It's All Good Vol.1 (Mixed By Red Snapper)

Sadly, one of Red Snapper's final projects before dissolving only goes to show what a forward-thinking group they really were. Crafting an emotional and soulful compilation, the group's entry into the It's All Good series is a fantastic mixture of jazzy experimental electronica, ethereal house, and energetic dance tracks. The secret here is the sense of yearning, which may be the only thread connecting the array of music within. This is an album that always returns to that understated passion, even when it takes sharp turns towards fast-paced beats and up-tempo songs. Starting with the mournful Ectomorph remix of His Name Is Alive's "Someday My Blues Will Cover the Earth," the disc somehow makes the journey to Spacer's snappy, horn-laden "Houston" and finally to Red Snapper's own dreamy "Belladonna" in a seamless array of movements. Pulling strong feelings out of this material seems like a difficult task, especially when the tracks are often kept at their original, unabridged length. But Red Snapper rewards patience with a strong sense of relief, bringing the record to a powerful emotional high before slowing back down again to drop the listener off. Red Snapper's It's All Good doesn't resemble a typical mix record, but instead it ebbs and flows like a good jazz recording (even the blurb on the back of the album makes the connection). It may be a tad too heady for the dancefloor, but during a late night-drive on the freeway, it would be hard to find a finer companion. ~ Bradley Torreano|