DJ-Kicks: Hercules And Love Affair

It's all too easy for nostalgia to tip into something negative. At its best it's a celebration of the best the past has to offer while putting it balanceinto a contemporary context; at its worst it's moaning that things aren't as good as they used to be. Hercules & Love Affair have always been firmly in the first category. Main man Andy Butler takes classic house and disco sounds and uses them to craft dance music that has one foot in the past, the other cutting a rug on dancefloors right now. It's a well-judged and expertly executed balance.

The same applies to Hercules & Love Affair's DJ Kicks set, which ranges from proto house, through New York's golden years in the '90s, to Chicago jack tracks and modern takes on house music's halcyon days. It's a mix that includes a lot of old music, but it's not outmoded. It's there for a reason. "It's fun to remind myself why I like old records," says Butler. "I'm naturally drawn to a more classic sound. When it comes to dancing I'm more inspired to get on up and shake it if feels like there's a lot of substance and depth to a record."