Excursions

by John BushAlready the subject of countless compilation/mix licensings thanks to his electro-clash hit "Silver Screen (Shower Scene)," Chicago kingpin Felix Da Housecat issued his own mix album, one that ably competes with the spate of nu-electro compilations circa 2002. Unlike his Clashbackk Compilation Mix from 1997, which focused on the darker side of Windy City house, Excursions pegs the primitivist electronica scene with tracks from a few oft-anthologized names (Miss Kittin, Ladytron, Felix himself) and, best of all, an abundance of left-field producers. Aside from his own mix of "Silver Screen (Shower Scene)," highlights come from Bolz Bolz (an ace remix of "Take a Walk") and another Felix remix, of Dot Allison's "Substance." And for listeners growing tired of a few too many formula remakes of Giorgio Moroder's "The Chase," Felix inserts a great mini-set of pummeling techno (tracks from Jeff Mills and Tim Taylor, plus one from the User series). Almost as good as the impossible-to-license promo mix Felix did for Emperor Norton earlier in 2002.