Five years is a long time when you’re talking about independent labels, longer still if the music you’re peddling is house. So when Ben Watt’s revered Buzzin’ Fly imprint turned five earlier this year, it was cause for celebration. Having consistently showcased a forward-thinking brand of house since launching in 2003, Buzzin’ Fly has kept the critics raging (check out the recent ITM feature for more info).

From tech-edged to minimal, uptempo and deep to dark, moody and melancholic house, Buzzin’ Fly has made a name for itself as one imprint that has bucked the general trend, succeeding in a notoriously tough industry while many of its rivals closed their doors or moved to digital-only releases. So, five years on, Buzzin’ Fly is still pressing 12” singles, is still releasing its acclaimed compilations and above all, still releasing music aiming to ‘replenish the soul’.

Five Golden Years In The Wilderness does just that. Already named compilation of the month by a swag of industry publications that matter, Ben Watt’s A&R talents really shine on this 3CD unmixed release.

Featuring a who’s who of the label’s noted artists, the comp is split into three moods. Disc one Up features bouncy tracks including Alex S’ Classic Mix of the Latin-disco smash Musica Feliz by Rodamaal & Nicinha, Justin Martin’s Nightowl and Ben Watt’s own Pop A Cap In Yo’ Ass featuring Estelle, Lone Cat (Holding On) which was the label’s first official release, as well as the deeper than deep Stronger Man featuring Sananda Maitreya.

Disc two Down is darker than the first disc and more suited to the early hours of the morning. Standout tracks – even though all are pretty tight – include John Tejada’s remix of Jimpster’s clubland hit Square Up, Automagic’s Do You Feel and Unity’s I Love You.

It is on disc three however, where Ben Watt’s enduring A&R talents come to the forefront. While all tracks on CDs one and two are selected from Buzzin’ Fly’s back catalogue, disc three Forward is, in Watt’s own words, ‘future facing’, and features tracks either just signed or just about to be released. Phat tracks abound on this third disc, including Lovebirds’ deep Beat Goes Boom and the label’s next single, Spencer Parkers’ Chiho.

Check disc three for the sound of what you’ll be hearing in clubs for some time. This is a fine compilation celebrating the fifth birthday of one of the strongest independent house labels out there and, being totally unmixed, will be a sure thing for DJs to pick up. Five stars.

Tracklist CD 1:
01 Darkmountaingroup – Lose Control.
02 Ben Watt Feat Estelle – Pop A Cap In Yo’ Ass (Radio Edit)
03 Rodamaal Feat Nicinha – Musica Feliz (Alex S Classic Club Mix)
04 Justin Martin – The Sad Piano (Charles Webster Remix)
05 Ben Watt – Lone Cat
06 Justin Martin – Nightowl
07 Rodamaal Feat Claudia Franco – Insomnia (Ame Remix)
08 Manoo and Francois A – Traffic
09 Mlle Caro and Franck Garcia – Dead Souls (Radio Slave Remix)
10 Ben Watt Feat Sananda Maitreya – A Stronger Man.

Tracklist CD 2:
01 Kayot – One Week On Cuba
02 Unity – I Love You
03 Two Armadillos – Nostalgia
04 Rocco – Thursday Night Friday Morning
05 Lephtee – So Far Back (The Nova Dream Sequence Remix)
06 Mlle Caro and Franck Garcia – Mon Ange
07 Jimpster – Square Up (John Tejada Remix)
08 Automagic – Do You Feel?
09 Barbq – Barbi In Love
10 Manoo and Francois A – A Day in December

Tracklist CD 3:
01 Stimming – Kleine Nachtmusik
02 Barbq – Music From The Great Plains
03 Rodamaal Feat Claudia Franco – Insomnia (Kemistry Remix)
04 Spencer Parker – Chiho
05 Gavin Herlihy – Give Me A Funf
06 Lovebirds – The Beat Goes Boom
07 Here Today – Good News