V-Ger is glittering techno-soul of the highest order, used to great effect by Dj Bone on his Subject Detroit Vol. 2 mix. In fact this whole ep oozes quality, Detroit and third wave Chicago influence abounds and you should expect similarities with the wicked Peacefrog and Ferox sounds of the time. Not everything that Soma released around this period has timeless qualities, indicated by the lack of collectability/value connected with the label, however this EP, and in particular V-Ger will still be sounding fresh for generations.

"Birthday" is an almost impossibly beautiful song, emotive and bewitching, it's hard to explain the fathomless depths of emotion this reaches; wistful and joyful in turn, I can barely suppress tears reaching my eyes whenever I play it. Songs are rarely "out of this world" even if it is a descriptive term used quite regularly, but "Birthday" is undoubtedly otherworldly.

One comment about this - it's got one of the best pieces of cover art ever to grace a breakbeat hardcore record. In fact Dave Nodz (for he is the artist) will go down in history as someone who helped to define the look and feel of the breakbeat and jungle culture of the early/mid 90's. You know you get those books that are just filled with the best album artwork of the 60s and 70s; well one day they'll compile a similar book with the best dance 12" and Lp artwork and I can tell yer that Dave Nodz will feature heavily. An absolute legend.

"Freedomism" begins with the fattest old skool break replete with "ugh!!" grunts and wicked scratches, just sounds fantastic, it's almost a shame when the rave stabs in, but then the track just rolls with such an ecstatic air that you can't help but smile ear to ear. When Danny drops what sounds like the bass and piano from a 50's doo wop record the track title "Freedomism" seems spot on. This is a track that's testament to everything that was right about the light side of the breakbeat scene in 1992. Not for those looking for the dark side.

Special mention should also go to Danny Breaks' shout outs on the back cover; now this just says so much about that moment in time: Yaga clothes, Sonic the Hedgehog, British Knights, Graffiti, Betty Boo, that bird off Lethal Weapon.... the list goes on but it's like a popular culture and attitude checklist for 1992 and it brings back very fond memories indeed. I hesitate to say its worth checking for the sleevenotes alone, but....

Always did, always will - "In the beginning there was a beat...eat..eat..eat..eat..eat..eat..eat!!" This is just one of the greatest detroit house records ever made. Co-produced and mixed by Terrence Parker and on an Intangible sub-label, deep or disco fuelled house is what you'd expect but this is really pure detroit techno, apparently produced 1995 but sounding so 1987. You can pick this up dirt cheap on discogs right now. Buy it rightaway then thank me. A bonafide and timeless classic, which just seems to have got forgotten over the years. Not sure what happened to Chris Shivers, the producer of this record, but respect is due to Chris and TP for this slice of perfection.