The sixth entry in the much-vaunted "Transport" series marks a new chapter in Kinetic's high-profile domestic DJ mix series. Following what is apparently the series' format, John Graham's single-disc Transport 5 is succeeded by a double-disc offering from the latest Transport selectors, New York-based Trendroid. The spelling change (first seen on Vol. 4) in the series has never been more apparent than here, as Transport 6 relies exclusively on house grooves, but this turns out to be a good thing. In fact, one can fairly well chart the growth and change of the U.S. dance music / club scene musical trends in Kinetic's star-making series, from Oakey's uplifting trance, through the progressive house and trance stylings of Max Graham and Quivver, to an offering of what is most definitely the sound of now.

Trendroid are Matt Edwards and Pankaj, DJs with a solid history in the studio, with credits including releases on the Twisted and Renaissance labels, a remix of one of last year's best songs (the mighty Tom Stephan's "Revolution"), and productions under their own name as well. The two met during medical school (they're both M.D.s), were name checked when Danny T got on the mic during his set at this year's Winter Music Conference, and played the last set - ever - at the famed Twilo. Their history, combined with what's laid down on their first DJ mix compilation, seems to indicate their career arc to be headed towards becoming, possibly, the next Deep Dish.

Disc one is an excursion into depth and subtlety, beginning with Earth Delay presents Kito Kala's "Blackhouse", with Lexicon Avenue's "From Dusk Till Dawn" a capella over the top. It's a vocal they certainly rinse out on this compilation, utilizing it no less than three times throughout the mix, but never in a gimmicky, detracting way. The chords and whispers of Ralphi Rosario & Martin Fry's "First Reunion" give way to the beauty of the tribal beats and echoing keyboard stabs of Sultan & Tone Depth feat. Stephanie Vezina's excellent "Sagres", a highlight of disc one. The mix pushes deeper still, as Monkeyboy's eerie "Fleabitten" creeps in, and then Matt & Pankaj finally let light in with the Tenaglia / Tarrantella & Redanka collaboration of Datar's "U", the follow-up to last year's massive "B". With its alien steel-drum wanderings, this is as trancey as this set is going to get. Drive Red 5's "The Pleasurist" is a sure-fire floor filler, has funk for days...and yes, it's about jerking off. Tarnishing this otherwise excellent disc one is the tacked-on feel of Riot Society's electro...um, "song", "Understand Me". Why? It feels like a joke maybe we're not in on. Come on guys, I've seen your haircuts, they're not shitty enough for the electro scene. Feeling artsy, perhaps.

If disc one is an exercise in textures and interwoven melodies, disc two sets its sights dead on the dance floor, and scores a kill shot, effectively moving from drum-heavy tribal sounds to progressive house. Leading off are the ominous tribal beats of "Insane Poem", the result of PQM and Stephane K's collaboration; this cut is right up there with Different Gear's "A Little Bit Paranoid" for Mentally Deranged Track of the Year. Things then proceed in more of a standard New York dirty-house style: the tech-house of Sapphirecut's "Action Reaction"; the staccato rhythms of D. Ramirez's "Bounce Your DJ"; Trendroid's own dedication to house music, "Trendication"; and the techno funk of Carl Cox & Christian Smith's collaboration "Dirty Bass". The second half shifts into some awesome progressive sounds; of particular note is Forbidden Planet's excellent "Ecoute La Musique". Evolution work their usual remix magic on Pako & Frederik's "Western Approaches", Prawler does a number on Jimmy Van M's Terra Deva-vocalled "Forget Time", and the mix comes to an end not with a bang, but settling you down easy with Valentino's "Flying", and the electric guitar (no, really!) licks of MV's "Slinger". Trendroid pull from 23 labels for this mix, and it certainly marks the beginning of a bright future for them. Nice one!

VERDICT? DJs like Danny Howells, Satoshi Tomiie, and Trendroid will rescue progressive house with their hybrid sounds of deep, progressive, tech- and tribal sounds; to quote Evolution, this is "better house music". You'd do well to check it out.

FOR THOSE WHO LIKE: Their house music painted from a broad, cutting-edge palette.

NOT FOR: Those who prefer the old spelling of the "Transport" series!

Although the first CD seems a little bland at the first glance (but it's progressive you know...), the buildup brings to some really knockaround stuff...when I first listened to it, I got caught in the spiral of darkness, and I was so happily surprised to see some uplifting melodies in there!