Dance Odyssey: The Temptation Of Joel Lai

Joel Lai (Live DJ Mix)

Gogo

Anyone who has heard the real Joel Lai DJing at Club 97 or Drop - rather than at mega-raves - will not be surprised to find his first proper mix album a blend of jazzy, funky grooves that are as smooth and sweet as the watermelon martinis his club Drop specialises in serving. A sweet tooth may be necessary for some of the more saccharine numbers such as the classic Higher And Higher by, appropriately enough, Milk And Sugar. It's just one of a few anthemic dancefloor fillers that punters regularly ask Lai to spin, another of which is the disco-influenced Meridian Project by DJ Morris and Takaboom.

Most of the beats are designed to sway the hips rather than bang the ears, with overlaid instruments as diverse as the flute, saxophone and Spanish guitar. Among the more memorable moments for home listening are Guitarra G's infectious, latin-flavoured Banda Sonora and the soulful female vocals on Cleptomaniacs' All I Do.

Lai can hardly fail in choosing such classics as Derrick May's Strings Of Life and Eastwest Connections' Eastwest to round out the album. As you would expect from Lai, the tracks are impeccably mixed, proving Hong Kong DJs can mix it with the best of them.