DJ Hell - 'Misch Masch Vol 3' (Fine) Released 22/01/07

Following the impressive first two instalments of the series from Tiefschwarz and Freeform Five, ‘Misch Masch Vol III’ sees DJ Hell very much up the ante. The 44-year-old turntable legend has crafted a seamless mix that’s really is as good as an electro based mix album can get. On top of this we get a bonus second disc of some of the German’s finest remixes and productions - ten tracks that will leave any respectable dance music aficionado salivating.

The trademark of great compilation albums, ‘Misch Masch Vol III’ is thoughtfully compiled, a real grower and doesn’t go for the obvious, one-dimensional floor filler tracks. Opening with the delicate space-age chimes of Dopplereffekt’s ‘Z-Boson’, without warning we’re thrown into the tribal-tinged mayhem of Sebo K & Metro’s ‘Transit’ before the defining DC10 anthem that is the Carl Craig remix of Theo Parish’s ‘Falling Up’ further draws you in, its disorientating incessant groove hammering home. As his name suggests, Mr Hell then takes us down darker avenues Dave Angel’s unsettling ‘Airbourne’ complete with piercing screams and the robotic drone of Huntemann’s ‘37 Degrees’. Engrossing and definitely not for the feint hearted.

Elsewhere we get respite in the playful almost cute swirls of ‘Longer Than Long Ago’ by A Relic, while Gavin Herlihy’s powerful, almost hypnotic ‘Machine Ate My Homework’ further plunges us into darker realms. But if one moment on the mix typified DJ Hell’s undoubted genius it is the beatless version of Amé’s already timeless classic ‘REJ.’ Layered over an accapella of  Bodzin vs. Romboy’s The Alchemist, it’s an intense, minimal, yet captivating version of the original that forms the apex of the collection.

Fortunately, the bonus disc is just as a rewarding listen. Grace Jones’ ‘I’ve Seen That Face Before’ gets a tough electro reworking, the mix of Fisherspooner’s ‘We Need A War’ accentuates the original, while last year’s anthem Justice vs. Simian’s  ‘We Are Your Friends’ is funked up and brought to life. No one to rest on his laurels though, amidst the more melodic moments, we get the almost un-listenable groan of Johannes Heil’s ‘Paranoid Dancer’ - seven minutes of panic attack inducing carnage. Awesome.