Fabriclive 78: Illum Sphere

Just in case anyone forgot Illum Sphere's DJ roots in the wake of his ethereal debut album The Ghosts of Then and Now, Fabriclive 78 is a reminder of the skills Ryan Hunn sharpened at Manchester's Hoya:Hoya club. Though he made the mix at home, it carries the same wide-ranging spirit of the club night he co-founded in 2008, incorporating dub, experimental electronic music, techno, and more into a set that puts unexpected songs and elements together in natural-sounding ways. Among the many standouts are Tapes' taut-yet-dubby "Dungeness," Musimeci's crisp "Harry Batasuna," Das Ding's witty sonic traffic jam "H.T.S.A.," and James T. Cotton's audacious "Oochie Coo" (one of four Tadd Mullinix-related projects represented here). Hunn closes the mix on an especially strong selection of tracks, moving from the brittle beauty of Actress' "Gershwin" to the more flowing, bittersweet territory of Vazz' "Cast Reflections" and Nine Circles' "What's There Left." Satisfyingly eclectic and cohesive, Hunn's mix is ultimately a testament to his gifts as a DJ and producer. ~ Heather Phares