Alex Peace and DJ Bam Bam

For DJs who blend MP3s and CDs, a growing number of mixes are available to add to the playlist — almost like vinyl in a collection. Jack in the Day, Vol. 1 is such a production, featuring tracks by Alex Peace and DJ Bam Bam. Available only as downloads from BeatPort.com and Juno.co.uk, the “mix” is not meant for continuous listening — you pick the loop of a track you like and fade in and out with other selections.

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The “bad blends” almost fooled me, but there’s no doubting the hardness in this house. “Jack that shit” is just one repeated refrain reminiscent of sweat-on-the-floors warehouses in old-school Chicago, along with clap tracks and hi-hat lead-ins to get the crowd amped. Alex Peace’s “Funk Sol Brotha” actually pounds the funk into the song.

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A cheesy vocal or two nearly numbs the bang, but tech-house elements, sirens, familiar hi-lo tones, and one that sounds like original Nintendo bombs dropping helps to keep things in play. You’d dance to this stuff, provided the DJ knew what he was doing. DJ Bam Bam and Alex Peace certainly do. 3 stars