Various Artists Fabric 25: Carl Craig
You‘re probably expecting loads of poker-faced, future-tilting, Detroitian techno from Mr. Craig, right? Guess again. […]
You‘re probably expecting loads of poker-faced, future-tilting, Detroitian techno from Mr. Craig, right? Guess again. Planet E‘s honcho subverts expectations with this 18-track mix that mainly explores house‘s deeper terrain while keeping the party vibes at fever pitch (aided by Craig‘s own synth embellishments, handclaps, and crowd-hyping exhortations). After layering lush synth washes over Ying Yang Twins‘ nasty a cappella of “Wait,” Craig segues into pacific, Basic Channel-like techno with his “Angel (Caya Dub).” But soon after, he‘s off on a soulful, cowbell-heavy house bender, before returning to more familiar orchestral tech-house. Craig‘s dug deep for Fabric 25, and it pays hedonistic dividends.