VARIOUS – DJ-Kicks: Honey Dijon – 2LP – Vinyl [NOV 1]

2LP – Standard Edition Black Vinyl.

Fashion icon, catwalker, curator, historian, commentator, activist, Grammy winner and damn right DJ, there aint much these days that Ms. Honey Dijon doesnt do with aplomb. Most of her achievements thus far came via her passion for clubbing and the art of DJing, from those early Chicago parties to her role as a de facto ambassador for world dancefloors.

Chatting to Honey for a few minutes, you swiftly realise when it comes to records, labels, releases, shes a house music nerd, having been schooled by some of the Windy Citys masters and is as adept at bringing the past into the future as anyone else in the business. This compilation is a testament to someone whose knowledge of the underground labels of yore is encyclopaedic and Ms. Dijon has dredged the recesses of her clubbing memories. Im a huge fan of research. So putting this compilation together was basically going into my dancefloor experience and finding gems I wanted to present to people that they may not have been familiar with or that they didnt even know existed. Thus we have Psychedelic Research Labs anthemic NY banger Keep On Climbing, which came out on producer Scott Richmonds own store label, Satellite, or Sir Lord Comixxs London vibes on the aptly-named Soul House which, says Honey, I heard Danny play it at 7am in Twilo and it was so fuckin weird. Kingsley O, the London boy marooned in Connecticut, contributes the Jersey vibes on Maydie Myles brilliant debut single, Keep On Luvin, reinforced by Blaze associate Cassio The Cassmasters Gettin Hot.

This compilation is a pan-global, multi-era waltz through house musics storied past. Repping Chicago, theres Dance Manias Dance Kings, Blackjoy and Art Of Tones carrying the flag for Paris and even Shabooms Blackpool gets a nod. Some of these are forgotten classics, some are dollar bin finds, and theres also a brand new Dijon track, sprinkled with her usual mustard-hot flourishes and lightly seasoned with some more recent efforts by Wajeed and Kiko Navarro. This can be consumed on a dancefloor, in the back of a cab or relaxing at home with a glass of something cold (or, if you must, hot).

Tracklist:

A1. Honey Dijon – Finding My Way (DJ-Kicks) ft. Ben Westbeech
A2. Buika x Kiko Navarro – Mama Calling (Tedd Patterson Remix)
A3. Shaboom – Bessie

B1. D:Ream – U R The Best Thing (Def Club Mix)
B2. Stereo MCs – Good Feeling (Mr Gs Turn On Dub)
B3. Black Joy – Untitled (Solid Groove Remix)

C1. Scott Richmond & John Selway present Psychedelic Research Lab – Keep On Climbin (Mix 2)
C2. Charly Brown – Freaked Out

D1. Maydie Myles – Keep On Luvin (West Tribe Beats)
D2. Johnny Dangerous – Dear Father In Heaven (Mr. Marvins House of Dreams Mix)