Album Review: Various/Kasra Fabriclive 62

The latest Fabriclive to solidly feature drum'n'bass, delivered by Kasra, is a proud and pleasing representation of the genre today. The album kicks off with the Alix Perez version of Rockwell's sensual Underpass, before it effortlessly rolls into a 29-track mix of understated depth and rhythm.

Unlike Goldie's efforts with Fabriclive 58 last year, Kasra has compiled tracks in a way that highlights the quality of each number without sacrificing coherency. Leaning heavily, as expected, on the Critical Music back catalogue of which Kasra is at the helm, Fabriclive 62 features plenty of VIP action from Bladerunner, SPY and Stray.

Machines by Enei has delicious jungle-vibes and provides the turning point of the mix from rolling to raging. Phace & Noisia, a match made in dancefloor-stomping heaven, bring the goods with unreleased track MPD, while the Ulterior Motive remix of Klute's We R The Ones grinds into your ear canal. Towards the end is where the mix really glows. It is as climactic as you would hope a live set from Kasra (or any DJ) to be. Kasra recorded the mix live, and its minor imperfections are a testament to that, but what the mix loses in flawlessness, it gains in character. Mark System's Pursuit, written exclusively for the mix, illustrates Kasra's talents as a tune-selector, which can only be good news for the future of Critical Music and the genre in general. Finishing on the balls-out Timbre VIP by Stray, Fabriclive 62 leaves the listener energised and enthusiastic about a genre that sometimes can be a little unfriendly and uninspiring. This compilation, however, throws the spotlight on drum'n'bass in all its grit and glory.