V/A - Fifteen Years

Never one to shy away from sounding their own trumpet, the self-professed "world's most important club", The Ministry of Sound, celebrate again with their Fifteen Years compilation. Three CDs chronologically encompass the club's favourite tunes since 1991, mixed by three of their most popular residents. CD1 sees CJ Mackintosh trawl through the early days of cheesy US house and garage, CD2 gives Jazzy M free reign on the fertile house of the mid-nineties, and CD3 lets Mark Hughes round up all of the biggest crossover hits since then. From their start as a pioneering and widely respected club and label, The Ministry of Sound has embraced the commercial capitalism of dance music to embarrassing levels ever since (dance workout videos anyone?): this rather obvious selection of songs is perhaps a fitting tribute to the club, given the quality of music fostered a little deeper underground in the last decade and a half. [Peter Walker]