.co.uk While Masters At Work are rightly credited with bringing Latino grooves back to the dance floor, the part played by former Freaknik Andy Spence (the man behind this Hi-life comp) in keeping them there shouldn't be overlooked. Having contributed two artist albums (1998's Back to My Roots and 2000's Last One Home) to the Latin explosion under his Organic Audio moniker, here he turns world-dance compiler, splicing together his favourite exotic floor-fillers. Extremes of Afro-house are Spence's current crusade. DJ Gregory's "Block Party", with its massed drums, beach party horn salvos and hyperactive cowbell, is more Afro than house. By contrast the slinky funk of Tugg's "Slippery Fish" was designed to rally the super-club faithful. Yet with a dogmatic four-to-the-floor beat as the common denominator, Hi-life makes it from one to the other--via pummelling congas (Primitive's "Primitive Urges IV"), South African shimmies (Idjut Boys & Laj's "Whoktish") and Latin-funk fusion (Soul Ascendants' "Pachacuti")--without faltering. The net result is one rump shaking, and seemingly inexhaustible samba, which packs sweaty carnival spirit and club-class sophistication at every sweltering turn. --Dan Gennoe
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