive series of DJ mixes. ~ Ken Taylor|