Out of all the mixes by DJ Simon Baker, this is one of my favourites. It takes me back to a great time when I was still new to the underground house scene in Birmingham, UK.
A classic mix that is put together so well that it’s guaranteed to get you in the mood to dance. Classic house tunes and a mix that still sounds relevant in 2025.
Mr DJ House Mix – Simon Baker (Birmingham, England): A Love Letter to 90s Underground House
Simon Baker’s Mr DJ House Mix is a masterclass in the kind of deep and groove-laden house music that defined the underground scene of the 1990s. Hailing from Birmingham, England, Baker has long been a staple of the UK house scene, and this mix feels like both a tribute to and a celebration of the genre’s golden era. Clocking in at just over an hour, Mr DJ is more than just a nostalgic nod; it’s a vibrant, living document of a sound that shaped dance floors across the globe.
From the opening bars, there’s an unmistakable warmth – the kind you only get from dusty vinyl and drum machines that groove like they’ve got souls of their own. Baker wastes no time in setting the tone. Smooth chords, hypnotic basslines, and crisp percussion immediately transport you to a smoke-filled basement club, where the music wraps around you like a second skin. The selection is immaculate: Chicago-inspired jack tracks sit comfortably alongside deeper, house-inflected cuts, creating a sense of dynamic flow that never loses its grip on the listener.
What really sets this mix apart is how effortlessly it captures everything great about 90s underground house. It’s raw but refined, deep but never dull. You can hear the influence of legendary labels like Strictly Rhythm, Prescription, and Nervous, yet Baker doesn’t just rehash the past—he recontextualises it. This is not just a DJ playing tracks; this is a craftsman sculpting an atmosphere. There’s space in the mix, a sense of breathing room, where melodies can float and grooves can settle into the bones.
And then there’s the mixing. DJ Simon Baker’s transitions are so fluid, so unforced, that the set unfolds like a single narrative. His ability to blend tracks without ever drawing attention to the mechanics of what he’s doing is part of what makes this mix so memorable. There are no flashy tricks or obvious crowd-pleasers here; just seamless layering, subtle EQing, and an intuitive understanding of pacing. It’s the kind of mix that feels like it’s always been playing somewhere, just waiting for you to tune in.
What’s especially striking is how the mix builds over time. Baker doesn’t peak too early—he teases, he teases again, and then he lets it go. When the energy finally hits full throttle, it feels earned. There’s a deep respect here for the architecture of a good set, something many modern mixes often forget in favour of instant gratification.
Mr DJ House Mix is more than just a throwback—it’s a reminder of why we fell in love with house music in the first place. It’s house music that is completely timeless. Simon Baker has delivered a love letter to a sound that shaped a generation, and in doing so, has created one of the most enduring house mixes of all time.