Aim : Fabric Live 17

  A Tribe Called Quest - Performer
  Boards of Canada - Performer
  Booglemonster - Performer
  Fingathing - Performer
  Ice Cube - Performer
  James Yorkston - Performer
  Lewis Parker - Performer
  Lords of the Underground - Performer
  Scott Lark - Performer
  Telegraph Avenue - Performer
  Tempo 70 - Performer
  The Byrds - Performer
  Tony D. - Performer
  Village Callers - Performer

London's Fabric nightclub continues to set the standard that all clubs should follow, while also earning the dubious honor of being the biggest song licenser in the underground thanks to their monthly mix CDs. Yet after 34 releases, split between the club's jungle and hip-hop -heavy Friday nights, and their more techno and house -friendly Saturday nights, there's hardly a bunk one in the mix -- a big reason being that the three-room, all-night venue seems to be able to host an infinite number of top jocks, which means finding the next selector is as easy as a flip through the Rolodex. Representing the Fabric Friday nights, Andy Turner culls together a selection of downtempo and hip-hop records, mixed with a smart helping of folk and experimental cuts that allegedly represent the DJ's third-room relaxation selections. Yet it is a doubtful that even a club as musically open-minded as Fabric could tolerate folkster James Yorkston, or the '60s original twee -popsters the Byrds, but perhaps early in the night, before getting to the serious party jams, like A Tribe Called Quest's almighty 'Award Tour,' and a tasty '70s AOR sample riding beneath Ice Cube's 'It Was a Good Day.' Of course, if CDs actually mimicked live sets, they'd probably get stale, but this wide-open selection demands repeat listens for its diversity alone. ~ Joshua Glazer, All Music Guide