San Francisco Sessions

San Francisco Sessions is arguably Mark Farina's seminal contribution to the house music community. The disc opens with soothing beach sounds and heavily effected vocals that set the tone for a warm blend of tracks that are both inspired and inspirational. The mix begins to hit stride around track four ( "Things We Used To Do") with its chopped up vocals, stabbing horns, and a breakdown that would destroy any dance floor. As the mix continues Farina layers his signature Mood II Swing a capellas over a number of tracks providing an excellent sense of tension and release. The remainder of the mix moves deftly between instrumental tracks ("Spellbound"), deep and minimal tracks ("Somethin' Else"), and outright funky tracks ("Seriousfunkill"). Mark has certainly thrown down the gauntlet for future contributors to the San Francisco Sessions series, as this disc has both captured, and helped shape, the sound of West Coast house. --Anish Acharya