Jam & Spoon – The Complete Stella

STELLA is such a classic that it seems redundant to sing its praises. With its solid beat and the emotive synths that reverberate in one's soul (not to mention the breathy voice, imploring, 'Hold me, love me'), the original is a deeply-felt track that deserve every bit of receives. Moby's "Barracuda Mix" doesn't differ from the original in of melodic content with the exception of a new vocal sample and some piano chords, as well as adding a mellower set of percussion for a more chilled experience, while his "Electro Mix" takes those same elements and goes slightly deeper, varying the rhythmic patterns into a 2-minute long build before the 4/4 kicks in. Jam & Spoon's own remix adds a tinkling line like water droplets, as well as some deeper elements, and, more surprisingly goes totally ambient for its second half. Finally, Frank de Wulf's mix straddles the line between hard and soft, but keeping the feet firmly on the floor. There's no denying: Stella is still stellar.

Dance and electronic music has been widely criticised from a number of angles for its apparent lack of emotion and soul. But the Original Mix of 'Stella' is tantalising, provocative and music at its most sensuous, regardless of genre categorisation. From the onset, the track is underpinned by gorgeous, seductive swathes of synth that bristle then soften alternately, in combination with nimble, insistent yet playful piano keys that contribute an additional layer to the sound. Once the track breaks, the gentle, appealingly whispered "hold me, love me" vocals are seamlessly integrated on top of the track's numerous layers of sound, bringing with them an increased sonic perception of ion and sensuality. Dark, brooding, intense and uncompromisingly ionate, the Original Mix of 'Stella' is the musical manifestation of the deepest of human desires.