(Hussle Recordings/EMI)

DJ Sneak is part of the second wave of influential house jocks hailing from the windy city that is Chicago. Arriving in the USA in the early 1980s from Puerto Rico, a young DJ Sneak spoke no English and found a common love in elements that transcended language barriers – namely music and graffiti art. His motivation saw him take to the decks and to the studio – and by the early 1990s, he was releasing on Relief and Cajual Records as well as the hugely successful Strictly Rhythm, along with stable mates Armand Van Helden and DJ Pierre. Like these two, Sneak now has a significant catalogue behind him and considers it the right time to deliver his ‘complete artist album’, Housekeepin’.

Featuring 12 individual tracks, he calls this release one which “keeps house music alive and taking it to people who wouldn’t normally listen to it”. In that vain, it is a success. It is not an album for DJz per se, rather an album for dance music fans who want something to listen to – that isn’t mixed, and loaded with like-for-like anthems. Partly because the tracks are individual and different. Indeed, its influences too, are diverse with Sneak himself, sampled on several of the tracks. The now world famous ‘Fix My Sink’ is in there [a UK top 20 number]. As are a long list of sublime songs with everything from Latin vocals and deep grooves like ‘Call Me’ and ‘Funky Rhythm’. The minimal, almost digital flavor of ‘Inside’ is a departure too, from the traditional house sound, encompassing a rhythm more like tech-house.

I enjoyed this album, for it isn’t offensive or boring. And while the die hard Sneak fans will find this heaven, I think house lovers generally will take pleasure in it. On the flip side, it’s range results in somewhat of a lack of cohesion [you could say] although it is a “twist up” after all – they say you can’t have your cake and eat it too! So this may scare away some listeners. Overall, this release won’t change the world but it is solid nevertheless. It is essentially quality house music, from a man that is clearly on top of his game.