Fabric 10

by Joshua GlazerThe antithesis of U.K. superclub compilations, London's ground zero for underground electronic music, Fabric, began releasing monthly mix CDs. Each mix features one of Fabric's resident or regular guest DJs. And looking over the past contributors, who include everyone from Tony Humphries to DJ Hype, and even legendary BBC announcer John Peel, you start to get the full range of diverse dance styles championed by this upcoming institution. Doc Martin is an appropriate and welcome addition to the Fabric roster, providing a slick mix of warm house beats wrapped in techno filters and ghostly vocal samples. Fabric, Vol. 10 is a convincing replica of his late-night Fabric sessions that demonstrates a darker side of the L.A. house figurehead that has never before been captured on CD. Doc Martin keeps the track selection mysterious and sublime, even choosing the instrumental mix of Brett Johnson's "Stucco Homes" over the storming vocal original favored by most DJs. Fabric, Vol. 10 comes from a distinctly different mindset than the one Doc Martin used to approach his mixing with: his mix for the Classic label was composed of more bouncy and organic house gems. Yet the subtle shift in sound remains well within the scope of deep and funky that underlies all of Doc Martin's music, regardless of the differing approach he may take for each successive release.