Ice picks by KRISTA Ah, cool nights in the hot city. In the interest of preparing you for the transformation of our surroundings into the ice planet Hoth, I'm urging you to get out there and collect all the music you can get your greasy hands on. It's important to pick up a varied assortment of styles so that you won't get bored, and I've conjured up a list (with the help of some friends) to help you get started. First off, it's imperative that you go out and get yourself a copy of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, the debut album from the former member of the Fugees. Can you say sexy? And she's not too shabby herself. It's brilliant, fun and it'll definitely keep you warm on cold winter nights. Secondly, a little minimal electro never hurt anyone, so find yourself a copy of Electro Jewels, a mix CD compilation of body-rockin' gems and minimal heady shit. It'll help you to understand the cold a little more. Drum & bass is always useful in times of low energy due to lack of sunlight, so fetch a copy of the Real Vibes double CD from DJ Hype and the True Playaz crew. Can you say jump up? And it's key to have some sort of big beat or hard house/breaks-oriented CD in the collection for those "need another cocktail" nights when you had intended to brave the wiles of winter, but decided to just stay in and toss back a few. For that, get yourself some Chemical Brothers or Fatboy Slim. You won't feel the cold anymore after about the fifth or sixth track. >>> Local producers and labels also have some goodies to share. The second in the series on local Turbo recordings, Montreal Mix Sessions Volume II is due out on November 17. The featured local hero is none other than DJ Laflèche, of Sona's Saturday nights. The mixed collection includes tracks by Roger Sanchez, Cevin Fisher, the Stickmen, Gene Farris and many more. DJ Fred Everything has a mix CD coming out in December called Disconnection, an assortment of happy, jazzy, summer in Ibiza-ish tunes that'll coax the sun out of hiding. >>> If you missed Mark Farina at Stereo last Friday night, you should be kicking yourself in the ass right about now. Lucky for you there's some more San Francisco funk coming your way this week. The legendary Julius Paap will be DJing at Swank at DiSalvio's with Jojo Flores tonight (Thursday, Oct. 22) and at Jaï's Funktion with me and Fred Everything on Saturday, October 24. You'll want to catch him on both nights in order to fully comprehend the magic. >>> For all you whiners out there who think there's no "intelligent" music anymore, check out the Sound Lab at the Media Lounge, happening until Sunday evening at the Just For Laughs Museum, 2111 St-Laurent. Live interactive music-making and DJing sur place. Sounds scientific! Comments for Krista: secondnature98@hotmail.com