Amazon.co.uk Review
Little Louis Vega and Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez, the NY DJ/production/bandleading duo known as Masters At Work have spent the past 10 years writing the blueprint for house anthems.
Part Two of their tenth anniversary collection focuses on 1996 to 2000 and features their infamous remix of Daft Punk's "Around The World" as well as a great, warped take on Mel B's "I Want You Back". Polyrhythmic to the last, they've stayed champions of the soulful and eclectic dance floor: a testament to their reach and ability to transcend the most ordinary of material. Their knack for remixes that ooze funk, style and sophistication is best exemplified with their electrifying treatment of Luther Vandross' "Are U Using Me" and the bad-ass garage diva they create out of Kele Le Roc on "You Did It Good" on CD 1. Equally arresting grooves come in the shape of Ultra Nate's "Divine Love" and George Benson's version of Donny Hathaway classic "The Ghetto" on CD 1 and CD 2 respectively. Elsewhere on CD 2 they fancy the avant-funk of Nigerian afrobeat creator, Fela Kuti. The result--"MAW Expensive" is a 12-minute beat odyssey with evocative vocals from Wunmi. In 1997, they released
Nuyorican Soul, a classic example of their ability to bring out a sublime sunshine mood in just about everything they touch. Four Nuyorican cuts are featured here: "Mind Fluid", "You Can Do It Baby", "It's Alright, I Feel It" and "Runaway" on CDs 2, 3 and 4. Although the many achievements of MAW are enough to make most other impresarios quietly disappear, the duo's powers don't seem to be abating over time.
Part Two, much like
Part One is awesome, soulful dance music. --
Reuben Dessay