What’s interesting about the DJ-Kicks series is not just about their longevity (10 years), it’s more about the quality of the DJ they recruit and outstanding mixes they’ve created. I remember my first, DJ Cam and my last Daddy G, and other notables in between: Smith & Mighty, Kruder & Dorfmeister, and late great drum-and-bass tandem Kemistry & Storm. Those and others signify why these long-running mix series is such a success—diverse genre choices.
The latest DJ-Kicks installment, following the !7K’s 25th DJ-Kicks by Annie, is entitled The Exclusives. When I hear the word “exclusive,” I assume that this mix should be like no other. It should crush all the other mixes that have been released by !7K.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t.
The mix is top heavy starting with the excellent Kruder & Dorfmeister track “Black Baby.” The song embodies what the good DJ-Kicks mix series often presents—great down-tempo tunes for those late nights after clubbing. The four tracks that follow: DJ Cam, Terranova, Thievery Corporation, and the outstanding mix “Flyin’ on 747” by beat-master Kid Loco follow suit, maintaining a sweet chill-out groove that leaves the listener expecting more of the same.
If only that were the case. The middle tracks of this mix are a hodge-podge of pop-tinged electro-ish uneventful tunes that kill the momentum created from the selections before.
Thankfully, The Glimmers enliven the trip with their booty-shakin’ song “Casette” and Annie’s hot-electro mix “The Wedding” follows to please the listener once again.
While The Exclusives is more unique than many other mixes out there, better choices could be made when seeking a compilation for your late night escapades. With this one, you may have to find the remote and utilize the skip button.
