Fabriclive 77

Getting down to dark and minimal business with Maurice & Charles' "Sofa Love" (a cut that sounds like Derrick May being remixed by Meco or Giorgio Moroder at his spaciest), Erol Alkan's entry in the Fabriclive mix series is an unsurprising yet utterly lovely set of tech-house and indie beats. Besides the fine flow, the unearthing of all these minimal gems, and the killer closer (the DJ's own "A Hold on Love" vs. Saint Etienne's "Only Love Can Break Your Heart," a funky, nostalgic way to recall Alkan's mashup past), the set gives the non-Londoner a clearer picture of why this DJ, label owner, remixer, and once in a while producer is such a Don of the indie dance scene. His methods are sneaky, as tracks rarely stun but slowly worm their way into soul and hips, and while his taste goes for the lean and the sharp, songs with small quirks easily climb up his list, as does anything mentioning acid, acid house, and the very '90s tradition of jacking your body. Dour and fun play so well together whenever Alkan's around, and Fabriclive 77 is the jacking proof. ~ David Jeffries