V.A. Strength In Numbers (Part 3)

All bets are off with the third vinyl sampler from Thema’s Strength In Numbers compilation, as the wide-reaching nature of the NYC label truly reveals itself with four varied and striking diversions into critical house music. As a veteran of the hypnotic groove, UK producer Mr. G is never more at home than when he’s twisting out a spiritually-charged jam like “A Little Grainy One”, riding on an insistent combination of looping, psychoactive samples and straight-talking drums. Also hailing from across the Atlantic, in his Raudive guise Oliver Ho takes a flamboyant approach on “Carved” as he bounces chunky drum machine percussion around a kinked groove with a devilish line in leftfield synths and vocal snippets. On the flipside, Cesare vs Disorder reveals a side that might not be familiar to those who have enjoyed his stripped-down releases for Serialism and Stock5 over the years, as “All Night” throws down a boogie-infected neon-lit burner. Keeping the mood shifting, Thema’s house duo Suburb draw on their strength in crafting sublime deep house rich in melancholic melodies played by warm and soothing sound sources. “Odyssey” follows on perfectly from their two previous EPs for the label, not to mention successful turns on Frank Music and Freerange.