One of our favourite labels has got to be Anjunabeats. The quality of the music they dish out is exceptional, to say the least. In a world dominated by similar synths and sampling other tunes, Anjunabeats comes across as a breath of fresh air, warming your insides on a cold, gloomy day. Anjunadeep is the section of the label that mainly focuses on deep house and progressive. We’d be in the wrong though if we say Anjuna is genre-focused. Hell, these guys break every genre barrier in the book. Which brings us to the Anjunadeep 05 Compilation. Hit past the break to learn what’s what! The fifth of its kind, this time the honors have been passed to James Grant (brother of Jono Grant– one third of Above & Beyond) and Jody Wisternoff, each of whom have been given an equal half to compile. A total of 2 discs compiling 29 tracks, spanning a complete play-time of around 2 1/2 hours, this compilation deserves nothing short of accolades. One of the most versatile compilations we’ve heard, this can light up your mood on a lonely drive, yet pump adrenaline at any rave. With tracks from Matt Lange, Andrew Bayer, Universal Solution, and more, these mixes are brimming with emotional and melodic resonances.
For those who wish to experience new heights in their musical journey, this compilation could be the most anticipated. Laying stress to emotion and soul, this compilation symbolizes dream soundscapes, uplifting grooves and a mesmerizing track selection that soothes any listener’s mind. Responsible for compilation duties on Disc 1, James Grant has opened with chilled electronica courtesy Croquet Club’s Cardigan. From then on, disc one is packed with original tracks from Vincenzo, Dusky, Beckwith, DAVI to name a few. James Grant tries to keep up with a theme of melodic deepness, something he’s managed to ace. Andrew Bayer teams up with James Grant in Living, a calming groove with percussive riffs and a melancholic breakdown. These two also join hands to remix It’s Cool by an Australian musical called The Presets, re-working the synth-pop original into a hypnotizing vocal piece, free of any extra sound, simply graced by piano harmonies. Upcoming talent Universal Solution, aka Gavin Holland, also contributes finely with the dark and extra-terrestrial Osheen. Some of the best deep house tracks on this side, thanks to London duo Dusky are also featured. Tracks like Nobody Else and Mr. Man (supported by legendary Sasha) are perfect complements to this side of the album.
On the second disc, we have Jody Wisternoff, a veteran of over 20 years behind the decks, taking over. Jody has done an extremely beautiful job with his half of the album, managing to combine various elements into a worthy compilation indeed. One of the tracks that deserves a mention is Lane 8’s Be Mine, a summery sensual vibe with ambient vocals and lush synths. Delving into mid 90s jungle, Jody reworks classic This Way by Skanna, keeping the haunting vibes and sophisticated melodies of the original. Jody’s reconstruction of Above & Beyond’s Alchemy is probably one of our favourites on this compilation. He adds a deep bass groove around the original vocals to prepare an enhanced deep house anthem. If you thought the first disc was brilliant, the second disc will have you submerged, trust us!
To conclude, we’d say this compilation is a revelation. Both James and Jody have performed exceedingly well, and it’s safe to say that this compilation is like the Mona Lisa of house music, mysteriously attracting all. Already ranking at #1 in the iTunes US dance charts, it’s no surprise that quality music always finds its way to the top. To all the audiophiles reading this, Anjunadeep 05 might possibly be the best thing we’ve heard all year. Grab your copy on iTunes here and to listen to the entire track list, scroll further!
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