Various - Virtual DJ: Drum N' Bass (Breakdown)

This is no ordinary compilation! Virtual DJ is a new series from Breakdown Records that includes an interactive CD-Rom element as well as the standard audio tracks. But the album is still open to anyone - you can play it on a standard hi-fi or, if you have a CD-Rom-equipped computer (Apple Mac or PC), then you can plug in and interact. On the music side, there are 12 tracks of above-average drum & bass. Notable appearances coming from DJ Red, Aphrodite and Swift. But when you plug this album into your computer you get a whole new dimension. The screen fills with a the view of one wall of a 'virtual bedroom'. Scroll left, right, up and down to look around. You'll find little animations, games and - tucked away in the corner - a pair of decks. It's this Virtual DJ booth that's the star of the show. Although a little daunting at first (there's no on-screen instructions), the virtual mixing process couldn't be more intuitive. Click the record box to browse the tracks on the album. Find one you like and drag it onto the first turntable. Do the same with the other deck and then set them both spinning. Mix between the two and - with some nifty mouse action - you can even even start scratching!

It may sound like a gimmick, and at this stage of it's development it is, but I'd like to see this interactive element becoming standard across most dance compilations. The mixing is surprisingly lifelike, having an easy-to-adjust BPM control helps a lot. In fact Virtual DJ is almost as addictive as real life - it's far too easy to lose an hour or two perfecting a mix on the screen! But it's the quality of the tracks on the compilation, and the sheer brilliance of the added bonus of the Virtual DJ session that makes this stand out. More than any other compilation, you know that the tracks have been chosen with the DJ in mind. Aphrodite's 'Dub Moods' is a brilliant laid back, pulse-driven track. Shy FX's 'Mad Apache' is full of mixable breaks and fills and Dream Team's 'Star Wars' has to be heard to be believed. In other words, plenty of variation for the first stars of the virtual DJ arena to play with. album: 7/10 interaction: 10/10


This review also published in: DJ magazine