Part of the crew of younger, rawer house producers New York and its environs have been flaunting to the world of late, DJ Qu--born Ramon Quezada in New Jersey--has lately come into high demand in Europe. He still lives in Jersey, though, and he's been playing out since the early '90s.

Beginning in 1999 and for the next decade, he was a resident at the House Dance Conference club night, a globally famous house connoisseur's party that eventually attracted the notice of Jus-Ed, who runs the label Underground Quality. Two years ago, UQ put together a six-set CD-R of MP3 DJ mixes--by Jus-Ed, DJ Qu, Levon Vincent, Anton Zap, Fred P, and Nina Kraviz--that quickly became a totem for electronic-dance fans.

Qu's set was the most traditionally "house" of the six, but moody and unpredictable, not to mention speedy. Qu's rep is as a dancer's DJ, and that's apparent on the mix. That's true as well of Gymnastics, Qu's new album on his own label, Strength Music.