Music
Danny Rampling & Nicky Holloway - '20 Years Of House'
By Mostwantedkat
Aug 13, 2007 - 11:34:48 AM

IT’S not out of line to call Danny Rampling or Nicky Holloway godfathers of UK house. In fact it’s not out of line at all, it’s about bloody right.

Both men have been instrumental in creating the modern dance scene we know today. Their considerable influence, legendary antics and pure passion for the dance floor inspired a generation of ravers and dance music makers. They ‘discovered’ Ibiza with a young Mr Oakenfold, they were behind some of the country’s most seminal club nights – Shoom, the Milk Bar, Trip At The Astoria, Pure Sexy – and for a generation they were, and still are, gods of the dance floor.

Now they’re back, releasing a brand new album on the District 6 label. ‘20 Years Of House’ is exactly that, a double CD album mixed with love and passion from two men who helped create the clubbing experience we know today. Recorded live using just a record bag of vinyl and a pair of decks, this is DJing at its finest.

From the opening track on CD1, Frankie Knuckles 1986 work of art ‘Your Love’, with Jamie Principles vocals soaring on top, it’s clear that this is absolutely classic house. The gently seductive tones of Pequina Habana’s ‘I Got To Know’ work an undercurrent of driving funk that moves through into Funky Green Dog’s classic tune ‘High Up’, Heller And Farley’s dubby ‘Ultra Flavour’ to the vocal treat that is ‘You Used To Hold Me’ by Ralphi Rossario. Every single one of these tracks has been sampled time and again but Nicky and Danny lovingly let the originals do the talking.

808’s gorgeous Pacific State launches CD2, a true master class session. From the sleazy undertones of The Sneaker Pimps’ ‘Spin Spin Sugar (Armand Van Helden Mix)’ to the beautifully understated ‘I Want Your Love’ from Ralphi Rossario, the mix flows seamlessly, building the energy to peak at Mickey Oliver’s In Ten Si T before sliding down into pure bliss courtesy of Francois K’s gorgeous Hypnodelic. Ending on a heady concoction of ‘That Piano Track’ by Outrage, ‘The Hunter’ by Day break and Age Of Love’s self-titled ‘Age Of Love (Jam & Spoon Mix), it’s a mix that leaves you floating in a state of unadulterated musical satisfaction.

Without a doubt this is two true masters at work. Crafted from two decades worth of musical knowledge, this is the definitive album for anyone who has ever lived for the weekend at some point in their lifetime. New, old, seasoned or just starting out; 20 Years Of House will make you fall in love with the dance floor all over again.  

We’ll leave the last word to Nicky Holloway himself. “At the end of the day it’s all about the vibe and the vibe’s here for sure. Stick this on when you get in from a club, turn it up, fuck the neighbours and let me and Danny take you on a trip down memory lane from the heart.”

Track Listing:

CD1

Frankie Knuckles – Your Love

Raze – Break For Love

Liberty City – If You Really Love Somebody

Pequina Habana – I Got To Know

Funky Green Dogs – High Up

Heller And Farley – Ultra Flavour

Ralphi Rossario – You Used To Hold Me

Mixmasters Feat MC Action – In The Mix

A Guy Called Gerald – Voodoo Ray (Ballroom Mix)

Bump – I’m Rushing

Shamen – Progen

Master C+J – When You Hold Me

CD2

808 State – Pacific State

Morels Groove – Lets Groove

Inland Knights – Out Of Bounds

The Sneaker Pimps – Spin Spin Sugar (Armand Van Helden Mix)

Lil Mo Ying Yang – Reach

Adonis – No Way Back

Ralphi Rossario – I Want Your Love

Mickey Oliver – In Ten Si T

Francois K – Hypnodelic

Outrage – That Piano Track

Day break – The Hunter

Age Of Love – Age Of Love (Jam & Spoon Mix)

Release date 01/10/07