Since bursting on to the scene 5 years ago, German agency Jackmode has caused quite a stir with their party-starting sensibilities and keen ear for a dancefloor gem. What’s more, they’ve also introduced a wealth of new talent, not least Adana Twins, Kruse & Nuernberg, Round Table Knights and Doctor Dru. Their most recent endeavor acts as a fitting snapshot to all that’s great about them, with 5 Years of Jackmode the sort of record they’ve built their consistent reputation on.
Kicking off the 2-disc, 20-track compilation is the Brazilian boy wonder himself, HNQO. “Don’t Stop” sees him in typically groove-centric form, with Club Idol’s ghetto-infused vocals combining expertly with the latter. Mat. Joe’s “Ride” does exactly as its title suggests, with its canny Run DMC sample emphasising the artist-and the label’s-continuing penchant for unlikely approaches.
Label mainstay Doctor Dru’s “U Don’t” is built around a bulging, bulbous bassline, as is Monkey Safari’s expectedly ‘jacking’ “Got the Jack”. Zombie Disco Squad’s “Brooklyn in the House” opts for moodier methods, with its clattering percussion a real highlight. Death on the Balcony’s “Move Like Fire” glides at an altogether more subtle and lackadaisical pace, before Joyce Muniz’s “Sleepless” paves the way for a frantic culmination with its sporadic lyrics and beautiful, chord-filled progression.
The old-school ethos comes to the fore again on Monte’s “You Should Know”, a record that shines with a camp outlook that wouldn’t seem out of place in the mid 1980s. Fabo’s “My Way” drags the listener down another dark alleyway, before Penner+Muder expertly wave goodbye to CD1 with “Love You Some More”, a delicate, waif-like record bolstered by the presence of Mr. Daniel Wilde.
The dizzying eclecticism and stirring arrangements served up by the first half continue on the second serving, which is kick-started to life courtesy of Filterypen’s stripped-back “Keep That Shhh”. Spanish producer Sishi Rosch ups the ante considerably with his warbling, tech-house inclined “Badboi”, with similar traits coursing throughout O&A’s “Alligator Jazz”. Meanwhile, Mercury’s “Life is Lovely” forces parallels with classic disco cuts, Jamie Anderson goes all Balearic on “Crucial Dub” and Homework do their best Hacienda impression on “By Definition”.
Animal Trainer’s “Together” takes is another record that panders to vintage samples, with Kid Creme’s “Hynotising” the focus of their workout. Kruse & Nuernberg then team up with another duo, Adana Twins, for the electrifying, sonic-infused greatness that is their future anthem, “Talking About…”. Label regulars Round Table Knights do their cause no harm whatsoever on “Each Time”, before Chris James AKA Coat of Arms neatly bundles everything together via the smile-inducing strands of “Somebody”.
A forward-thinking celebration of all that’s great about the agency, 5 Years of Jackmode is a fitting tribute to a half-decade littered with spectacular moments.
5 YEARS OF JACKMODE – CD1
1. HNQO ft. Club Idol – Dont Stop
2. Mat.Joe – Ride
3. Doctor Dru – U don’t Dance
4. Monkey Safari – Got the Jack
5. Zombie Disco Squad – Brooklyn in the House
6. Death on the Balcony – Move like Fire
7. Joyce Muniz – Sleepless
8. Monte – You Should Know
9. Fabo feat. Lostcause – My Way
10. Penner+Muder feat. Daniel Wilde – Love you some more
11. [bonus track] Cocolores – Devend
5 YEARS OF JACKMODE – CD2
1. Filtertypen – Keep That Shhh
2. Sishi Rosch – Badboi
3. O&A – Alligator Jazz
4. Mercury – Life is Lovely
5. Jamie Anderson – Crucial Dub
6. Homework – By Definition
7. Animal Trainer – Together
8. Kruse & Nuernberg, Adana Twins – Talking About…
9. Round Table Knights – Each Time
10. Chris James – Somebody
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