Chicago Boogie CD - Import

Belgium's Eskimo label has been an outlet for several active producers, but they provide their most generous service through all the mix sets they've released since their 2000 inception, most of which have presented a healthy attitude toward club music old and new. This time out, Amsterdam club Paradisco 3000 does the honors, presenting an all-Chicago house mix from resident DJ Antal -- one of the co-founders of Rush Hour distribution, along with All Out K, who helped with the compiling. While Antal can't represent Chicago house quite like Marshall Jefferson can --- Move Your Body being a more expansive, more knowing mix from that Chi-Town legend -- he provides a unique and compelling version, crossing decades and scattering underplayed gems with the classics like someone who has done his homework. Most importantly, Antal keeps the focus off himself. He doesn't attempt to pull off any three-minute blends or quick-action transitions, opting instead to allow the tracks to do the talking. The only selection that gets less than two minutes' time is Six Brown Brothers' "Battery Acid," and the reasoning behind Antal's relatively fast transition might have something to do with the track's sound quality (superpishy hi-hats). One especially inspired grouping involves the instrumental mix of Electra's 1982 Emergency classic "Feels Good (Carrots and Beets)" (warm, spring-bounce Italo-disco at its best), which melts nicely into Larry Heard's remix of Club Ice's "Manhasset" (spiritual deep house at its best); a decade separates the two, they come from different continents, and they hardly sound alike, yet they're the perfect match for each other. Mr. Fingers' "I'm Strong" is often overshadowed by other Heard/Robert Owens collaborations like "Can You Feel It" and "Bring Down the Walls," but it gets a welcomed airing that's trailed by Adonis' "We're Rocking Down the House" (another atypical pick, sense "No Way Back" is the usual go-to Adonis track). The mix ably runs the spectrum between the cold and tracky and the warm and musical. Liner notes from unsung producer/DJ and one-time Chicago resident Daniel Wang maintains the outsider perspective. ~ Andy Kellman