Much like the Star Trek movies, the Global Underground city series seems to never run out of steam with releases continuously rolling of the GU production line. And like Star Trek, there is a worrying inconsistency to what is dished out, with absolute classics mixed with a disturbing number of “what were they thinking” moments. The latest compilation is from house and techno luminary Darren Emerson who shines the spotlight on the Colombian capital of Bogota, and while this is not quite the turgid mess of Star Trek 3: The Search for Spock, it is certainly not one of the brighter moments (think Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan – that was pretty good).

Darren Emerson can comfortably lay claim to being one of dance music’s pioneers, from his early involvement with Underworld, to his Underwater label that did big things earlier this decade. Having been responsible for some of the GU city series’ more memorable releases, good things are expected. And while there is certainly some top tuneage here, there is a niggling problem to this release – it seems to lack a point of view, a direction; it all seems flat.

The first CD starts out well with a nod to where it all began, with a teasing intro of one of Underworld’s first ever singles (back when Emerson was still part of the gang). We are then presented with a deep, chugging house vibe that builds a nice head of steam. By the time we’ve hit Shelleys from Journeyman DJ, the unmistakable techno and acid influences are lending the house a solid groove and things are looking up. But then the music looses its way a touch, with the last half of the disc meandering through the deep tech stylings of Stimming & Einmusil’s Magdelena to the deep techno of Nikitin and Semiikashev’s Blown. This is still a solid collection of house and techno, but not much more.

Disc 2 is where most of trouble lies. Rather than a mix CD, this is more of a complication of tracks. The collection starts with some rather banging tech house in the form of One Million Oaks from Itamar Sagi. By track 3 the bass is belting from the speakers with Jamie McHugh’s rework of Emerson’s own Crash Jack. And then we slam into the incongruous male vocal of Dust from Recloose. The sound is reminiscent of the early acid house era, full of squelchy synths, quirky rolling Rhodes lines and even a sax chorus – it just doesn’t follow. Yet just as we are taken somewhere new, Emerson pulls us back into the loopy acid techno of Josh Wink, Matthew Jonson and Adam Beyer.

In the middle little rays of sunshine appear with the swirling nu-disco synths of Spiritcatcher’s Mastermind before another passage of loopy, indistinct techno takes us to the sublimely melodic Blank from Joris Voorn; the perfect way to cap things off. But Darren is not finished yet as he ends thing where he began, this time with full version of Mmm Skyscraper…I Love You (which, by the way, is not even mixed in – a straight fade-out, fade-in).

In parts the mixing seems lazy, yet at other times the tunes are cleverly layered with some often lengthy transitions. While the overall sound of the compilation has a timeless quality to it, it remains a rather forgettable release (and I’ve just finished listening to it!). If the music does not grab you, then it is perhaps worth getting your mitts on this release as it surely has some of the most bizarre and incongruent liner notes you’ll come across. Here’s an excerpt: “When the world’s financial markets crashed again in Autumn 2008, it did to Darren Emerson”. What did? Did Darren also crash? Did the market crash into Darren? Poor guy, no wonder this compilation is a bit off – he is probably still reeling from being hit in the head by derivatives and futures. Oh well, as he liner notes say, “He’s funny, Darren. But he’s also likeable…” which is just as well. “He wants you to know that his parents loved music”. Thanks Darren. Duly noted.