As is the case with most of the DJ Kicks releases, here we find a master at work; however, Tiga’s DJ Kicks is the first to surpass Andrea Parker’s 1997 release as being my personal favorite . Oh-so-dreamy Nouveau-electro master Tiga throws down a menagerie of his own productions, remixes, and personally selected tracks mixed flawlessly together to create a Tech-y blend of Electro full of emotion and range. With a flow that allows the album to provide a seamless backdrop to anything, from car-listening to blaring at full volume speakers in your house or (ideally) a club, Tiga’s blend is a universal sound. From the gorgeous ballad-like “Time Has Changed” to the final track, Tiga’s own tongue-in-cheek remix of Felix Da Housecat’s “Madame Hollywood”, there appears to be a statement being made, and perhaps a gauntlet being thrown down. Has Tiga, protégé and prodigy of Electro god DJ Hell, finally surpassed the master? All it takes is a brief flip through the hallucinogenic story within the booklet and the imagery appears to indicate just that. While Tiga’s always been really, really good (see his fantastic Mixed Emotions release for an example), ever since his reworking of “Sunglasses At Night” with Zyntherius his talent and fame have been on the rise. With DJ Kicks, Tiga presents his first true masterwork, and if this mix is any indication of what’s to come from the Tiga and Zyntherius full-length LP later this year, 2003 may prove to be the year of the Tiga. At the very least, we have the first great mix of the year. Rank: Five out of five biscuits of pure, sweet perfection