[CD Reviews]

DJ RIZZLA

Bangy Ragga

By DAVID DAY

GENRE | ALL THAT AND THEN SOME
VERDICT | CLUB FORWARD
RELEASE | 9.10.09
LABEL | SOUNDCLOUD

 

The movement among our city's queer scene toward the edge of club sounds has a perfect poster boy in DJ Rizzla. If that's so, then this mix is a manifesto. Equal parts hipster party, techno nightclub and open-minded exuberance, Bangy Ragga is not about tweaking little transitions: Things overlap, crash, break down and get put back together in one 33-minute escapade. He's also not one to just play other remixers, putting four of his own edits in the mix. With airhorns, handclaps, baile funk Shystie's "Pull It (Ill Blu Mix)" is a perfect example of this all-in-one technique, as Auto-Tune, marimbas and dancehall flavor all get rolled into one delicious jam. It's followed by a polished-up Jimpster remix of Sista Widey's "Inspecta" that leads to a smooth, hipswivel groove. Rizzla reclaims dancehall for his own, with a further-informed playlist of Vybz Cartel, Peepshow riddims and one exclusive track from the all-knowing Kingdom. Be sure to listen to the end, when he drops his reggaeton refix of Alice Deejay's "Better Off Alone." Any club night where Rizzla has the decks will go off like a cherry bomb. [DAVID DAY]

RIZZLA AT THE MILKY WAY, THU 11.19.09