The Irish in Britain, including those of Irish descent, make up a significant part of the UK population. Here, you will find news, entertainment, events, sports and features from the local Irish Post newspaper.

Various Artistes - Urban Dance Explosion

By Phil Savva

Urban Dance Explosion is a 22-track CD collection of some of the hippest R&B and hip-hop tracks around.

And as such it will appeal to a fairly limited market but if you’re into that type of heavier, harder scene then you’ll enjoy what’s on offer here.

Sean Paul has made quite a name for himself over the past couple of years and here he comes up with the goods again on the exclusive We Be Burnin’.

Another major star who enjoyed 2005 in particular was Usher featured here with Pop Ya Collar.

The problem with a lot of the more hardcore R&B and hip-hop is that it is just that. By that I mean the lyrics can be borderline to say the least and after a while it all sounds all too familiar.

Still having said that there are still some good tracks here — from the the likes of Craig David (Don’t Love You No More), The Notorious B.I.G. (Hypnotize), Destiny’s Child (Soldier) and De La Soul (Shopping Bags).

The rest is pretty much a take it or leave it decision.

Check out the DVD though with all the dance moves for various songs for you to learn.

Various Artistes - Best Of Air Guitar

By Phil Savva

Featuring some of the all-time guitar greats this triple album is definitely one for your collection.

Over 50 tracks of the best, stonking guitar-based numbers to have been released over the past 30 years.

Opening with Queen’s live version of Fat Bottomed Girls CD1 contains such anthems as Thin Lizzy’s Boys Are Back In Town, Robert Palmer’s Addicted To Love, Run DMC’s Walk This Way, Kiss’s Crazy Crazy Nights and recent chart hit from The Darkness — I Believe In A Thing Called Love.

And if that wasn’t enough there are real classics from the vaults from The Shadows, The Kinks, Free and Lynard Skynyrd.

CD2 features such rock gods as ZZ Top (Gimme All Your Lovin’), Boston (More Than A Feeling), Pink Floyd (Money) and is ably backed up with more up-to-date releases from The Rasmus (In The Shadows), Billy Idol (Rebel Yell), EMF (Unbelievable) and Bryan Adams (The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You).

CD3 keeps the mix between old and new nicely tempered with Free’s Alright Now, Eddie Cochran’s C’mon Everybody, Chuck Berry’s Johnny B Goode and The Troggs’ Wild Thing rubbing shoulders with Blur (Song 2), The Undertones (Teenage Kicks) and Buzzcocks (Ever Fallen In Love).

And we finish off where we started with perhaps THE track that everybody thinks of in terms of classic guitar work — Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody.

Don’t miss it.

Various Artistes - Frantic Euphoria

By Phil Savva

Part of the Extreme Euphoria collections Frantic Euphoria is a triple-CD compilation from two of the top DJs in the field — Anne Savage and Andy Whitby.

Each of them delivers a Frantic Classics mix with Anne Savage also coming up with a Slinky mix for the final CD.

As you’d expect from the Euphoria label the music is fast and frenetic and is aimed at the more hardened clubber who is into the rave scene.

But having said that there are still plenty of names recognisable to the more mainstream clubbers.

There are versions of the excellent Sandstorm by Darude, Zombie Nation’s Kernkraft 400, Mario Piu’s The Vision, BK’s Revolution and Mauro Picotto’s Iguana.

And no collection would be complete without the stalwart and unbelievably brilliant Operation Blade from Public Domain.

Anne Savage also delivers a couple of her own tracks on CD3 — namely The Do and Modulans.

As I said one for the hardened clubber but still has its appeal.

Bonkers 15 - Legends Of The Core

By Phil Savva

Britain has always had a reputation for innovative music whatever the genre.

On Legends Of The Core the underground rave scene gets a much-needed shot in the arm from Bonkers 15.

Again this is a compilation that will appeal to the minority but if you were ever into the rave culture then this is worth a least a listen to.

Mixed by eight of the top DJs in this field this is cutting edge stuff. The DJs team up to produce their mixes and Hixxy and Re-Con; Sharkey and Marc Smith; Scott Brown and Neophyte and finally Dougal and Gammer make up the pairings.

Stand-out tracks include On Fire, Dance Me, Ascending Angels and Tell Me A Story.

ALI B vs Jungle Bros - Beats On A String

By Phil Savva

ALI B had a good 2005 with his Y4K album garnering critical acclaim.

He ends the year with single release Beats On A String in conjunction with the Jungle Brothers.

It’s a funky piece of dance/hip-hop with the rap vocals from the Jungle Brothers overlaid on an excellent bassbeat undercurrent.

Receiving a lot of club play. Check it out.