Shake Down

The Freemasons are Russell Small and James Wiltshire. 'Shakedown' is a combination of original new material and their best remix work with an impressive cross section of vocalists that's enough to make the best producers in the world envious.

CD1 kicks proceedings off in fine style, with the phenomenal Freemasons remix of 'Deja Vu'. A mix that Radio 1 decided to play instead of the original and that so impressed the booty-shaking diva, she commissioned the boys to do an entire remix album of her latest long player 'B-Day'. Alongside recent' and much loved' remixes for the likes of Fatboy Slim' soulstress Angie Stone and Dirty Old Ann, the album's first CD also features some phenomenal new material from the duo.

'I Feel Like', featuring long-term cohort Amanda Wilson, is the Freemasons at their funk-laden best, taking a brilliant song from California's favourite deep houser Kaskade, a carefree disco sensibility, and giving it their unique, modern twist. "Atlantic" is a beautifully-crafted Balearic houser' which breaks 'Pacific', a track sampling the legendary sax riff from 808 State's record of the same name. Interestingly it seems this part is just a saxapella - hinting at a possible future production from the Freemasons. 'Nothin' But a Heartache' is an epic, Northern Soul inspired number that gives a glitterball nod to Heaven 17, while the album's next single 'Rain Down Love', featuring Siedah Garrett, is a yearning slice of sensual, sweat-soaked funky house.

CD2 features the pair's breakthrough anthem 'Love On My Mind', which spent six weeks in the UK charts, peaking at Number 11, alongside their follow up single 'Watchin' and remixes for the likes of Luther Vandross, Herd and Fitz and Heather Headley. Also included is a sultry, bubbling interpretation of Rose Royce's 'Love Don't Live Here Anymore', a track that has been covered by everyone from Madonna to Jimmy Nail, and is, in this case, vocalled perfectly by Judie Tzuke. 'When You Touch Me', features the soaring vocals of Katherine Ellis and the phenomenal 'Desperados', a tequila-drenched, trumpet-laden monster, is guaranteed to be one of the album's dancefloor highlights.