As we all know, the Future Music Festival is now the nation’s leading dance festival, and with good reason. In conjunction with the start of their tour, Future Entertainment has released a double mix CD put together by the likes of Robbie Rivera and Carl Kennedy. After a first listen, it is well in the tradition of the vibe of the festival with some of the pumping house, progressive and techno we have all come to be familiar with at the Future Entertainment festivals over the year.

House jock Robbie Rivera is up first and kicks off with one of his own tracks to start, The Hum Melody. A nice, fat, solid beat drives this one with a vocal sample that is a little eerie yet exquisite. A nice, high pitched siren like sample a couple of minutes in kicks it into some dark, cranking tech house. The mix to The Reward is Cheese is a little bit more raw and industrial, but still maintains the solid bass. We see more of the same in Erupt. Already you get a feeling of darkness yet excitement. So far, this is a perfect blend of house and tech-house for those huge speaker stacks at festival.

Baby When the Light gives the mix a slightly more uplifting, progressive feel. A little bit more melodic from what has come previously but a great track to step it up a notch. Sunny Rain by Brian Cross keeps the driving melodic prog house feel, and now begins to shift to the next vibe in an already outstanding mix. Hustle Up winds us back to some more raw, primitive, meaty analogue sounds which then build back up nicely into an uplifting house vibe which hits a perfect peak and build up that will get the dance floor reaching. Not Exactly by Deadmau5 morphs into a more trancey, progressive theme again that will draw interest from some of those punters more into the more energetic sounds. Real reaching music, this one hits you right in the pit of your stomach. Some nice break downs and build ups – emotive music at its’ best.

Break Down the House is another mood shift back to more techy, filthy sounds. Robbie obviously likes to not let the crowds and listeners peak for too long, keeping them a reasonable level. Aye Aye Aye by Robbie Rivera along with the C&C Music Factory DJs is a beautiful way to conclude he mix. Body shaking, convulsing, insane house that will have the masses reaching when the strobe and smoke hit them on the floor. I must admit I knew little about Robbie Rivera before this CD but I am now dead keen to see him at some point in the future (no pun intended). It is a damn shame he has been a late withdrawal from the Future Festival because if his live efforts are just as good as this mix, he will not disappoint.

Carl Kennedy now takes over for disk two, introducing us with Grand Canyon by Tracey Thorn. This is a nice, straight up, house track. It’s nice, mid paced and catchy – great way to start. What U Do drops it back a little to more primal, thick beats which is a more stomping feel and heart pounding. All Alone is placed perfectly and one of those house tracks everyone knows. It’s grabbing, popular and the right time for such a crowd pleaser. Elephant & Castle is one of Carl Kennedy’s own and gets a little bit more progressive and electric, winding it up a little more before we hit Everywhere. Now this one is right on the progressive button and will give you goose bumps. It’s really nice, positive, uplifting anthem. Delete My Number drops back a gear to more pure house that will still entertain and leave people with some more energy for the remainder of the set. Carl Kennedy by now is proving he is masterfully manipulating the mood of the set.

Let Me Know by Rosin Murphy gives us up to that more melodic house again which Carl Kennedy seems to have a passion for. This has energy and the ability to empower any punter and crowd. Dramatical is a slower, prog house builder that is almost an electric symphony. This has the new age classical feel to it that makes emotions soar and atmospheres’ run wild. Iperiod drops back a notch to more funky, groovy house before giving us something interesting with I Found U by Axwell. This track is so reminiscent of those old school house sounds from the early 90s, a great heart starter that gets ready for the conclusion on Lessons in Love. This is perfect anthem house that gets you up on your feet, ready to scream for more.

Where Robbie Rivera blends several flavours of house, Carl Kennedy tends to spice his recipe with more, sweet, uplifting vibes. But each is as good as each other, and different music does suit different moods. One thing they do have in common is excellent programming and flawless mixing. Carl Kennedy will be a more than worthwhile DJ to see at the festival and like I said, it is a shame Robbie Rivera cannot be here. This CD is still an awesome listen and will still get airplay on a number of home systems way after the festival is finished. Highly recommended!