Dance Max (EMI Electrola, 1989)

Review
Dance Max was a German compilation series of 12″ versions which first appeared in autumn 1989. It was advertised on television and the time and the front inlay bears the Musikladen Eurotops logo.

Both CDs of this first volume start with familiar heavy-hitters – Ride On Time (UK Remix which sounds like two radios playing at the same time) and Pump Up The Jam.
UEFA cup places are occupied by the PWL classic from Sonia – You’ll Never Stop Me Loving You and Sydney Youngblood’s endearingly naïve If Only I Could.

The real meat lies in the lesser-known numbers. Ice MC’s Easy is a slowed-down hip house throwback of majestic dopeness. Starlight’s Numero Uno is a piano house epic while it’s a case of “spot the sample” with Play It Again from Out Of The Ordinary. Oh Well’s eponymous dancefloor-filler is always welcome and it’s great to see the UK remix on disc 1.

The spirit of Ibiza’s endless summer 1989 can also be found here. Combo’s Celebrate Lambada, the amazing Sueno Latino (here in its Latin Dream Mix) and Raul Orellana’s bug-eyed sunrise anthem The Real Wild House.

Favourite tracks
Ice MC – Easy (Extended Revolution Remix)

Sueno Latino feat. Carolina Damas – Sueno Latino (The Latin Dream Mix)

Lest we forget
Out Of The Ordinary – Play It Again (The Los Ninos Mix)