Kikumoto Allstars – House Music (International Deejay Gigolos / Inertia)

Australian DJ / producer Cam Farrar has previously been associated with Melbourne’s Vicious Vinyl label, having had tracks under his given name included over the past several years on ‘main room’ oriented clubbing compilations such as ‘DMA 2003’ and 2004’s ‘Transmission Anthems’ superclub-branded set. While that prelude might have you expecting something along the lines of electro-laced or proggy house, this latest alias from Farrrar, the decidedly Japanese-sounding Kikumoto Allstars, sees him following a distinctly different stylistic trajectory. This debut album ‘House Music’ comes dedicated to the progenitors of electronic dance music, with such seminal figures as DJ Pierre, Bam Bam and Larry Heard receiving dedications on the sleeve, and Farrar’s at pains to list the various original items of equipment that went into constructing the twelve tracks – the ubiquitous TR808 and TB303 of course figuring prominently. With track titles like ‘I’ll Make You Jack’ and ‘Warehouse Days’, you’ve already got a pretty good idea of what to expect here, and while Farrar’s productions don’t exactly tease any genuinely new angles out of the era that haven’t already been explored amidst the veritable mountain of ‘classic analogue’ fetishist albums out there, what you’re still left with is easily one of the more capable and impressive homages to classic house / techno undertaken to date. With most of these expansive tracks running in near the 7-8 minute mark, it’s fair to say that house DJs looking to throw some more classic era sounds into their mix should find plenty to cherry-pick from here. Well worth checking out.