San Francisco Sessions Vol 3
The third installment of this highly groovesome guide to the San Franciscan house sound saunters into your aural space with the watery Western guitar of Juan Trip's "Shadows." Wicked crew co-founder and reggae aficionado DJ Garth is at the helm this time, so it is of little surprise that the slow and stoned groove eventually gives way not to a house stormer but to Rhythm & Sound's "Never Tell You." Garth keeps it diverse with live and loose drums from the highly influential A Guy Called Gerald and Bibi's aptly titled, almost Santana-like "Summer" before finally diving into a liberal selection of faster, deeper, and funkier Bay Area treats. The roster of the record's final third flirt dangerously with some light, jazzy, and not entirely successful numbers; thankfully, Santal's kaleidoscopic "Past and Future Things" waltzes in to save the day.--Bob Michaels