Sometimes you come across a recipe that’s so sound, preciously poised, and just so damn tasty that you wonder if it can be beaten. About a year ago, this lucky reviewer had the chance to turn his attention to a release titled Moments by erstwhile Aussie, Anthony Pappa: ‘uber-impressive’ was the verdict. A year later, said reviewer had the chance to gleam over Pappa’s ‘sequel’, Moments 2: something even more succulent to sink our teeth into.

The Pappasaurus has given us a release that hits the mark on so many levels; a combination of techno, minimal, progressive, that is rich in goodness in oh so many ways. Set across two discs, this is without doubt one of the classiest compilations of 2009. A stack of absolutely blinding tracks from the likes of Jakiro, Matthias Meyer & Patlac, Yousef and Jim Rivers is one thing, but Pappa’s arrangement of them is something else.

The first disc starts off nice and techy, the Stel track The Nail That Sticks Out a blinder, and a double header from Reset Robot in the way of M Siren and Continue, but there’s a distinct shift to a proggier type of sound with the subsequent arrival of both Mark Romboy and Mark Broom. Prog. Techno. Prog. Techno. Throughout, Pappa keeps us guessing, and morphs from one to the other with absolute aplomb, and every now and then, scrapes it all back and throws in some minimal, just to keep us all on our toes. Not only must it be commended for its dynamism, but it’s actually a hell of a lot of fun to listen to.

Disc two has a touch more melody to it, with The Miracle from Florian Kruse and Keep Your Nose from Dousk leading the charge. It leads into some bouncier techno from Peter Horrevorts in the way of Romance is Overrated, before we drop into Amazzonia from Giorgio Giordano and whoa – shit just got Spanish: some sort of Spanish tech to be precise. Yet another addition to the scenery that Pappa lays out for us to see, throwing in Orange Glow (Robert Babicz Spaceship Remix) from Glenn Morrison for a bit more of the funkier stuff, similarly with Players from Anton Pieete, for me, one of the picks on a compilation chock full of goodness.

And that’s what this release is: lots and lots of meaty goodness. Pappa’s reputation is one that continues to grow, his star is one that is clearly on the rise, and his name continues to be bandied around in the same sentences as some of the leading international progressive DJs on the planet. On the back of this release, it is little wonder why.

Check out the tracklisting:

Disc 1:
1. Stel – The Nail That Sticks Out
2. Reset Robot – M Siren
3. Reset Robot – Continue
4. Marc Romboy & Mr K Alexi – Acid Love (D’Julz Mix)
5. Mark Broom – Get Serious (Broom’s London Mix)
6. Brendon Moeller – The Big Thrill
7. Taster Peter – Metro Sexual
8. Misstress De Funk – The Labyrinth (Lucca Mix)
9. Jakiro – Litmus
10. Erphun – 2wo Butterflies (Quivver Mix)
11. Patlac & Matthias Meyer – Skipper
12. Oliver Moldan Presents Prawler – Holy Cow
13. Bonnici, Pappa & Phil K – Blending With The Ether

Disc 2:
1. Florian Kruse – The Miracle (Dave DK Magic World Mix)
2. Dousk – Keep Your Nose
3. Paul Jackson – Souls (Gus Gus Mix)
4. Peter Horrevorts – Romance Is Overrated
5. Giorgo Giordano – Amazzonia (David Tort Tech Mix)
6. Glenn Morrison – Orange Glow (Robert Babicz ‘Spaceship’ Mix)
7. Fergie, Reset Robot & Alan Fitzpatrick – Gas Mask
8. Yousef – Letter To No One (Fergie ‘Excentric’ Mix)
9. Anton Pieete – Players
10. Silicone Soul – The Call Of The Wild
11. Gabe – Sea Monster
12. Jim Rivers – Stone (Henry Saiz Mix)
13. Monaque – ID