LUKE SOLOMON ‘Cutting Edge’ on Beats and Beyond

Truth be told, we always turn our heads when news about a new Luke Solomon project is made available. Dubbed by BBC Radio 6’s music as ‘the unsung hero of British house music’, label boss/A&R/DJ/engineer/producer Luke Solomon has been a fixture in house music for several decades with countless releases under his belt. This mix compilation is the result of his long-standing friendship with D-Edge owner Renato Ratier, and it has become a very snazzy selection of dark and hypnotizing acid, (deep-)house, and Chicago jacking with tracks from both relatively new as mature artists.

With contributions coming from KiNK & Neville Watson, Crooked Man, Jonny Fiasco and Andy Meecham amongst other, the mix as a whole is best described as a pushing flow of deep and druggy tracks jam-packed with references to late 80s and early 90s house music. Tracks such as the punchy acid house track ‘How I Program’ by Red Rackem and the frantic, kick-driven ‘Lime & Pink’ by Kris Wadsworth gently drag the mix down to the deepest regions of underground basement vibes, all the while retaining a smooth but dirty groove that lasts until the very last second. Among the highlights are the uplifting ‘Metropole’ by KiNK & Neville Watson, the muddy and deliciously dirty ‘Vital Signs’ by Jonny Fiasco and the shuffling guitar-fused Brett Johnson remix of Trademarq’s Leave Me Alone. The mix could have used a bit more spice around the middle part, but that’s just a minor detail really… More on Beats and Beyond