About.com Rating



I first came across DJ Joe Gauthreaux more than five years ago during a Mardi Gras party at Oz in New Orleans. A resident there for many years, he's recently become a New York transplant. With the city's heavy tribal, underground sound, it's great to hear a non-native New Yorker interpret it's seductive rhythms.

Kicking the CD off is a track by Scott Wozniak that found it's way into my sets many times last spring.


Can I Hear The Drum is a simple production that slowly builds, creating a perfect opening number. Following that up are stompers from Sucker DJs, Warren Clarke, and the one-and-only Loleatta Holloway. Gauthreaux does an amazing job in programming his tracks for this compilation. Each one seems to build off the next and create that upward movement that a lot of more inexperienced DJs sets lack.

The second half of the CD is where the real fun is at though. It's always those lesser known tunes that seemed to have passed me by that really get me moving, and this half is chock full of treats. King Master's Hornetz really stands out as golden and to add fuel to the fire, Gauthreaux layers a wonderful a capella loop over the top of that (which is always extra points in my book for creativity). Antoine Clamaran, DJ Fist, and a HOT remix of Kings of Tomorrow's Thru also make appearances.

When something is highly, highly, highly recommended from someone as cynical as me ? take note! Centaur releases have recently become hit or miss, but this one has hit the bullseye ? tribal at it's best!