Various / Boys Noize

Alex Ridha (aka Boys Noize) is already the next big thing. He was the DJ selected from the 2008 line-up of Belgium's I Love Techno festival to construct this homage CD. Since this record reflects the event's music, 2009 should be a killer year for techno. The record starts off with "White Noise Black Hole" by DMX Krew, an eerie robotic mash-up of horror movie screams and upbeat cartoon sounds. And on a low bang note, the mix cruises into "Raven" and "Frau (Acapella)," the two records played simultaneously so I-Robot's German female vocals make a speech over Proxy's cranked-up techno. "Rat Alert" by Jan Driver is a whack synthesis of traffic noise, with sirens flaring, a speed-induced airflow and rats running throughout the streets, the record riding into ZZT's techno island flavours on "The Worm." The remaining tracks paint more vivid, high-energy pictures in an almost urgent way. This is driving techno with a skilled DJ that begs to have the volume cranked.