Frenchman Martin Solveig is no stranger to the house scene. Getting an early start at the tender age of 18, he landed a residency at the elite Parisian night club Le Palace and cementing his place in the most prestigious of French circles. One of the shining stars on the defining house music label Defected, it was only a matter of time (and maybe too long of a wait) for Solveig to be featured on the In the House mix series.

Disc one is the more uptempo of the discs, not that the first four tracks are any indication of this. For someone of the ilk of Solveig, it’s surprising that he chose to open with four really weak songs on such a big compilation. After the first few numbers you’re left wondering how much longer you can hang in for.

But if you do manage to hang in there long enough to make it to track five, you are instantly rewarded as one of his best pieces of production, Jealousy, gives the disc some much needed credibility and sets it on its way: this time in the right direction. The rest of the disc is fortunately similar and less a reflection of the opening few numbers. There are a few black spots that make the disc weaker than it needed to be, with Solveig’s remix of Dalia by Bumcello being a little too light n fluffy for this reviewer. MC Mellowdee’s Don’t Stop is a cool rare disco groove track that features twice on the disc, the first time with great success but the second time less-so as the weaker Shock Your Mind Mix is played.

Solveig keeps things distinctly French with a track from fellow Parisian Bob Sinclar, For You, one of the highlights of the first disc alongside Jealousy. Traffic is yet another track by a countryman, this time courtesy of DJ Gregory. But Martin’s choice cuts resonate alongside his native roots, and this review wouldn’t be complete without highlighting the masterful Tiga’s contribution with Good as Gold, yet another production masterpiece from the Canadian genius.

But it’s the last track on the first disc that really takes the cake, and I wished the entire original version was played instead of a three-minute preview/interlude at the end, that being Julien Jabre’s utterly AMAZING Swimming Places. I absolutely adore this track and only wish it would’ve been given a little bit longer to play out.

Martin changes the whole landscape of the album with disc two, this time with a more downtempo house sound with RnB elements throughout, highlighted by the opening track I Got a Woman. Other listeners actually enjoyed this disc more so than the first disc, but personally I’m not of that opinion. It’s an assorted selection of Martin’s alternative favourite tracks but personally it just doesn’t resonate with me. Apache with Incredible Bongo Band, George Clinton with Atomic Dog and the timeless The Breaks by Kurtis Blow are tracks that seem to resonate with lovers of the second disc, me not being one of them.

The album thankfully does have two good CDs out of three as the third disc is an unmixed selection of Martin’s finest production achievements, and a good final nail in the coffin for those considering a purchase. All the big anthems are there: Rocking Music, Everybody, I’m A Good Man and a personal favourite, the club dub of Erro Change For Me.

Overall I’m a bit split as to how I feel about the CD. The poor start to disc one is matched by my unsympathetic view towards disc two, yet there are periods of brilliance that can only be associated with those in the upper echelons of house music production, with Solveig being one of these few. But I just feel there is too much competition in the house compilation market for this to be anywhere near the success you’d think someone like Solveig would aspire to. You may enjoy it, but I personally found it disappointing.