When you see large numbers in a series of titles, it’s quite hard to remove the stigma that it has to be bad. For example, the first Police Academy was awesome. Police Academy 7 was not so great. Likewise with Sonic the Hedgehog, the latest release being number 8, is a sad and sallow reflection of its former glory. So when you see that Fabric has hit 40 releases, it’s kind of hard to think that maybe this has gone on a little too long. Fortunately, music mixes don’t usually suffer the same fate as games and movies and with a DJ like Mark Farina at the wheels of steel, the quality is assured.

This mix sees Farina mixing some house, including names that even I know like DJ Sneak and Derek Carter, with what he says is much more obscure. I have to admit, I wouldn’t really know, but a google search for some of these names is very interesting. Ricardo Rae is from Queensland, although you wouldn’t pick it from his chunky beats. Giom is from France via the UK. Some of it is older stuff, like Mood II Swing, whilst some of it has an old school vibe, like Lawnchair Generals Broke Acid. It’s not just the usual “Chicago” sound that continues for 60 minutes non-stop, and I think it’s this wide expanse of music that make this CD so damn listenable.

The mixing is sublime as well. Farina plays snippets of other music and samples in throughout the mix. It’s his hiphop roots showing, and it helps to create something greater than the usual house type mix. My favourite mix has to be Last Word by Johny Fiasco, Mood II Swing Closer, and James Curd’s Pick Up What I’m Putting Down. It has a soulful croon throughout that says “Pick Up”, which is teasingly mixed with the chorus “Pick Up What I’m Putting Down” through the three tunes, until the chorus kicks in proper.

I was conflicted when putting my hand up to review this CD. Mark Farina is a damn good DJ. I loved his Mushroom Jazz releases from a few years ago, so knew I was in for something better than average, even if it was house. But as I’m not generally a great fan of house music, I was expecting to be able to totally exterminate this release, shooting off funny witticisms about the dull repetitiveness and general awfulness of house music. Fortunately I am happy to admit I was wrong and that Fabric 40 is rather good. Actually, more than that, it’s quite possibly one of the best house mixes I’ve ever heard.