DJ Kicks: Henrik Schwarz

Anyone serious about dance music over the past decade is almost certain to own a DJ Kicks release. The series has shown that mix compilations can offer more than simply the supposed 'hot' tracks of the moment; the artists invited to contribute are given free reign to celebrate their own individual tastes. It's proved a winning formula, resulting in several excellent contributions, from the laid-back sounds of Kruder & Dorfmeister; to the disco-not-disco of Playgroup; and now with the latest instalment, German producer Henrik Schwarz shows he is more than capable of maintaining these high standards. Taking inspiration from his freestyle laptop sets that see him twist his own productions into something fresh for the dance-floor, his offering tweaks tracks from artists as varied as Donald Byrd, Arthur Russell, Drexciya and Marvin Gaye to create a superbly coherent mix which segues effortlessly through styles and moods, making it an easy stand-out in a saturated market. [Colin Chapman]