If you’ve ever heard Sultan speak on Connected Live or have merely caught yourself a glimpse of his hair, you no doubt are familiar with his spirited and positive good nature. Graciously, these attributes that make him such a unique player in the modern EDM scene translate from mind to music – which is perhaps the reason why Yoshitoshi: Montreal has to be my favorite Yoshitoshi release to date. Sultan represents tracks of his own creation in four of the disc’s fourteen tracks alongside featured DJs including Ned Shepard, Stephanie Vezina and Zara (and let’s not forget the Sultan/Ned Shepard accapella featuring Stereomovers). Normally, when a DJ over-represents him/herself on a mix album, my tendency is to think snobbery; the selection of tracks, however, is so impeccable that I have to praise every one of the varying inclusions.
Sultan wastes no time whipping up an irresistibly sexy and lush array of fresh house music with passion that clearly radiates from the heart and soul: If you enjoy your electronica sunny-side up, this is the album for you. The brief but telling opening track `No Why’ sets the musical current flowing at an outstanding and lively pace. The dub version of `Aldan,’ a slightly progressive-house bit with an outstanding vocal performance, follows closely at the heels. Max Graham’s Club Mix of `To Be Given’ is an awesome ride through simplistic house purity. `Waiting for You’ mixed into Valentino’s `Flying’ is a brilliant and beautiful track, one of my favorites. Cleverly placed tracks such as these liven up even the gloomiest of moods with the clarity of diamonds and sapphire. `Together We Rise,’ including the quite-familiar accapella `Connected,’ allows the precision required for the music to reach dance fanatics of all walks of life; Montreal is a vibrant city, gushing with culture and exciting nightlife. Never before has an album like Yoshitoshi: Montreal so accurately captured the quintessence of the geographical location! Having grown up in places such as Cyprus, Kuwait, Egypt and Canada, Sultan’s inbred sense of cultural assimilation impressively manifests itself in a fantastic aural spectrum of sound.
Though unexpected, I really enjoy 16 Bit Lolitas’ `Passing Lights’ because it ups the ante as far as intensity is concerned. And, damn – just when I think I’ve heard all that Sultan has to offer, Spider & Legaz land robo-tech lunar love on `Look Around (S&L 07 Vocal Mix).’ After numerous appearances throughout Sharam’s brightly banging Global Underground: Dubai, it is not surprising that Sultan decides to utilize the duo’s skills here. As a matter of fact, the similarities to GU029 don’t stop there: `Sugar’ (which opens Dubai’s first mix) makes a welcome appearance, alighting upon the coaster ride with an altogether intriguing and lively remix performed by Whelan & Di Scala. I cannot decide which version I like better, though the featured remix has a bit of an electro-house spin to it that I personally find irresistible. Tracks like `Prelude’ (my favorite) carry the electro torch through nearly to the end of the disc but also manage to incorporate folksy-blues guitar and shimmering vocals whose purity and fluidity becomes apparent as they cascade over the music with the flinty timbre of mid-90′s acid house. Pure class. Last but by no stretch of the imagination least is Ned Shepard’s DT (downtempo) Remix of `Night Visions,’ which literally sends shivers down my spine each time I hear it. I think, of all possible great songs to close with at a twilight-crawl, Sultan could not have chosen a more perfect track – and Ned Shepard could not have done a better remix.
Here lies the proof: He is the Sultan of modern house. If dance music dripping with color and variety whilst oozing passion and class is your bag, this is unquestionably your album of the year. Smile.
-James Woodruff
