Perfecto Presents: Sandra Collins CD

This is a continuous in-the-mix CD compiled and mixed by DJ Sandra Collins.

It's been a while since any mix-CD from the more mainstream side of dance sounded so purposeful, exciting, and vivid as Perfecto Presents: Sandra Collins. Each CD starts with cinematic mood builders -- a device that's been used over and over -- but here, Collins keeps the beats at bay for a perilously long time, especially on the second disc. The tension pays off, as each time we flow into an amazing selection of tracks. Tired names like Moby, BT, and Kosheen show up, but the DJ picks cutting-edge mixes and drops the superstar tracks in ways that work. Disc One has plenty of obvious crowd-pleasers, but any lesser DJ would have trouble making as much out of the tracks as Collins does. Moby's "In This World," building up to the thumping floor-filler "It's Up to You," would usually mean it's time to think about where the after-party is, but Collins buys time by dropping cinematic and trippy sounds to whet our anticipation for the next big thrill. Disc One is only preparation for the perfection of the second disc, where old friends like Humate, Transformer 2, and -- can you believe it? -- Camouflage come off sounding fresher than fresh. It's a slick and trippy ride that ends with ten minutes of prime BT. They only misguided moments that surround the mix are the "I was an extra on the "'Love Is a Battlefield'" video" outfit the DJ wore to the photo shoot and the Paul Oakenfold "She's really great"-type quotes that label Thrive uses to promote the release. It's just lame-duck chatter, since Sandra Collins' entry in the "Perfecto Presents series proves she's already stolen Oakenfold's superstar-DJ crown. ~ David Jeffries

Personnel: Caroline LaVelle (vocals, cello); Jennifer Price, Tamra Keenan (vocals); Richard Fortus (cello); Simon Wright (programming).

Audio Mixers: Sandra Collins; BT.

Audio Remixers: Martin Accorsi; Dave "the Wave" Dresden; Flash Brothers; Gerret Frerichs; Infusion; Steve Lee ; Dee Jay Sören; Shem McCauley; Albert Cabrera; Patrick Kjonberg; Planet Funk; Ryeland Allison; Simon Rogers; Slacker; Josh Gabriel.

Recording information: Soundstream, Los Angeles, CA.

Arranger: BT.CMJ (2/2/04, p.22) - "[A] study in energetic dance music, featuring a powerful selection of tracks..."