France's leading independent record label presents a double CD featuring no less than 33 of the leading lights of the burgeoning Parisian electronic scene. Although entitled Paris Lounge 2the overall direction of the compilation is a more dance floor friendly sound than the name suggests. CD one, subtitled "Paris By Day" pursues a funky jazz-breaks vibe with offerings from heavyweights Etienne De Crecy with the hit "Tempovision" and Alex Gopher, whose breathy electro ballad "Ralph And Kathy" drops things down a gear. Both these tracks sit comfortably next to the atmospheric soundscapes of the lesser known artists Coco Suma, Readymade and Patchworks whose sparse "I Guess You Always Knew" sums up the overall feel of the mix.

CD two, unimaginatively called "Paris By Night", is an excursion down the well-worn house music path that kicks off strongly with the percussive "Sands Of Time" by Next Evidence and continues in a funky tribal vein with Kiko's "Italimatic", Alex Kid's "Nightlines" and the Inner City Mix of DJ Roussia & Les Malones--a track that sees the Detroit production crew slipping into drum 'n' bass mode. There no real musical surprises here, but a well put together compilation all the same. --Miles Atkinson