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Where does Yousef stand in 2009? As he approaches his third decade in the business, nearly fifteen years of acid house dedication that has seen him throw his life into dance music, there’s still room for growth artistically and professionally. Completely comfortable in his own skin, yet itching for progress and further creative empowerment, Yousef has strode headlong into the year with increasing maturity and prowess.

Perhaps the talking point of the year so far refers to the imminent arrival of his artist album, his first proper. Whilst 2005’s ‘Friends’ EP saw a collection of collaborations extend the usual club format of single, this is Yousef tackling that tricky beast completely on his own, finally laying down on wax a watermark of his effervescent personality. It showcases the different dynamics to his sound as a performer alongside material more reflective of the man away from the booth, with the club tracks already seeing some heavy support from the usual rag tag ensemble of dance music greats; Sasha, Nic Fanciulli, Carl Cox, Steve Lawler, Radio Slave and Nick Curly among them.

‘A Collection of Scars & Situations’ is more than just your typical DJ led collection of bangers though. They are catered for of course, most resplendently by the pulsating tech house monster ‘Legacy’ (bolstered by a superb archaic vocal from Derrick Carter and recently premiered to devastating effect on Pete Tong’s Essential Selection and now picked up by renaissance recordings) and the Beyer - esque ‘Equilibrium’. But it’s the haunting electronica of ‘Birthday Thoughts’ and ‘A Moment of Clarity’ that give the album it’s gritty edge, two bleak almost dystopian efforts which channel the darker undercurrents of electronic music perfectly, much better than the standard ‘chill-out’ fare posted by DJs when they turn their artistic efforts into a long player.

The album comes in June, with Circus Recordings in itself notching up a year of releases one month earlier, churning out eight Yousef singles which have illustrated the madness and hedonism of the club he has created. That celebrated six years at the apex of Liverpool’s club scene in September last year and his still pulling line-ups together that makes the accountants balk and the clubbers froth at the mouth. Its house music at its kaleidoscopic best, the more accessible names such as Fatboy Slim, Groove Armada and Eric Prydz competing with the heavyweights of the underground like Laurent Garnier, Luciano and Dubfire. And that’s not forgetting the young blood; Circus has Jamie Jones, Sebo K and Davide Squillace to name a few. There’s nothing predictable about the clubbing powerhouse Yousef has created.

As ever it’s a stylistic snapshot not only of the modern house music climate, but that of Yousef himself. Whilst he shot to fame in the late nineties countering the main room trance and progressive of Cream with US house flavoured beats in his famed Annexe residency, Yousef has evolved and taken much more on board into his stylistic remit. Whilst his techno renaissance has been underway for a while, this year the style has continued to take more twists and turns into differing realms of the electronic sphere. The deep disco of producers like Prins Thomas and Mark E has recently found itself an integral part of Yousef’s musings, enabling him to give another edge to the swaggering groove and swing that has always been at the forefront of his sound.

It’s this process of constant evolution rather than reinvention which has characterised Yousef’s career, and kept him at the forefront of promoters’ thoughts across the globe. He’s played in pretty much every nation the world over, marking one first last year as the first western DJ to play the troubled nation of Syria. Ibiza, with its arcane hedonism and wild party ethos has always served as an adequate stomping ground for his cross genre grooves. Last season he was the only DJ to be asked to play at all three of Space’s marquee nights, both Danny Tenaglia and Carl Cox’s promotions and of course the jewel in the island’s crown, We Love... Sundays. And of course he’s back there this year... with a vengeance. He’s also clocked up his first London Residency by inking a monthly deal at Matter, the brainchild of Fabric impresario Keith Reilly. And there’s the small matter of him running the London marathon, raising cash for CALM and showcasing his serious edge to the party reputation he’s always encased. Record Label Owner and Internationally renowned club promoter, it’s a far cry form the excess which defined wilder youth, confirming his professionalism and dedication to the acid house dream.

And his productions are still getting to outlets beyond Circus Recordings. He’s already remixed Stu Hirst and Fergie to devastating effect this year, whilst Fatboy Slim’s brand new single with rasp voiced rudeboy Jamie T ‘Local Town’, will feature a stonking Yousef remix. Nic Fanciulli asked him for a single from the aforementioned album’ “i suggest” drops on Saved Records in july 09. Following on from previous work for CR2, JBO, Skint and Underwater and Berwick street. Whether criss-crossing the globe with his arsenal of varied sounds or impregnating his own individual aural histrionics on wax, Yousef is stamping his identity on dance music and leaving a lasting impression. There’s few who come close in terms of dedication or in the variance of approach, Yos hits each and every base with alarming regularity. And the best part yet? The journey has only just begun...

www.yousef.co.uk

circusclub.co.uk