DJ Garth

The tracks on DJ Garth's latest span from dub reggae to jazzy house to old school, minimal techno - an eclectic mix, but it's not done for the sake of it. Garth's style emphasises the individuality of the records, most of which come from the more obscure end of the above genres and as a result, produce a session that's introspective, psychedelic and still for the feet. The disc starts off on the dub end with Juan Trip's "Shadows," moving from the rootsy vibes of Rhythm and Sound's "Never Tell You" into the EBE's Detroit-ish "Held Over." The latter track is an unusual kind of ode to the techno-city, with its intricate percussion and mantra-like programming conjuring the atmosphere of a desert, rather than a dark warehouse. From here, Garth switches it up to the melodramatic guitars on Bibi's "Summer" and then into the jazz commentary à la house on BRS's "Shuff." The vibes keep changing, but with subtlety, as Garth brings on the church-y blues of 8fatfat8's "Rise Up & Walk" (one of the only vocal tracks in the set) and eventually takes it home with the sunny mix by Ananda on Santal's "Past & Future Things." It's a very diverse mix, and what's more intriguing is how there are none of the usual classics or DJ favourites that usually help make these recordings more marketable. Tom and Joyce's Brazilian fusion favourite "Vai Minha Tristeza" comes close, although this Francois K/Eric Kupper dub is very estranged from the original, with the sweet vocals and guitar lines abandoned for a house-heavy saxophone meltdown; a similar revision is set to A Guy Called Gerald's "Humanity," courtesy of Ashley Beedle. But with neither the hits, nor the clout, of an international spinner, Garth's tastes are sure to be trusted on this on.