Our features editor Liam McSharry is endorsing this compilation as a “Must own” and we here at Pumped Audio HQ like to think he knows what he is talking about. In this piece he explains why………..

I have long been an admirer of Luciano and his approach to DJ culture. His ability to fuse together all manner of genres, emotions, grooves and inspirations into a digestible DJ set always leaves me flabbergasted and content, yet hungry for more. I feel the launch of his Vagabundos brand has enabled him to take things to the next level and conduct a night entirely to his own accord. I am akin to his ethos and feel I belong in his carnival of kookiness, where you get the genuine feeling that “anything is possible and nothing is taboo”. His night at Pacha serving as the theatre for the summer months.

When the digital copy of “Vagabundos 2012” arrived in my inbox, it is maybe easy to guess I was a little bit stoked. Of course I was, but I have to admit, I had this niggling feeling that I would be disappointed. Don’t ask me why, I am usually a super positive person but I thought to myself that it would take something really special to capture that Vagabundos “vibe” in a 74 min CD mix. More often than not, those magical moments you experience on the dancefloor often don’t translate well if the set is recorded and you listen again in the comfort of your own home. Or is it just me that feels this way? The vagabond in me told me to lighten up and just hit the download link.

I always like to give any mix or album a good few listens before I write a word on the matter so I saw no reason why I should approach this one any different. In the car, doing housework, replying to the mountain of emails in your inbox, you know the drill. It definitely takes at least 3 listens for the 74 or so minutes to get under your skin, allowing you to start painting images in your mind and the article begins writing itself. Hitting play for the first time made something very apparent for the word go, I would not be able to approach this review in my usual manner. Should I have expected anything else………?

The sheer nature of how this mix is put together makes it almost impossible to dissect and put into words the way that has become the norm. I double checked my initial gut feeling and it was swiftly confirmed when I looked at the tracklisting. I have included it at the bottom of this article so you can see what I mean. Luciano has embraced the advancements in technology in a way I wish a lot of other so called “Premier League DJs” would. He has taken his vast knowledge, desire and creativity and used the tools available to him to craft a work of art that will easily stand the test of time in an age of “throw away” music. I use the word craft with sincerity; I am a DJ myself and like to think I know what I am talking about but this mix had me lost on a number of occasions, looking at the list of tracks before me and trying to map out where we were. So there lays my dilemma, I have a review to write but don’t feel I have the right or ability to pull this mix apart and give you a blow by blow account. Is this a good thing or bad? After much thought, I have come to the conclusion that is more than a good thing. I feel we have become to analytical with our music and veered away from its primary purposed to some degree. If I go to an art gallery to look at an artist’s work, I usually stand and admire the finished piece for what it is. I implore you to do the same here.

This mix is not one, like many these days, which you can listen to in parts. Stopped and started at your convenience. Give this soundscape the time it deserves and let it do the job it was created for. A dreamy intro makes way to blunt dubby tech house, which is merely the departure lounge of this one way trip to Vagabundos…………. You may make your own way home afterwards.
I recently stayed at my mate’s house after a big night out. I had my laptop and music collection with me as always to soundtrack the afterparty that always happens, yet this mix never actually got played. It wasn’t until the next day and my mate was lying in bed with his girlfriend, absolutely dying and fancied sticking something on. He found this on my hard drive, hit play and climbed back into bed. He later told me that the fact they lay in bed recuperating meant they gave it a full listen and they were blown away. He used the word “journey” and although it is a huge cliché, he is right. It will bring you up, bring you down. Get you pumped and then chill you out.

I am purposely not going into much more detail. If you are already familiar with Luciano, chances are you’ll know whether this will be for you or not. If you are not sure, but trust my judgement, then I cannot recommend this highly enough. If you have experienced the true Ibiza, you will get this. If you like a mix that offers more than just 12 of the most upfront tracks in a random order, buy this. If you like to hear a DJ willing to bare his soul to you, you will love this. It is deep, it is percussive. It is soulful, it is tough. It is epic, it is Vagabundos………

BUY HERE >> www.beatport.com/release/vagabundos-2012/943033

Vagabundos 2012 – mixed by Luciano

01 – Le K – 25th Of February Anatomy
02 – Substance & Vainqueur – Reverberation / Le K – 25th Of February Anatomy
03 – Technasia – Michigan Ride / Substance & Vainqueur – Reverberation
04 – Nick Harris – Surfing With Kilgore / Technasia – Michigan Ride / Substance & Vainqueur – Reverberation
05 – Alex Gori – Zinghei / Nick Harris – Surfing With Kilgore
06 – BBQ – BBQ Bounce / Alex Gori – Zinghei
07 – Pompeya – 90 Gorje Hewek remix / BBQ – BBQ Bounce
08 – DJ Wild – Catania Blues / Pompeya – 90 Gorje Hewek remix
09 – Wata Igarashi – D-28-2 / DJ Wild – Catania Blues
10 – DJ Wild – Catania Blues
11 – NTFO & Optick – Tremble (Rhadow remix) / DJ Wild – Catania Blues
12 – Dave Aju – Away Away / NTFO & Optick – Tremble (Rhadow remix)
13 – Sarp Yilmaz – Shoot / NTFO & Optick – Tremble (Rhadow remix)
14 – Plaid – Dett / Sarp Yilmaz – Shoot
15 – The Sushi Club – Flunauticus (Johnny D remix)
16 – Zakes Bantwini feat. Xola – Clap Your Hands / The Sushi Club – Flunauticus (Johnny D_Remix)
17 – Dani Casarano / Felipe Valenzuela / Demian Muller – Dreamer / Zakes Bantwini feat. Xola – Clap Your Hands
18 – El Pocho – Don Quixote / Dani Casarano / Felipe Valenzuela / Demian Muller – Dreamer
19 – Guy J – Lamur AM mix / El Pocho – Don Quixote / Dani Casarano / Felipe Valenzuela / Demian Muller – Dreamer
20 – Romanthony – Bring U Up – Deetron edit
21 – Marc Romboy vs KINK – Don’t Shake My Tree
22 – DanieLL – Don’t Stop Run / Marc Romboy vs KINK – Don’t Shake My Tree
23 – Lucien-N-Luciano – Somewhere We Got / DanieLL – Don’t Stop Run