(Central Station/MRA)

I’ll admit up front that I have high expectations for the inthemix.05 album. Mixing half the album is local Sydney DJ star Ajax. Back in my early clubbing days, on a memorable night at the Chinese Laundry in 2000 he was one of the first DJs I ever experienced out clubbing. Since then, he has always remained one of my favourites, providing me with such memories as the first time I heard Blue Monday out at a club.

Meanwhile, I first came across Tiga from his fabulous mixing on American Gigolo, an International Deejay Gigolo compilation from 2002. Featuring such tracks as his Sunglasses At Night single, Vitalic’s Poney Part 1 and Miss Kittin & The Hacker’s Frank Sinatra, the album was for me one of those classic compilations that you play over and over for months on end.

Kicking off the proceedings is Tiga’s mix. From the opening moments of Tiefschwarz’s Warning Siren, his mix unashamedly leans towards the nu-wave side of electro. Think eighties sounding vocals and lashings of synth chords, accompanied by irresistibly funky beats. Tiga’s Na Na Na Na Na Na Mix of Thomas Anderson’s Washing Up cannot fail to get your feet dancing, with its incessant fuzzy synths. Another killer in amongst the solid selection of tracks is Volta 82 from Boyz Noize, with its simple yet undeniably funky bassline.

In addition to his remix of Washing Up, a veritable feast of Tiga’s remixing and production work appears on the album. Not surprisingly his latest single, You Gonna Want Me, which features Scissor Sisters front man Jake Shears on vocal duties, is included, along with its B-side, the ominous Do It Don’t Stop. Tiga’s recent homage to Public Enemy, Louder Than A Bomb, which was released earlier this year, is also featured. The mix comes to a close with another of his remixes, the stomping (and confessional) “Out of the trance closet mix” of LCD Soundsystem’s Tribulations.

Ajax’s mix is more eclectic. Borrowing more from the disco and funk side of electro, it’s easy to see why Ajax has been dubbed the mash up king of Sydney. Never serious, always irreverent, his mix lures you in with its tantalisingly, filthy basslines. The cheesy I Built This City is deftly mixed into Princess Superstar’s kitsch Perfect. Kolombo’s Dance features Axel F-esque synths in all their glory, while Another Excuse from Soulwax is an effervescent piece of electrotech.

I’m not sure about the new vocals on Playpaul’s remake of the classic La La Land, but the tune is still incessantly catchy. Another remake is featured shortly later with D.O.N.S. featuring Technotronic’s Pump Up The Jam 2005. I love everything about Zdar’s Don’t U Want (Tiga Remix), from the melodramatic vocals to the stomping electrotech beats. All too soon the album winds down gently to a close with the subdued melodies of I Think About You.

Congratulations to inthemix.com.au on bringing together two fabulous DJs to create a truly fabulous album, sure to delight fans of both. After listening to album I can’t wait to catch Tiga and Ajax live on tour. Meanwhile, I think I’ll press play again…