The Shapeshifters know a thing or two about rocking the dancefloor. As globetrotting DJs, studio craftsmen, musical connoisseurs and all-round party people, the London-based duo of Simon Marlin and Max Reich are at the top of their game as their contribution to the ‘In the House’ series superbly illustrates.

Since GenQ last spoke to the lads back in ’07, The Shapeshifters have found a new home at Defected Records & this is their debut mix cd for the label. Best known for their UK #1 single Lola's Theme and more recently ‘A New Day’ the boys are currently at the top of their game again with the release of their newest single, the brilliant cover of Orbitals ‘Chime' whose accompanying video is a tribute to 20 years of Acid House and future hit ‘Treadstone' which have definitely got the dance floor hyped at the moment.

Treadstone has Shapeshifters written all over it, with the familiar intro that leads into a sexy electro house groove and a powerful electric guitar rift in the middle. Being a vocal house fan, I’d love to see what they could do with some female vocals thrown in for good measure.

CD1 meshes a great number of styles with soulful artists like Grant Nelson and John Julius Knight joining the European new breed of electronic producers like Mike Monday and Nic Fanciulli’s Skylark project. We’re talking underground, tech-edged beats and rolling grooves that build into high-octane house for the modern discothèque.

CD2 sees the guys utilise an array of club music combining 2008 reworkings of classics like ‘Hideaway’, ‘Bad Habit’ and ‘I’ll House You’ with the freshest new house cuts from the likes of Dirty South, Axwell, Bob Sinclar, John Dahlback. Fedde le Grand and Funkerman’s ‘Three Miniutes to Explain’ is a standout, a personal favourite of 2008.

Multi-layered mega-mixes are also included in the musical array, as the boys mesh the likes of The Freaks, Sandy Rivera, Grand High Priest and Soul Creation to provide some uplifting variance on popular dance tracks. In addition, Disc 2 features the inclusion of  Shapeshifters own summer ‘08 smash ‘Chime’ and future hit ‘Treadstone’.

Shapeshifters acknowledge that it’s not just about the here and now, a vital mindset for any dj/producer. The third ‘Inspirations’ CD is allowance for the boys to indulge listeners with a selection of music that have influenced and inspired them along the way. Artists on the disc include Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Hall & Oates, Patrice Rushen, Last Rhythm and Tears For Fears and all songs are unmixed. I have to say that I like the boy‘s style, on the turntables and at the heart strings. They come up trumps with songs to savour that reach deep into dance music’s rich heritage and also bring back memories along the way.

The Shapeshifters In The House is the perfect accompaniment to the warmer weather and ‘spring’ in every house music fans step. Something to savour on each disc, I recommend getting your ears around it very soon.

TRACKLISTING
:CD1:
1.         Skylark ‘Blocked In’ (Funk D'Void Mix) / Knee Deep & DJ Spen ‘Gotta Have House’ (Spen A Pella)
2          RiskSoundSystem ‘The Sound Is Yours’ (Kerri Chandler rmx)
3          John Julius Knight ‘Bounce’
4          Mike Monday ‘I Dream of Ducks’
5          Adam K & Soha ‘Twilight’ (Chris Barratt Remix)
6          Skylark ‘i.Panik’
7          Copyright featuring Imaani ‘Wizeman’ (Original)
8          Daniel Bovie & Roy Rox ‘Stop Playing With My Mind’ (Club Mix)
9          Grant Nelson ‘Spellbound’
10       Lil’ Mo’ Yin Yang ‘Reach’ (Vanjee Remix)
11        Peter Luts & Barbara Tucker ‘One’
12        X-Press 2 ‘Muzik Xpress’ (Skylark Remix)
13        Danism & Haze ‘Strike’ (Michael Gray Remix)
14        Alexander East – ‘Believe En Me’ (LCG Believe En West Remix)
15        Freemasons – ‘Pacific’

:CD2:
1      The Shapeshifters ‘Chime’ (Martijn Ten Velden Remix)
2      The Shapeshifters ‘Chime’
3          John Dahlback ‘Pyramid’ (Dirty South Remix)
4          ATFC ‘Bad Habit’ (ATFC 2008 Club Mix)
5          De’Lacy ‘Hideaway’ (Cedric Gervais Remix)
6          Hagenaar & Albrecht ‘What Would We Do’
7          Grand High Priest ‘Mixdown’ / Soul Creation ‘Maestros Of House’ (Accapella) /Bob Sinclar ‘I Feel For You’ (Accapella)
8          The Freaks ‘The Creeps (You’re Giving Me)’ (Vandalism Mix) / Sandy Rivera ‘I Can't Stop’ (Accapella) /Powers That Be versus Roland Clark ‘Planet Rock’ (Accapella)
9          Hagenaar & Haggstrom presents Lindberg ‘Wack Ass’ / Shakedown ‘At Night’ (Accapella)
10        Dirty South ‘Let It Go’ (Chocolate Puma Dub)
11        Wahoo – ‘Make ‘Em Shake It’ (Claude Monnet & Torre)
12    Quentin Harris featuring Margaret Grace ‘My Joy’ (Harry Choo Choo Romero Remix)
13        The Shapeshifters ‘Lola’s Theme’ (The Shapeshifters Re-Edit)
14        Axwell & Bob Sinclar featuring Ron Carroll ‘Wonderful World’ (Instrumental) / Kathy Brown ‘You Give Good Love’ (Accapella)
15        Fedde Le Grand & Funkerman ‘Three Minutes to Explain
16    Todd Terry All Stars feat. Kenny Dope, DJ Sneak, Terry Hunter & Tara McDonald ‘Get Down’(The
hapeshifters Nocturnal Dub)
17        Funkagenda ‘What The Fuck’ (Original Club Mix)
18        Jungle Brothers ‘I’ll House You’ (ATFC edit)
19        The Shapeshifters ‘Treadstone’
20        Bingo Players vs Chocolate Puma ‘Touch Me’ (Original Mix)

:CD3: Inspirations

1.         Al Green ‘Look What You’ve Done To Me’
2.         Patrice Rushen ‘Haven't You Heard’
3.         Tears For Fears ‘Head Over Heels’
4.         Adamski ‘Killer’
5.         Man Parrish ‘Hip Hop Bee Bop’
6.         Lil’ Louis ‘Club Lonely’
7.         Choice ‘Acid Eiffel’
8.         Last Rhythm ‘Last Rhythm’
9.         Lisa Lisa ‘Let The Beat Hit ‘Em’
10.       Barrington Levy ‘Here I Come’
11.       Hall & Oates ‘Sara Smile’
12.       Frankie Knuckles presents Satoshi Tomiie feat. Robert Owens ‘Tears’ (Classic Vocal)

Tags: Defected In The House, Shapeshifters