Various Artists
An Exciting House Mix For Tousand And One Nights
Poppyseed

What makes this compilation such a can’t-miss is its assemblage of irrefutable house-music royalty and today’s most committed crusaders for the genre’s legacy.

This follow-up to the first well-received 2006 may not be as much about bangin’ it as other house collections, but it has its moments and certainly does not lack for power-house, big ol’ black diva vocals

British DJ/producer Joey Negro, a popular pro in the biz re-works Roy Ayers’ "Sugar," a disco-underground classic, but another ‘70s disco staple, Jocelyn Brown, provides the winning track in this collection. A Salsoul Orchestra gal from the label’s glory days, Brown might be best known to r&b fans as the voice behind "Somebody Else's Guy," a Top Ten r&b hit, but dance fans know her as an enduring force in techno, gay-dance and everything in between. Brown is fused with Jon Cutler on “One (Morton Trust Mix).” Cutler is a Brooklyn-based DJ who produced 2001’s “It’s Yours,” which did better in the UK than in the States. However, he was featured on the much more successful Afterdark: New York City compilation album in 2004.

Colette’s Robert Palmer cover, “Didn’t Mean To Turn You On” isn’t terribly memorable, but all is justified by Michelle Weeks’ “Victim Of Love.” Weeks is hands-down a savior for the modern house vocal – an r&b voice that is too true to be overlooked. “Rejoice” and “Don’t Give Up” were previous dance charts hits for the young singer, but this track rivals Joceyln Brown’s.

Among An Exciting House Mix For Thousand And One Nights’s other hand-raisers is Phillips & Fitch’s “Pass The Funk.”

Other tracks feature German Germany’s Francesco Diaz (“Life Is Too Short); British tech-house outfit Soul Avengerz, whose "Sing" track features Angie Brown; and Groove Junkies ft. Solara ("Just Groovin” – GJ's Original Mix).