(Good Looking/Inertia)

Danny Williamson really needs no introduction. In fact, I’ve lost count of how many ‘Progression Sessions’ are out there – this guy is a release machine – and like most things that bear the names ‘LTJ Bukem’ and ‘Good Looking Records’, the result is class and charm. The Good Looking stable is termed progressive for the simple reason that it differentiates itself from the slamming hardness that comes from many of the tough UK labels like Ram and Metalheadz.

This is what I would call music for the mind – each mix he does is a journey for the spirit and the body. The appeal of Conrad on stage [himself a mastermind of making booties move] as well as LTJ behind the decks, makes this one of the most formidable combinations in drum and bass today – and likely well into the future.

As usual, the tracks that feature on this carefully selected mix [14 in total] are produced by Bukem’s favorite artists – and names who are frequently seen on his other mixes – likely, because of their consistent quality.  Perth’s Greg Packer: Open Tune kicks off proceedings, with Conrad already firing up the Munich massive. Its elegant flowing keys and vocal stabs convince me the Greg is likely to get bigger and bigger. Indeed, he is already on a number of UK compilations and his works are comparable to anything produced anywhere in the world. Big up!

Makoto: Eastern Dub, of course features too as does Promise [later] while MC Conrad & Makoto: Golden Girl gets the rewind treatment to the joy of the crowd. There is no doubt in my mind that this Japanese wonderkid [Makoto Shimuzu] is doing great things right now. Catch 22: Survival and Catch 22: Brotherhood bring up the tail end of proceedings with harder snares, strings and percussion equally suited to the Brixton winter and the Bondi summer. Makoto & Run: Let me Love You, complete the mix – a fly jazzy number.

In total, over an hour of intelligent and agreeable music – this should be the drum and bass induction for anyone who is yet to appreciate this genre; just as it is essential listening to fans of Bukem and Conrad.