Various Artists
"Airtight In Session: Volume 1"

Having begun life as the sub label for 90's institution Hooj, Airtight has spent 10 years quietly putting out quality deep house, bits of proto-nu disco, and the odd club classic.
The label's output has always been a touch sporadic, which explains why this is in fact the first compilation after a decade, but hopefully the depth and breadth of music on offer here gives a decent insight into the standards the label has maintained throughout .
There are four unreleased tracks exclusive to the album, starting off with an epic Balearic re-rub of Ichisans "Global Pillage" from Scandinavian founding father Bjorn Tjorske, a mesmeric slab of deep tackle from new-comer Tony Underground that to these ears sounds like it's crossing oriental harmonies with Afro flavours, and then one from Japanese producer Atsushi Yano, "Act Safari" a jazzy laidback, percussion and Rhodes affair.
Out of the vaults come some timeless pieces Francois Kevorkians gorgeous mix of Ame Strongs French Language "Tout Est Blue" that opened the Airtight account back in 1998 is followed by the spacey vocal cut "Risky Trains" from Belgiums' Raft.
Ilya Santana's sparse, electronic disco from 2004 gets an airing with the sumptuous "Occidental Accidental", and Peace Division Clive Henry and Justin Drake add bump and depth to F + L "Love Capsule Deluxe" in their Soul Purpose Guise. Dirty Haze's NY funk reworking of Mental Grooves' "Run To The Hills" to round things off.

1) Written and Produced by Igor Skafar. Published by Dharma Songs.
2) Written and Produced by James Lehmann & Matthias Locker. Published by Dharma Songs.
3) Written and Produced by Ilya Santana. Published by Dharma Songs.
4) Written and Produced by J. Dembinski, D. Robertson and C. Walker. Published by 33RPM.
5) Written by P Hospital and A Shafte. Produced by A Shafte and Sab. Published by EMI Music Publishing.
6) Written and Produced by Sean Patrick Woodward. Published by Dharma Songs.
7) Written and Produced by Atsushi Yano. Published by Dharma Songs.
8) Written by Marshall Jefferson, Andrew Wooden & Chris Liebing. Produced by Noosa Heads. Published by UCM-EMI Songs / Sehlau-Fehlau / BMG-UFA.
9) Written and Produced by Bryan Robson, Keith Robson & Lewis Phillmore. Published by Copyright Control.
10) Written by Steve Harris. Produced by Mental Overdrive.Published by Copyright Control.
11) Written and Produced by Atsushi Yano. Published by Dharma Songs.
(P) & (C) 2009 Airtight Recordings