DANA KELLEY レコード& CD

Review: US house music producer Dana Kelley's 'Beta' was originally released in a 1999 and became a late era tech house classic just ahead of electronic music moving towards big trance and prog sounds. It is an expensive original to find nowadays so this Chiwax reissue is welcome indeed. 'Beta' exudes a hypnotic energy that is driven by pulsating rhythms and intricate layers of synthesizers to make for a fine fusion of techno, house and ambient elements that will still captivate the dancefloor today. 'Left With Nothing' is a deeper opener, then things get more raw on 'Nastiness' and 'Armageddon' is drenched din soulful pad work. 'Got 2 Groove' is a stomping percussive groove with a busy and cosmic lead.

Review: Dana Kelley gets a lot more recognition these days since the excellent Boston Boy retrospective compilations which came out over the past year or so. The late US house heavyweight has a huge legacy behind his various aliases, and now Chiwax are looking at the Beta 12" from 1999. Opening cut 'Left With Nothing' is a powerful dose of deep house with a vocal turn from David Walker, while 'Nastiness' shows how gnarly and experimental Kelley could make his productions when he wanted to. 'Armageddon' is a hot and heavy worked with pumping compression creating the kind of locked in, sweaty atmosphere basement raves are made for.