(Central Station/MRA)

Props to Central Station Records for Central Energy: The Nxt Generation. Any measure that supports Australian DJs always gets the thumbs-up, and this CD compilation features three of the countries’ most exciting up-and-coming artists. Representing Sydney we have the queen of hard, Amber Savage. Ex-Canberran, DJ Archie, delivers CD two. Finally, QLD favourite, Baby Gee, launches his brand of sound on disc three.

Savage kicks off her CD with ‘Within You’. This tune, one of her own production works, has a driving beat overlaid by vocals from Tennille. Tech guru Marcel Woods features on here with ‘Beautiful Mind’, as well as with ‘Fauna’ alongside girlfriend Jesselyn. Some massive hardstyle tunes get airtime including DJ Zany’s ‘Sky High’, the Isaac remix of ‘Coole Sau’ and ‘Black Anthem’ from The Rush Vs Thalamus. Savage nicely blends hardstyle with hard trance – other tunes you will hear are Hennes & Cold ‘First Session’, Yakooza ‘I Wanna Feel’ and DJ Dean ‘Ballanation’. Unfortunately Savage ends with Marc E-Bwoy’s ‘XTC, A Love Extreme’. I never understood the appeal of this super cheesy track, but I’m sure there are fans out there who will feel differently. Otherwise, this is a solid showing from Savage.

DJ Archie is, arguably, one of Australia’s best scratchers and, appropriately, he starts this CD with some cheeky tricks. His CD takes us on a journey, beginning with some trance – PVD’s remix of Deep Dish ‘Say Hello’ and Young Parisians haunting ‘Jump The Next Train’. Archie’s own ‘Above The Clouds’ steps up the pace, with tunes from Walt & Felix, Darkstylazz and Scot Project following. The harder style doesn’t stop there. Superstar Yoji Biomehanika features with his latest tune, the tech-influenced ‘Monochroma’. A favourite of mine, Sol Ray & Dark By Design ‘Evolution’, benefits from Archie’s hands on the vinyl. He also treats us to Dark By Design’s twisted ‘Blackout’ and ends with an old beloved dancefloor hit, Prodigy’s ‘Voodoo People’.

Baby Gee is QLD’s golden DJ, collecting #1 on the Technics ITM Top50 in his state. He too opens with some slower tunes, notably Armin Van Buuren ‘Shivers’ and the Dogzilla Pure Filth Remix of ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’. He spins the dial up with tracks from Marcel Woods, Koda and DJ Dready-2. Alphazone’s euphoric and driving ‘Flashback’ is an excellent inclusion, as is the thundering ‘Jazeker!’ from Southstylers. Rounding off this CD we have some tidy acid hard trance – ‘Intoxication’ by DJ Virus Meets DJ Neo, and the banging ‘Ethereal Sound Machine’ from Dark Oscillators.

Congrats must go to Amber, Archie and Baby Gee. They’ve picked some of the most popular trance, tech trance, hard trance and hardstyle tunes to hit the airwaves in 2005. There’s something on The Nxt Generation to suit everyone who likes to go hard, so support your local scene and pick this one up today!