After four years of 12” releases and collaborative experiments, DJ T.’s full-length follow-up to 2005‘s Boogie Playground is upon us. While Boogie Playground was an exploration of T.’s 70s and 80s influences, a melting-pot of styles that touched upon electro, disco, italo and funk, The Inner Jukebox draws inspiration from the 90s and is a more focussed adventure – it’s T.’s vision of house music as it should be. So much “house” around right now is really just glorified minimal techno, vibe-killing in its meticulousness; by contrast, the tracks which comprise The Inner Jukebox are bold, vivid, expressive. They’re cerebral and carefully crafted, yes, but more importantly they have a bounce and a sexiness to them. T. has always sought to make proper, no-nonsense dance music with real groove at its heart – and The Inner Jukebox finds him fully realizing that ambition.

Produced with Thomas Schumacher, who used to helm Elektrochemie and now produces acclaimed solo material for Get Physical, The Inner Jukebox is an assuredly mature work, but is notable also for its youthful exuberance and confidence. This is no concept album – it’s about quality dance music that will sound great in the club, the car, the home, wherever. The album opens with its title track, a deep, atmospheric piece replete with dubby chords and shuffling, brushed snares; even without a kickdrum, the tension is built up beautifully with sampled, wordless voice-fragments – a recurring feature throughout the album.

Tracklisting:

01. The Inner Jukebox
02. Dis
03. Gorilla Hug
04. Bateria
05. Mr. Piano Hands
06. Lit from Within
07. Rituality
08. Switch
09. Shine On
10. Weirdo
11. To the Drum

References: http://www.physical-music.com/