When Lincoln Cheng’s insatiable appetite for a burgeoning new musical movement prompted him to start Zouk Club in 1991, it’s a wonder if he knew what he was starting.
Twenty years on and Zouk is an institution. The vision that kick started dance music culture in Asia continues to attract revellers from around the globe; they flock to share a very unique experience on its dance floors; One World, One Music, One Tribe, One Dance.
Zouk Classics is a tribute to one ‘clubbing mecca’ and the feeling it instils inside all who revel there. With a soundtrack spanning 20 years, it’s no surprise certain tracks are now synonymous with the club and evoke the feeling you get when you are there. Along with house and techno driving the musical landscape at Zouk for so many years, deep soulful house has always played an integral part. From this, a long standing relationship with Defected has formed.
This new 3CD compilation sees the classics that have rocked the foundations of the club spread in a timeline over the first two CDs mixed by Zouk residents, Jeremy Boon and djB. CD1 spans 1991 – 2000 and charts Zouk’s rise to notoriety taking in classics from Ultra Nate, Donna Allen, Masters At Work, Johnny Corporate, River Ocean feat. India and Little Louie Vega.
CD2 takes care of 2001 to present day, beginning with the unmistakable chords of KOT ‘Finally’. From there on in the atmosphere at the legendary venue is perfectly recreated with cuts from Tensnake, Blaze, DJ Gregory, Michel Cleis, Ame, Aztec Mystic and Octave One.
CD3 outlines the synergy between Defected and Zouk. Label boss Simon Dunmore has been a key feature at the legendary Zouk Out festival and is returning this year to play at ZoukOut 2011. Perfectly balancing the other two discs, Simon Dunmore journeys through the soulful elements with picks from Isolée, Julien Jabre, Reboot, MD X Press, ATFC and Fish Go Deep.
