I get more than enough exercise jumping to conclusions. However, for those who prefer their workouts to occur in a gym rather than in traffic, Crunch Presents Music To Sweat To (TVT) is a carefully programmed “workout” compilation which starts you off easy with Trinity Hi-Fi’s Sister Sledge tribute “Turn The Lights Down,” and then moves into Kelli Hand’s heavily Sister Sledge sampled “Family” and Blockster’s bursting-with-Bee-Gees “You Should Be,” among others. Predictable selections such as Moby’s “Bodyrock” and Peter Heller’s “Big Love,” didn’t detract from the encouraging energy of the disc.
I know what you’re thinking, “Oh no, not another various artists dance compilation.” No, wait a minute, that’s what I was thinking. As these compilations go, This Is Ample-Vol. 1 (Phat Cat) is pretty good. In addition to having everyone’s favorite queer diva Joi Cardwell (the Pacific Drive Mix of “Last Chance For Love”), it also has a nice drum’n bass track (“Take Me Away” by Mix Factory), a retro-sounding electronic tune (“Precious Little Fantasy” by Precious, which recalled Kraftwerk), a house cut (“Stronger” by Davila-Takeover Project), and a vintage-disco sampled track (“Let’s Do It Again” by Mighty which samples The Emotions’ “Best Of My Love”).
Two years after the release of his first mixed disc comes well-respected DJ Calderone’s second offering, E=VC2 Vol. 2 (Tommy Boy). A bit more experimental than his previous disc Calderone does a good job of selecting material that will keep the listener on their feet. Beginning with the Allan T’s snide “The Door” and moving naturally into Luke Slater’s “All Exhale,” this is one DJ who knows how to manipulate the pulse of the dance-floor. Calderone’s own “Are You Satisfied” is a satisfying track, while “Outside Looking In” by Xzique raises the stakes. I don’t like to be preached to in a club, so I could have done without the Mary Mary track “Shackles.”