- Anz takes the hallmarks of UK dance music to miraculous heights.
- Over the past months, Anz sought one goal: to complete 40 new tracks. Amid worldwide upheaval, what was likely slotted as an ambitious target ultimately became a collection of 74 tracks, most of which made the cut for her annual production mix. With a widened repertoire in tow, Anz admittedly still hit a roadblock piecing together spring/summer dubs 2020, explaining, "The world has felt so crushing."
It seems there are two routes for a producer creating in dire times: channel the rightful outrage into a dystopian project, or forge escapism through cheerful tracks. Like ice-water on a balmy July afternoon, this mix flits towards the latter. Fanned out over 30 plus tracks of singular UK funky, 2-step garage, dubstep and jungle, Anz takes the hallmarks of UK dance music to miraculous heights. Coupled with tight transitions that prove her increased maturity as a DJ, it's her most cohesive production mix yet.
When it comes to inspiration, the precocious producer dips from a wide pool, often flirting with nostalgia. Rod Lee's Baltimore club anthem "Dance My Pain Away" meets the bubbling melodies of 2-step garage, while Soul For Real's "Candy Rain" is summery UKG, sped-up and centered around two playful vocal loops. Contemporary fads aren't entirely off-limits though. In a mind-splitting jungle track that never ceases to make me pause, the once Tik Tok-trending "Renegade" finds an unexpected match with Wildchild's "Renegade Master."
The detailed, immersive arrangement of some tracks suggest a perfectionist's touch, like in the opening minutes, when a marching drum pattern overlays a nasty, slithering acid line that sounds like it's emerging from underwater. The orchestral closing track, "Here's Where She Returns," makes use of a twittering flute, backed by what sounds like maracas, soaring strings and an upright bass for a simply captivating close. There's a reason why fans still plead for the official release of Anz's years-old production mixes. These 80 minutes prove her range only expands with time.
Tracklist01. Sackville Street Stomp
02. Lunar Spiral
03. Sisi Eko
04. Couch To 50k (Dance Mat Mix)
05. Chaotic Good
06. Sweet One
07. Dancefloor Recalibration
08. Organic Matter
09. Unravel In The Designated Zone
10. Stay A While
11. In Session
12. The Prospector
13. Morphing Into Brighter
14. Tripper's Tip
15. Stone Groove
16. Giant's Leap
17. Speedway
18. Dmpa
19. Halved And Doubled
20. Odogwu (Akoni Ukg)
21. 3 Quid For The Wheel
22. Do Right By You!
23. Double Dutch
24. Iinstructions Includedd
25. The Twist
26. Dream Sequence
27. 4 Til Eternity
28. Oshun
29. Glass Gloss (Ryd Vocal Version)
30. Gt Mover
31. Rrrenegade
32. All Outta Shape
33. First One Back
34. Composure
35. Here's Where She Returns