Rob da Bank’s event series and label Sunday Best is known for its whimsical, unpretentious approach to dance music, and that attitude shines through on his fabric 24 mix, beginning with the very first track: N.O.H.A.’s “Balkan Hot Step”, a boisterous, horn-driven song that makes the nightclub feel more like a village wedding. There are plenty of similarly giddy kicks along the way, like the buzzing indie rock of The Fiery Furnaces’ “Single Again” or the sprightly soukous vibes of Congolese singer Pepe Kalle’s “Roger Milla”. What might be most surprising, given Rob da Bank’s lightness of touch, is how deep he goes. A stretch of songs from Michael Mayer, Nathan Fake, Triola (as mixed by the Wighnomy Brothers) and Plastikman offers an immaculately mixed survey of the very best that minimal techno had to offer in 2005. And the closing one-two punch of Mr. Fingers’ “Can You Feel It” and Frankie Knuckles’ “Your Love” is a snapshot of deep house at its most classic.
- Optimo (Espacio)