Bedrock [Double CD, Import]

From the moment Florida-raised, New York-based Jimmy Van M kicks off this superlative release with Mo Shic and Zeidan's "Night Stalker," the quality of this CD never dips. It's no surprise that John Digweed wanted Van M on the Bedrock project roster: no one else has this man's sense of spatial trance awareness. He brings a variety of flavors (not the least of which are some great core house elements) to the party, yet keeps things first class with a steady, smooth, and intoxicating ascent. For example, his own "Love Like Sleep (Dub)," which soaks house music in trance, glistens with retro electro as well. And when JVM wants to turn the mix all melancholy, he does so with the sweetness and light of Minimalistix's "Struggle for Pleasure," a pounding backbone that keeps things brisk and active as the emotions open up all around. It's obvious by the middle of the second disc that Van M is a huge fan of Underworld's approach to sound and arrangement. John Johnson's "London" has the mood and movement of a Dub No Bass with My Head Man classic, while Mandisco hits the autobahn at Underworldian speed with the smoky trance-pherics of "Mandisco (Original Mix)." Jimmy then throws in the relentless bouncing energy of Junkie XL's "Bon Voyage." Does it end on a fadeout or an ambient slow note? Not a chance, matey! Thermodee & Stratosphere's descriptively titled "Diminished Responsibility" makes one question why this wasn't a three-disc blessing. Indeed, Jimmy Van M has created a benchmark trance release. Novices and newbies will be instantly spoiled by the caliber of this collection while veterans will find it hard to disengage once the first track is spinning. This is the closest anyone has come to bringing the trance floor to living rooms worldwide. --Steffan Chirazi