Shine

Sample Max Graham's mix CD Shine on the Internet or in the shops and there's a good chance you'll let your attention span get the better of you and move on. From the "Blue Monday"-lite groove of "Solar Myth" to the noodling "Quintos," Shine has a laborious start. It's doubly frustrating when you hear all the inspired choices and clean mixing that come after it. Graham spins the tech and progressive side of house and he sure likes to let a tune play the whole way through -- intro, outro, everything. It works fine for the latter part of the CD (although tightening it up would have helped) and Junkie XL's final track is a corker. It's enough to make you think you should return to the mix to see if you're missing something. Classic case of too little, too late.