Carl Craig - Sessions

Carl Craig is one of the most famous and respected names in the world of techno, consistently winning nominations and awards such as Groove magazine's Remixer of the Year. On the basis of this compilation spanning his 20-year career it is easy to see why. With such a long career, it would have been a difficult task to pick just a handful of tracks, but those chosen are strong representations of his production skills and talents. Drawing as much influence from world and jazz music as the dancefloor, these two discs are a giddy mix of energetic rhythms and inventive beats, coupled with intricate yet familiar melodies. From the breathy tension of his Grammy-nominated remix of Junior Boy's Like A Child to the raw, tribal energy of Tres Demented's Demented (a track produced with Laurent Garnier), Craig shows that, under various pseudonyms, he can do anything from minimal house to drum and bass. Classic tracks such as the groundbreaking Bug In The Bassbin, under the Innerzone Orchestra alias, sit comfortably alongside fresher material such as the bass-heavy remix of X-Press 2's Kill 100. There are moments when the mixing is weak, but when the track selection is of such high quality it doesn't matter. Previously unreleased tracks and edits make this a necessary purchase for any techno fan. [Scott Ramage]