DJ Tranzparent

Simultaneously breaking rules and barriers, Cleveland-area turntablist DJ Tranzparent has earned a reputation for taking his listeners on journeys through progressive house sounds that go far beyond traditional 1-2 beats. In his second compilation, Clearly House Vol. 2, Tranzparent blends classic house beats with killer transitional drum 'n' bass riffs that do more than just command listeners to shake their asses.

It all starts with the light sonic sounds of "Feelin' (I Got a Feelin' for You)," which morphs into a sugary, high-energy blitz. Staying consistent with old-school dance grooves, Tranzparent then cuts loose with a blend of disco and house, dividing his focus between flaunting skills and providing a thought-provoking listening session.

Tranzparent's strength lies in his ability to spin attention-grabbing house mixes -- toying with seemingly unheard-of variations -- around heavy drum 'n' bass rhythms. This becomes evident midway through Clearly House: After five tracks of heavy drum 'n' bass, Tranzparent heads back to a more vocalized sound, which he holds together with a combination of deep house and digitized club beats. Without warning, Clearly House ends with samples that range from funky Euro beats to barely audible Chicago house.

And ironically, Chicago is where Tranzparent is headed. After an eight-month stint as resident DJ at Akron's Purgatory, he's taking his turntables on the road. Tranzparent may soon be gone, but Clearly House ensures that he won't soon be forgotten.