It may be superstar DJs like The Chemical Brothers, Sasha and Digweed, and Paul Oakenfold who are attributed to bringing club music to the forefront of America, but they're not the only ones. If these high profile acts from the UK are the face of dance music, then the US backbone comes from the numerous late-night DJs responsible for the mix shows played on alternative rock radio stations throughout the country.

Without them, the music of even the best DJ in the world wouldn't make it to the ears of a kid in Kansas. Hard working mix masters like New York's Liquid Todd who produces a mix show New York and Boston, Los Angeles DJ Jason Bentley and DJ Ray Velasquez from Lawrence, Kansas are the long-dedicated heroes of spreading beats, breaks and electrified rhythm stateside. That's why Risk Records has given these maverick DJs their own compilation.

Torchbearers is an 11-track work where Todd, Jason and Ray are joined by Robert Goodman (WPLA, Jacksonville, Florida), Markus Shulz ( Phoenix, Arizona), Aaron Axelson ( San Francisco), Jacob London, DJ Tym Ryan (Boston), Christian B (Los Angeles), DJ Merritt (Dallas, Texas) and Jed the Fish (Los Angeles) to try their hand at creating original music - most of them for the first time ever.

The most controversial and eerie Torchbearer track, "Dreamatorium," comes from Kansas City's Ray Velasquez. Sound bites for this ambient beauty are taken from an episode of a local PBS program called "Kansas City" (originally aired in 1989). The segment used was about the city's underground music scene in which Ray was interviewed alongside a nightclub kingpin who "initially resisted and later exploited" the then emerging electronic club scene. "This piece is a gentle, loving, and defiant tribute to how much, or how little, has changed in my scene over the past decade," explains the 16-year club and radio DJ.

"I hope this compilation opens people's eyes (and ears) to quality radio shows that happen all over the country in all market sizes," adds first-time producer DJ Merritt whose mix show has been on KDGE in the Dallas/Fort Worth area since 1991.

"Who knows it might even cause world peace!" Well, probably not, but itÕs a damn good starting point and an even better record so check it out. You'll hear something cool and different every time you cruise through its penetrating tracks.