Here come three essential albums for seasoned clubbers and newbies alike. Each with many excellent examples of the kind of music that just won't go away (much to the chagrin of all those guitar rock duds out there), and all on one of the coolest labels currently in operation, Mutant Sound System.

The first is a collection of over two hours of music on 2 CD's called London Acid City, a definitive look at what London has been pumping out for the last few years and a serious contender for the 1998 "Only Acid Compilation You'll Ever Need" award.

Literally packed with the kind of beats you only usually ever get to hear when you're too buzzed to find the DJ and enquire as to the source of the delightful aural fayre.<\p>

Features mixes from Chris Liberator, Lawrie Immersion and others, with one of the CD's mixed entirely by Zebedee and Orange Peel (all core members of the London Underground).

Rating - 904,266 (out of a possible 1,000,000)

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Another new compilation from Mutant is entitled Smooth, and as the name implies it offers many ample helpings from the deeper side of modern electronic dance music, with an emphasis on those warm swirling synth pads and jazzy beats.

This time producers Rogue Unit, Nookie, Voyager and Dr. S. Gachet are the names behind the super cool sounds, and surprisingly -- for a dance compilation -- are serving up all new originals. A far cry from the regurgitated offerings that seemed so in vogue before people realised it's actually easier to start fresh than rework somebody elses creation.

Needless to say it's very groovy.

Rating - 868,701 (out of a possible 1,000,000)

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And last but not least we have another double CD, this time taking the listener deep into a genre known as World Dance, the kind of music which has been attracting very large numbers to such gigantic venues as London's Wembley Stadium where the likes of Kenny Ken and DJ SS, who also made this collection possible, put on one hell of a show (or so I'm told).

The music itself is very beats orientated, which is to be expected, and tends to hold onto the same theme for a while as the beats change around it. You're also treated to numerous little soundbytes and vocal bits and pieces from who knows who.

Includes mixes of music originally created by Rogue Unit, DJ Red, 5th Element and more.

Rating - 883,597 (out of a possible 1,000,000)

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