this cd review appeared in the april, 2003 issue of word magazine

One of the nicest trends in recent years is the creation of custom CD compilations by home audiophiles. Armed with compilations as mix tapes (cassettes) and a love of underground soul, dub, reggae, downtempo and nu jazz, Toronto dentist Ken Montague has since 1994 been giving friends and patients year-end “Montague’s Best of…” his favourite grooves. Set Yourself Free is one of his best – a limited edition CD, featuring tracks from Jazzanova, Koop, De Phazz, Pete Belasco, Thievery Corp., and UK hip hop phenom, The Streets.

Montague – who recently moved photo-exhibition space Wedge Gallery from his funky loft to SOF Art House, just down the street from his former location on Richmond St. West – also pays props to the Canadian scene. His disc includes contributions from spoken word artist True, and Remy Shand, the Motown sensation from Winnipeg. And to his credit, Montague’s set is legit, as he paid SOCAN royalty fees to the artists via the CD replication company. Every year, the world’s best DJs create ‘Best of’ compilations that are gobbled up by fans and admirers, but Montague’s set holds it down too. Endorsed by the Happylicious Groovy Negroes, a Toronto crew of urban tastemakers, Set Yourself Free is as good as any CD on the retail shelves.

-JK