MOG Editorial Review

Mixes in the DJ-Kicks series are often a proper coming-out party for dance music's next great producer, and the latest entry by Germany's Motor City Drum Ensemble is no exception. The moniker of Danilo Plesslow takes as much from his home country's electronic roots as it does from the house music of Motor City itself, and this mix shows that his influences expand far beyond either. Kicking off with the avant-jazz of Sun Ra before leading into soulful cuts from Electric Wire Hustle among others, this is a perfect party mix that doesn't feel the need to confine itself to just dance music. Still, it has plenty of that too, shifting between classic tracks like Loose Joints' "Pop Your Funk" and Fred P's "On This Vibe." The song choices themselves are enough to warrant recommendation, but deep in the mix you get a look into what makes Plesslow so special himself, combining all of these influences into a track of his own, the funky, dancefloor-ready "L.O.V.E."