Harry The Bastard - Club H Vol. 2

As it is not too daring, and even quite fair to state that ‘Club H Volume 1’ stood above nearly any deep house compilation or mix album at it’s time (and still is, actually), one is by definition eager to hear the successor. In most, if not all cases, it’s harder to confirm than to surprise just once, but as Harry obviously couldn’t care less about status, the looks or the lifestyle, or spinning the latest star-of-the-day for the masses, he kept low profile and continued his everlasting quest for Really Good Music, not bothered by any pressure. And so here he’s back, offering Volume 2, and yes, it’s another stand out release. A little warning : don’t buy this just for the artwork – choosing quite ugly colours and a hard to read font, and putting Harry’s not so Mister Universe face on the cover, makes one think they all had some devilish fun in trying to scare away every not 100% interested or open minded listener.
Setting the tone with tickling tracks by Spacetime Continuum, 51 Days and Aqua Bassino, Harry sneaks into some more straight and hitting deep house sounds, without being bound by any DJ ‘do-and-don’ts’ (e.g. the Flutapella Remix of the Kings Of Tomorrow tune). From track # 10 on, every tune builds the way to the top, being the closer, the no less than phenomenal Derrick May remix (aka the Illusion First Remix) of one of the most sadly underrated house classics, ‘Sueno Latino’ by Sueno Latino. As in ‘Club H vol. 1’, Dave Micalizzi’s mixing is impeccable and as smooth and silky as a baby’s cheeck (e.g. check the mixing in of the Sueno Latino track and compare this to Ian Pooley’s attempt on his ‘Excursions’ album – albeit a very fine album), which leaves us with another mandatory Must Have album. No doubt this is highly recommended. Two thumbs up for Harry !