(Defected/Shock)

Wax Wars is the first in a new series that sees DJs battle it out head-to-head for their respective record labels. First up we have Simon Dunmore (Defected), Brian Tappert (Soulfuric), Jamie Lewis (Purple Music). The three disc compilation is a winner with house music fans. Each mix doesn’t shy away from the big tunes, that said, there’s plenty of fresh cuts, acapellas and re-edits present over the series that are sure to give the more discerning music lover a smile.  

Defected maestro Simon Dunmore delivers the package you’d expect, on time, in tact and with real flair. Wasting no time Dunmore pulls the big guns with Solveig’s ‘Jealousy’ and Julie McKnight’s ‘Home’, moving through the mix it becomes obvious that we are listening to the labels top 15 sellers from the past 6 months re-ordered. The mixing is basic at times, but moments of brilliance are present, namely the vibe created by the mix of Johnny Corporate’s ‘Sunday Shoutin’’ into ‘The Rain’ by Real People. It’s difficult to deny the fresh, funky and soulfully sexy Latin-infused beats displayed by Dunmore. With names such as Playgroup, Bob Sinclar, Kings Of Tomorrow and Muthafunkaz, just to name a few, this is a great collection of recent soulful dancefloor bombs. 

Next up Tappert of the US Soulfuric label creates a kinetic mix of classic-sounding modern house. In the early stages the chords are dubbed and the pianos take a backseat as gospel vocals and lush melodies wash over listeners. As the mix progresses so does the intensity, there’s plenty of fresh material here. The closing stages of the mix demand attention; the acapellas fuse flawlessly to short sharp re-edits, to create a vibe that is rare in mixed compilations these days.

Saving the best for last the Purple-people-eater Jamie Lewis stings us with a funk fueled cocktail laced with crisp percussion, sharp sophisticated vocals and real emotion. The mix holds together perfectly with half of the productions being Lewis’ own. Expect rich pianos, raw vocals, dubbed post-disco, rolling basslines and plenty of sexiness.

Wax Wars is definitely a compilation to watch. It seems that the winner of battle is Jamie Lewis, but the winners of the war are those who love their house music.