Various Artists - Defected presents House Masters: Armand Van Helden
Whether it’s releasing #1 singles such as ‘U Don’t Know Me’ (Feat. Duane Harden) and ‘Bonkers’ with Dizzee Rascal, or underground anthems like ‘The Funk Phenomena’ and ‘Flowerz’, Armand Van Helden is the true definition of a legend. With a career spanning over 26 years; his back catalogue includes 7 studio albums, 100s of remixes and countless singles under various aliases – Defected Records welcome Armand as their 27th House Master, alongside Frankie Knuckles, MK, Masters At Work and the latest, his good friend Todd Terry.
Armand Van Helden – House Masters showcases his incredible versatility as a producer, with a selection of both anthemic songs and straight-up club tracks. The album features 20 of the Boston-born producer’s finest productions, from recent commercial hits like ‘Barbra Streisand’ as Duck Sauce (w/ A-Trak) to old skool gems such as his Crazy Trauma Mix of ‘Stay Together’ by Barbara Tucker back in ‘95. His remix of 2016 summer anthem ‘Freak Like Me’ by Lee Walker vs. DJ Deeon is another example that Armand is still at the forefront of pushing boundaries in dance music, just as he was 22 years earlier when dropping his game-changing remix of Kim English’s ‘Nitelife’, which is still a staple in many DJs’ sets today.
For a man who ‘hated house music’, before falling head over heels for it back in the early 90s, Armand Van Helden has established himself as one of the most-loved and in demand producers on the planet. This album is another milestone in a career that continues to go from strength-to-strength, making it a must-have for any lover of house.
Simon Dunmore: “It’s a real privilege for us to promote music from back in the day and all the great records Armand Van Helden has made, to a new audience and to the older audience, because sometimes they need to be reminded of how great those records are.”
