Following the critically acclaimed Maximize! Shir Khan is back with his label's new compilation Exploited. This album showcases the label's finest moments as well as previously unreleased exclusive cuts. Exploited is a double CD, which has remixes from and features Bonde do Role, Siriusmo, Milanese, SIS, Riva Starr, Modeselektor, Adam Sky as well as many more.

From putting out regular mix tapes Shir Khan made his name globally as these were heard and downloaded from around the world. Even before his first release Khan was jet setting around the world as a DJ.

This compilation includes a CD of unmixed Exploited tracks and a mixed CD by Shir Khan, which includes exclusive Exploited material but also features new tracks from other labels that has had an influence on the sound of Exploited in general.

CD one is mixed with 32 tracks all blending together. The intro is a little weird for my liking with audio snippets taken from different things and put together to introduce Khan’s mix.

The early mixes on this CD sound very computerised. Remember the old spectrum computers? Well that is what the tracks sound like until we get a little further into the mix.

I quite like the melody in track 8, even if it is overtaken by the electro-house style. I thought the beat and harmony of the melody went well together and there seems to be some warmth and emotion in this track.

As we move further into this CD I like the beats, which are played out on tribal sounding percussion. This gives some of the tracks more dimensions, especially tracks 12, 13 and 17.

Track 20 is taken from the first Star Wars movie (A New Hope). It's one of the musical numbers played by the cantina band in Mos Eisley. I quite liked this version with its happy go lucky feel and the memories it brought back.

The brass in track 22 is mixed well with the beats and electro; it gives it a Spanish kind of feel.

It’s good to see an electro-house compilation mixing in different sounds from different cultures. Take track 24, entitled 'Bangkok', and track 25, entitled 'Bollyhouse', this fuses Asian style music and vocals with Western house music, which becomes really effective.

CD two contains 18 unmixed tracks of which some have been taken from CD one but this time we get to hear them in their original form and there are also some new tunes to get our ears round.

Track 10 ('The SIS Rmx') is a favourite of mine on this CD. It has a chilled cultural vibe to it yet still remains to be part of the electro-house family. Not only that but Track 14 is the same song but manages to sound very different indeed. Impressive.

The vocals on track 12 are sublime and I love the mixture between the melody and the electro, again this is culturally diverse.

Shir Khan has proved he is miles ahead of the mixing game with this eclectic double CD of electro-house to suit everyone’s music taste. If you don’t like all of the tracks there is sure to be bits you will love which then eases you into the seat for the rest of the musical ride.

8

Helena Rea