Reviews (4)

Touches the heart
This song is great.It touches the heart.Makes me want to cry but in a good way.

Slammin'
This song is incredible. Great lyrics, catchy melody/chorus, and a range of mixes for everyone. I couldn't believe the bad review of this song, but then I read his other reviews and got a sense of his taste, which is quite different than mine. I tend to go for deep, interesting and non-cheesy stuff. To each his own, though.

This is NOT a trance song; it's more along the lines of pretty, poppy progressive, and it's one of the best dance songs out in ages. If you liked the Roc Project/Tina Arena song "Never," you'll love this.

Woah... this IS a good song!
I can't believe the review that precedes mine.Months ago, I heard the Johnny Budz mix of this song and immediately was hooked!That is the mix that's getting all the airplay on KTU.This song is hot!Aubrey does her thing.Johnny Budz works it as usual.I love the theme of the song and I can't wait to hear the other mixes.I'm getting mine on order now!

Bored me to tears from beginning to end.
this song was charted in the top 20 for New York dance station KTU. I usually like what they play, so I bought it. It's atrocious. There's no catch to the vocals that makes you want to sing along, and there is nothing compelling about any of the mixes that make you want to dance. It has a dated freestyle sound with CHEESY, highpitched female vocals. AVOID THIS ONE. ... Read more

Reviews (38)

Still good after I imported my copy five years ago.
I first heard the track "Loving you more" five years ago off of a Sasha bootleg mixtape from Europe. For several months I searched and searched for the artist who made the track and finally discovered it was produced by a man named Brian Transeau. In 1995, BT had also produced an exquisite remix of a track called "State of Grace." I picked up Ima in hopes of having a CD copy of the song "Loving you More" and its remix. However, one quickly realizes that every single track on both CDs makes your skin tingle with a rush of positive energy. This is definitely one of the rare CDs in anyone's collection of music that frequents cd players and changers even five years after its (UK) release. For me, the stand out tracks (it's hard to choose from all of them) are Loving you more, Nocturnal Transmission, and the Delphinium Days mix of Blue Skies by Tori Amos. Nocturnal Transmission always reminds me of beginning an exciting journey up a winding road in a fast car late a night with a close friend. And guess who's probably playing the guitar in the Delphinium Days mix? (see my review of BT's Movement in Still Life..the UK imported double CD version) Allow BT to take you on a journey with music so good it will bring a tear to your eye. Perhaps you will want to mimic the action of the person on the cover of the CD.

Nearly as good. But of course...
I can totally agree with some of the reviews given about BT and the comparison between this album and his others ESCM and MISL. What I think we need to realise is that these songs were written over 5 years ago and have no doubt changed the scene for future artists. At the time, this guy must have been a god! I'm one of those people who hears a good new album and immediately seek previous productions from the same artist. Overall, I am really beginning to love this CD (can you tell I'm listening right now 8-) and I think its definately worth adding to your collection. Listening to earlier works gives you an idea of the basis of the artist, where the guy/gal is coming from. In order of prefernce - I'd buy ESCM, MISL then IMA - I'm not putting down IMA - I just think you need to get to know the artist before you jump headlong into their past. But if you're a BT fan like me, you'll just HAVE to have it. The music is great, beats work in and out, there are melodies which come and go without you noticing, one of the best tracks (and longest) that I have heard in my life (serious) would have to be Sasha's Voyage of IMA - a track that long and that good should be a record! I think I've said enough. Long live BT, PVD, Chemical Bros. and those who shape their own scenes.

The start of something big
This was the first album from BT, it's almost as good as his second. Most of the songs are dream dance and very pleasant. Sure he developed and made an even better work the next time but this album made a way for many other out there, just like Robert Miles did, BT also made a wonderful work here. Meliodic and deep songs, very diffrent from previous trance music released. "Noctural transmission" "Quark" "Embrace the future" and "Deeper Sunshine" are my favorites. The very long song "Sasha's voyage" is a masterpiece but check the song with Tori Amos "Blue skies" too, not one of my favorites but interesting. This was perhaps a little bit incomplete and could have been and sount even better but you'll know what was coming. If you like this kind of music, then yiu'll love this.

Beautiful album!
If I had to vote for best electronica album ever, I might give Ima the nod. Combining lilting melodies with righteous grooves, Ima warms your heart, while forcing you to shake your booty. The way it builds and fades is incredible in a subtle way, unlike the often overbearing transitions in so much trance music. The first disc isn't even mixed, yet the music flows perfectly.

Despite the disappointment in his latest album, you really got to give BT props for giving us this masterpiece.

yup
just had to give BT some props for a really good cd after bashing his new cd pretty bad. This is a classic in the eletronic music world and much better then any of BT's new stuff I've heard. mmfcl ... Read more

Amazon.com

Enormously popular and apparently indefatigable, trance DJ duo Sasha and John Digweed's Communicate risks market saturation given the number of CDs they've already produced separately this year. Along with Digweed's involvement in a long list of projects, including his astonishing double discs Bedrock and Global Underground: Hong Kong, Sasha's name has become omnipresent on compilations and mix records all over the world thanks to his own GU contribution Ibiza and its ubiquitous club hit Xpander. Still, one feels only gratitude for Communicate, as these two globetrotting turntablists once again show off the unique stylistic differences that produce their trademark twists, dizzying turns, and wide-open flights of rhythmic intensity. Sasha is the straightforward one, putting a heavy hand to use on the turntable, maximizing bass lines and beats while keeping a sharp eye on the fader, forever attentive to the dance floor's whims. His gifted ear pits Killhurtz' "West on 27th" mix against Breeder's "Tyrantanic" with forceful execution, providing sublime closure on the first disc. Meanwhile, Digweed's world is more subtle, filled with shady crevices, slippery transitions, and subliminal melodic touches. The ghostly sample work on Digweed's haunting "Voices: Freelance Icebreakers Mix" from the second disc slices into the Orb's "Once More" with the delicacy of a surgeon. Pieces of songs ebb and flow throughout with unpredictable grace, provoking the sweaty, timeless, eyes-shut-tight club-going experiences that exist in many a hipster's fondest dreams. All in all, this might be the best example yet of Sasha and Digweed's incomparable appeal. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (128)

A top compilation of deep trance sounds
I've been looking forward to this one for awhile, even though it hasn't been long since both Sasha and Digweed released their most recent Global Underground collections and Digweed put out his Bedrock set. As usual, these two superstars create a seamless, hypnotic mix which mesmerizes with its atmosphere and seismic rhythms, building from track to track. While the duo avoid the fun, cheesy trance anthems prevalent on so many other collections, this set nevers gets dull or lifeless.

There are tracks here from usual suspects like Breeder (the magnificent soundtrack styled "Tyrantanic" making its second appearance on a Sasha/Digweed compilation, this time mixed by Slacker), POB, Van M, and Slacker themselves, plus a few superstars like The Orb, Chemical Bros, and Sven Vath. And of course, a bunch of finds from artists I've never heard of like Trisco and Jaimy and Kenny D (a duo whose name sounds to me like the two least popular members of some hypothetical boy band). Plus, there's an unlikely but effective appearance from a drastically remixed Eric Clapton.

Highlights include two mixes of "Voices," the latest single from Digweed and Nick Muir's Bedrock project, a dreamlike track from P.F.N. called "Put Your Earphones On" with beautiful keyboard sounds and a wailing female vocal that'll make you want to do just what its title says, and the tough, funky Peace Division remix of Trancesetters' "Roaches."

This is a quality set, very much worth adding to your collection.

Incredible mixing!
Sasha and Digweed have done it again with this fantastic collection of tunes. The selection of names on the album are varied and wide, from the Orb to Eric Clapton! The mixing is seamless and world class as always. Tracks easily flow into one another, packed with beats and melody. This is by far their best track selection and mixing, and the sound quality is better than before. The second CD is more aggressive than the first, an almost non-stop whirlwind of twisting beats. The pace is non-stop and tracks easily build of of one another. "Force 51" is a particular stand out: analog stabs and driving beats with a distant vocal sample. The Bedrock track appears twice and with good reason, an errie vocal pattern and snapping cowbell. My only complaint is that the first CD is not as impressive as the first. It's no less amazing, just not as fast. And there are times when there is so much mixing between tracks that the groove is gone too quickly. Especially towards the end of the first CD, a favorite of mine, "The Baguio Track" fades just after it gets going. Overall, this is an amazing set. I'd expect nothing less from Digweed and "that other guy"...

S&D at the peak of their prowess
Before this mix was released, the sound of the underground was still progressing towards the deeper, darker, moodier direction we associate with it today. Mix CDs on the market didn't reflect this move all that well - until listeners were given a preview into the sound of the new millenium by 2 back-to-back classics - GU 013: Sasha in Ibiza & GU 014: Digweed in Hong Kong. These CDs did more to establish the new order of international DJ culture than anything else, and gave us a glimpse of what was to come. Then, the same 2 guys gave us Communicate.

More than any other album I know (I've never been able to get my hands on their legendary Renaissance set), Communicate defines what Sasha & Digweed represent in terms of soundscapes. It showcases 2 completely different yet perfectly complementary DJ styles, and IMHO, catches both of them at the peak of their abilities. Sasha simply condenses what he did with GU 013, adding a grittier texture to the spacey sound that is his trademark. Digweed... well, suffice to say that if all other works by John Digweed were lost in a fire, and I could choose 1 mix for preservation, I would pick this one in a heartbeat.

Disc 1 contains quite a few tracks that were familiar in the day - "West on 27th", "Roaches", "The Baguio Track"... all recognizable as some of the biggest tunes of that year. The beauty of this disc is in its programming & arrangement - the beautiful DD remix of Sven Vath's "Barbarella" is a ready example of what track placement can do to augment the overall mood of a CD. The ambient, spacey aural vibe of Sasha's sets is present, but is mixed in equal parts with gritty, grinding bass synths & straight, hard beats. The resulting cocktail is what happens when the man decides to tear up a dancefloor - groove oriented sound retaining signature style.

Disc 2 takes things to an altogether different plane. The brilliance of this mix lies in the fact that - while being the single darkest, moodiest, eeriest and most subterranean mix ever crafted by Digweed - it unearths and showcases such absolute purity of sound that 90% of these tracks sound cutting-edge even today (remember, this is a 2000 mix). "Narkotik" establishes the hypnotic vibe of this mix at the very beginning, "King of Spin" incorporates a wobbling, echoing synthline sounding like its coming straight at you inside a closed, pitch-black tunnel, "Voices" highlights what careful sampling can do to a track... each track contains something to rave about. The highlight of the disc for me was the stupendous mix into JVM's "ECI-PS" - 3 1/2 minutes?!?!?! That is the best single track-into-track mix I've ever heard, period. The mood is carried on seamlessly by another awe-inspiring mix into POB's "Waah!", and by the time the last, quivering strings of "Enjoyed" fade away into the silence, you're left completely speechless. This is NOT a CD you'll find yourself dancing to too much - you'll be too busy just letting the sound play around with your head while shutting yourself off from the rest of the world.

Today, I wouldn't consider Sasha & Digweed the 2 best DJs in the world. Their latest efforts, while good, aren't what I would call masterpieces. Maybe the sound has moved on, past what they represent - I don't know. But if you want to hear what they sounded like as partners in sonic crime in their hey-day... if you want to - 20 years on - look at a CD and know that it represents the absolute BEST of what was playing when it was released, then this is the one. Buy it, make a copy every year so that you have a mint-condition copy at any time. This album is a genuine, A+ work of art.

4 1/2 stars for Sasha. 5 for Digweed. Overall Verdict - 5 stars.

Rebellious Beats
I must say that Sasha and Digweed's mixed cds are by far the best cd's that I own. I have enjoyed their Northern Exposure and Global Underground releases, but Communicate is a little different from those.

Norhtern Exposure focuses more on delicate sounds and textures with produces a great aural feeling for the listener.

Their GU mixes are reflective of their current styles. The GU mixes have more energy but doesn't quite get "gritty."

Gritty...which is the key word for "Communicate". I listened to this cd and I said to myself "man, it's got dirty bass no fruity vocals and sinister sounds. It sounds like them live...hell yeah!"

Sasha and digweed got tougher for this compilation.

It's not exactly what you expext but nonetheless its another side to these 2 freakishly talented individuals. Just remember to keep in mind that this is NOT Northern Exposure IV and I promise you will have a better time understanding and enjoying this album.

I hope they expand on this series and continue to make mixes that have a "raw" sound to them.

never gets old
perfectly put together and dark.
Actually sounds like them live, not all light and fruity. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Engaging prog-house-trance with disc two the big winner
It's blindingly obvious by now that there are just too many DJs out there, and entirely too many mixes to wade through. And yet so many of these high profile spinners, proudly touting ten thousand-plus record collections, still stick us with a staggering amount of filler drum tracks and incidental pieces notable only for blending seamlessly into the next. Is it too much to expect a dozen engaging cuts these days?

At least Paul Oakenfold's Perfecto-picked buddy Hernan Cattaneo chooses songs which refuse to noodle off into the background. Careening through proper progressive house doozies "After 2" and "Storyreel," full-on emotive anthems with tough backing, to novelty hooker ode "You Are Sleeping," and sizzling acid house "The Search," he's selected (gasp) actual records to play, even if duff vocal "No More Ghosts," and so-5-years-ago-vogue NASA recording "The Way" are dragged along in the process.

Thankfully disc two earns your cash, leading with the rapturous tones of Shmuel Flash 5-star "Chilling Moments" an accordion and chimes-filled operatic vision that harks back to the blissful trance of days gone by. Hot on those heels, the conga-percussion "Lights Out," warm electro "Western Nights" and spellbinding trifecta of "Walking on Fire," massively dubbed out "Headstrong" and epic closer "Numb" reworked by Bedrock production engineer Nick Muir send this set into stereo rewind.

Disc 1: 3 stars Disc 2: 5 stars

You can't expect less from Hernan Cattaneo...
Sorry guys, but since Hernan Cattaneo is from Argentina, I feel like writing in Spanish. Before I switch let me tell you one thing, this CD is OUTSTANDING, by far the best Dance music CD made in 2002. You won't be disappointed if you invest your money here.
I would recommend this set to anyone searching for great dance CD

Hernan Cattaneo es sin dudas el mejor DJ de Sudamerica, no quiero decir del mundo por que voy a sonar como un exajerado, pero crean que lo es.
A Hernan se lo puede comparar unicamente con Paul Okenfold.
Hasta hoy solo estos dos Dj han podido lanzar un disco al cual lo pones y es bueno de punta a punta,
despues de 70 minutos de musica te preguntas por que tan corto....
Los mixes son de otro planeta, Hernan nacio para esto.
La verdad es que nadie lo vio crecer por que nacio grande.
Desde viejas epocas que lo vengo siguiendo y cuando uno sabe que el pasa musica, el placer esta asegurado.
Hernan desde aca te deseamos lo mejor.
We will see you soon in London!
Love From NY.

Staaaaaarved for years
OK. I ripped about half of CD 2 tonight. Enjoy Tiesto, Max Graham, Lawler. This guy I discovered about a year too late. This is what Oakenfold should have been doing for many moons. luuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuv it! Just purchased CD. Agh!

Hernan Cattaneo delivers the goods
A splendid achievement. Outstanding technical skills coupled with discerning taste in music; a rare combination these days. Sr. Cattaneo takes you on a deep throbbing journey through progressive sound. Something akin to Chris Fortier's Bedrock set with a touch of Sander Kleinenberg's wit. On par With Playback Engineering from Tarrentella:Redanka. A fine addition to any thoughtful progressive collection. Paul Oakenfold has found a keeper.

Steaming Groove
I too bought this on a whim because it was a Perfecto. Perfecto it is!
You know how they say you should cook a lobster over a low flame and gradually raise the temperature? Cattaneo sets out to cook you the same way. Deep, dark, steamy, smooth and sexy, the rhythms of this double set are delightfully hypnotic. While the second of the two discs is where the main action is, the first disc sets you up nice and slow, and you get really cooking on the second. It's a good set-up and a great buy. I believe that Deep Dish's, "Moscow," is a great companion album to this one. ... Read more

Album Description

Tilt (Mick Park, Mick Wilson, Andy Moor) are masters of the dance world and their debut album is finally here. From the cauldron-deep hypnotica of album opener, and recent single ‘The World Doesn’t Know’, to the techy-rhythms of ‘Tokyo Breaks’ and the electro-rumblings on the sleaze-houser ‘Poledancer,’ fans of the trance and progressive house genre will not be disappointed! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Some big flaws, but even bigger accomplishments.
I first heard of Tilt a few months ago when I was listening to XM radio and the song "The World Doesn't Know" came on.One of the best trance songs I've heard of in a long time, and I bought the cd expecting every song to mirror that breakbeat/trance hybrid style.It doesn't.Every song is unique, for better or for worse.Most of the songs are pretty repetitive and quite long, which isn't normally a bad thing, but hearing the same bassline and melody for 8 minutes does get old after a while.The members of Tilt definitely know how to make some incredible effects, but in terms of songwriting ability they're not quite there yet.The reason Juno Reactor can pull off 8~10 minute songs with such ease is because there's so much variety within the songs, with Ben Watkins often putting two or three songs within each song.This is a pretty impressive debut though.It maybe not be the best cd I've ever bought, but there's a few songs that are absolutely incredible.The World Doesn't Know is brilliant.Control Me is a BT-ish style track that I've absolutely fallen in love with and showcases the band's true potential for creating catchy beats and gorgeous sonic landscapes.12 falls into the same category. Anti-valentine is a slow melancholy piece that ends the album nicely. My personal favorite though is Electronic Poledancer, which is worth the price of the CD alone.Seductive, smooth, and erotic; it's guarenteed to be played at nightclubs around the globe.Despite a few bad songs, the good ones make it all worthwhile.I hope that Andy Moor and company make a follow-up cd that improves on the foundation they've built. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Satoshi Tomiie brings Boxed Records back to its former glory
When I first heard Satoshi Tomiie was to do the next installment in Boxed Record's Nubreed series, I was skeptical. His 1999 debut FULL LICK was disappointing, and when I saw him DJ in Amsterdam in April, his set seemed uninspired. Listening to NUBREED 006, however, I was astounded by one of the finest releases in the Global Underground family to date. Tomiie displays an excellent knack for programming and brings together some absolutely amazing progressive tracks, resulting a set that is like none I have ever heard before.

The first disc is a slow warm-up. Stephane K - "Numb" and DJ Nukem - "Music Play" set a beat and wraps the listener up in Satoshi's groove. "Marscarter", one of this spring's hottest vocal tracks by the elitely name Bernard Leon Howard III feat. 80, wraps 80's diva house into contemporary progressive and begins to channel energy into the set. With Sander Kleinenberg Lexicon Avenue's "From Dusk Till Dawn", Tomiie brings the set to a tribal plateau. From there, the first disc starts to move towards its astounding climax. The set picks up with Remark - "So Pure (Finger Fest Inc. Remix) and slams into Kosheen - "Hungry". Here, Tomiie does something extraordinary, he continues "Hungry" as an acapella over a remix of Tijuana - "Groove is in the Air" to create a transcendental sound never before heard in any progressive set. Imagine the heavenly joy of a Cocteau Twins song in a progressive context and you'll have an idea of how Satoshi Tomiie mixes these two tracks.

Disc 2 forms the height of the set. Hybrid's "Visible Noise", a preview of their upcoming second album, shows that they have left behind their orchestral efforts and are now innovating breakbeat into a more aggressive form. From "Visible Noise", Tomiie expertly mixes into Greed - "Strange World (Lemon 8 Remix). This track was popular last year in the form of Blackwatch's "King Monkey" Dub, a frenetic and swirly remix, but Lemon 8 has created a chilling, minimalist remix that is possibly the best yet of Greed's track. The suspense the track builds up continues into Jerry Bonham's "Seventh Seal" before the explosion of Shmuel Flash - "Chilling Moments (Bedrock Dub)". This track right here alone makes NUBREED 006 worth getting, it's Bedrock's finest remix ever (yes, it beats "The Baguio Track") and will go down as one of the best tracks of 2002. Once he's shown himself one of the most clever DJ's around, he fades out with Max Graham - "Tell You".

Boxed Records has been called past its prime lately, the latest Global Underground releases have moved from the underground sound the label was original respected toward a nearly cheesy, populist sound. NUBREED 005, mixed by Lee Burridge, went nowhere and left no impression. With Satoshi Tomiie's triumph here, I've got more hope for Boxed, and this is one of the first Boxed sets in three years where both discs are equally solid, reminding the listener of Sasha's IBIZA retrospective and Digweed's HONG KONG. I would recommend this set to anyone searching for a solid and ground-breaking progressive set.

Master of Progressive
Unmatched quality & track selection.
It starts out slow & it builds. Satoshi Tomiie mixes like you have no idea. From what I've experienced here, tracks 1-5 the mixing is NEARLY impossible to detect. The rest of the mixing remains as good. All of a sudden you realize you're in the next track when you think..."what happened to THAT beat?" Then you know you're on another track.
The track selection on this set is incredible. From the first cd, I'd have to say that "music play" is one of my favorites. Then it follows with "these are the beats" and "Marscarter."
Those hi-hats, bassy lines & "ticky-ticky" beats will get in your head and take you for a spin.
I don't get tired of listening to this set.
CD #2 picks up right where the other one left off. Taking you farther into the journey of dancing & funky beats. It's got something, it's got BEATS, bass, drums, very few vocals (that's good).
This is progressive house at its best. Give it a try & you'll be hooked for ages.

Addictive.
-

"Satoshi Tomiie? Who is he? Seems worth a listen..." I thought to myself immediately before purchasing the album a year ago. I wasn't expecting anything remarkable -- just the good quality stuff the Global Underground label is generally known for. The track lists didn't help much, as remixes for a particular choon can differ much from each other in terms of the way they sound. I had very little to go by.

I was completely unprepared for what I was about to hear. Disc one begins with the haunting overtones of "Numb", slowly drawing you to the deep, driving beats of the following tracks. Vocals are used to some extent, but they are used tastefully, and serve to preserve the overall mood. The mix climaxes during "Deuce" and "So Pure", then settling down some with an absolutely exquisite mix of Kosheen's "Hungry" and Tijuana's "Groove is in the Air". The pace speeds up again with "Mind Filter", finishing with the selfish tunes of "I Want You [for Myself]". And yes, the album had me for itself by that time.

Disc two carries on the theme of the first disc. "Lesser Man" and "Substance" are silky-smooth and driving melodies, featuring once more the tasteful use of vocals (male, nonetheless). The mix then gradually opens up with a series of tribal tracks. Fierce Ruling Diva's "You Gotta Believe" will leave you breathless with wave after wave of drum beats. One is then allowed to gather oneself with Hybrid's "Visible Noise" and the excellent remix of Greed's "Strange World". Just as the imagination is consumed by the apocalyptic tones of Jerry Bonham's "Seventh Seal", one is washed over by Bedrock's ephemeral mix of Shmuel Flash's "Chilling Moments". Chilling, indeed.

Every shred of skepticism was blown away by the time I finished listening to the album. The track selection and sequence are absolutely superb. The tone and mood were consistent throughout, swathing the listener in deep, rich and intimate sounds from start to finish.

Satoshi Tomiie has produced a solid mix that is as dark as, and better than, (dare I say) John Digweed's Los Angeles compilation. A real masterpiece.
-

Sophisticated, dark progressive
It was purely by luck that I happened to stumble upon Satoshi Tomiie's Nu Breed album while rumaging through hundreds of electronica CDs at my college radio station. I am a loyal fan of the Global Underground series, but this was something totally fresh and unexpected. Both CDs in this set are packed to the brim with seamlessly-mixed dark and brooding progressive house, a trend that was been somewhat difficult to find in the main lineup of GU CDs these days. Tomiee's programming and mixing are as brilliant as the production quality of this album. As an avid fan of progressive and tech house I would heartily recommend this album to anyone interested in these genres.

What a surprise!
This guy Tomiie is really somethin else. I cant believe this set because there is no need to skip tracks. I have yet to encounter a cd that is freakin hot from beginning to end. I do have a favorite track but it is certainly a hard decision. Track 9 on disc one "Hungry" by Kosheen is ridiculously hot. Then he takes the acapella from that and laces it on the next track!
I hope I can find another set as good as this one, cause I am far from done building up my collection.
Its all about house music........... ... Read more

Album Details

Disco/house. Ny's Paradise Garage Was One of the Most Influential and Documented Clubs in the History of Dance. This is a Classic Set Recorded at the Club in 1979. Larry Levan Mixes Up a Host of Tracks which Were Fresh at the Time and have Since Become Classics. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

larry levan lives!!!!!
As a former patron of the Garage I can honestly say that
Larry Levan and the Paradise Garage live on in this most
excellent collection of garage classics. I only wish someone would compile some of Larry's mixes from 80 to 83-84 which would
lay aside all doubt as to who is the best D.J of all times...

Superb discomix, great dj
Larry Levan is nowadays acknowledged to be one of the great and more influential dj's of the 70's. This 2cd mix just ads to this. Although his beatmatching skills might be a little less than contemporary dj's, but today almost al beats match, which wasn't the case in his days. The electricity sparkles from the cd's. The only down point I can come up with, is the second cd only last less than 40 min.

TIME MACHINE BACK TO 1979
First, I'd like to remark on the sheer clarity and technical excellance of the transfer to CD of the original tapes. Hats off to the Strut UK label. I can only pray that they can get their hands on more classic disco tapes (more Levan from the 1980s would be a start) and make them available to the public in the same way. Now on the vibe: Pure Disco Heaven from the beginning especially with the likes of Ashford & Simpson, T-Connection and Stephanie Mills starting out the set. If you like 70s style disco music, this is for you. As essential a testament of the early New York disco scene as David Mancuso's "The Loft" put out by another Brit label, Nuphonic.

a time capsule
the anticipation for this cd was so high,i was worried it would fall under everyone's expectations.but instead we get a glimpse of one night in 1979 that is pure magic.all the elements are here that are larry's trademarks-the ability to mix older tracks("funk train" and"erucu") with current tracks and newer unreleased gems(change's "angel in my pocket"-not out until the next year!)listen to the way he introduces a snippet or a whisper of a song,building up the anticipation of the listener.my only disappointment was when the last track fades out,i felt this immense sadness-i wanted it to keep going.i also worry when the next chance will come-look how long this took to be released.but for now,we have a historical document of one night in the greatest club and the best dj ever-and that is a good thing.

A Slice of History
Anyone with the slightest intrest in the art of Djing and croud control needs to listen to this live recording of the inspirational Larry Levan at the peak of his powers. Soul seeps from every track, as Larry weaves in and out of prime disco gems. As someone who only wishes I could have lived through those extraordinary years in the Paradise Garage, this CD goes someway to justifying Larry Levan's reputation as the greatest DJ of all time. As the last tune kicks in after a wall of echo's and effects, Larry has you in the palm of his hand and begging for more. This CD is recommended to anyone with an intrest in house music history, I await volume 2. ... Read more

Album Description

THESE limited edition Afterclub CDs from Sharam and Dubfire are bonus to their main Toronto mix set and give the Deep Dish duo room to take a more personal approach. Wide-ranging, yet cohesive, they’re individual halves of the Deep Dish sound – the music both past and present that makes up their musical whole.

Afterclub’s loose agenda lets Sharam and Dubfire stretch the musical boundaries a little further. For Dubfire, these limited-edition, personalised mixes aren’t just a chance to stretch the musical agenda. They’re also about letting vintage dance-floor anthems prove themselves against current favourites. "We wanted to incorporate some of the classics we were brought up with," he says. "We decided to incorporate some of the classics into the newer tracks and show how these tracks are timeless."His opener, Korsakov’s "Deep In Space", is a track so drunk in dub it can barely walk. Then comes a forgotten diamond.Love Quartet’s "Kiss Me (Don’t Be Afraid)" is a sexy, sinewy deep house classic from pioneering early 90s Italian label Heartbeat.Underworld’s mix of St Etienne’s "Cool Kids of Death" provides another golden moment, shimmering with blessed melodies and shaking with dubwise rhythms.

But Dubfire has as many modern moments as he has classics. And the sleek, hypnotic, reggae-disco Deep Dish remixes of Timo Maas’s Kelis team-up, "Help Me" make an excellent counter-point. He’s firing on all cylinders by the time we reach the two closing numbers from Deep Dish’s Yoshitoshi label: Anarcrusan’s throbbing, techno-driven "In My Mind" and Morel’s pulsating "Cabaret" with its weirdly echoed vocal. Both conclude Dubfire’s Afterclub party on a delirious high ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Finally
I couldn't beleive it when I first heard this CD. For about 5 years now, I've followed DD around the Eastern Seaboard, and Europe, most recently in Dubai. I was very disappointed in the GU toronto CD, because it sounded nothing like what they are like live, or at least what they used to be. As a big fan of Yoshiesque 1 and 2, In House We Trust 1 and 2, and Penetrate Deeper, I can safely say that Ali has gone back to the groovier, funkier DD sets; back to his deeper, sexier, hat frenzied style that he has always been known for. I am very happy with this compilation, and I think its about time to go back to this sound, since they did it best.

FLAWLESS
It is rare that I pick up a prog. house CD and LOVE it from the first listen. These artists are so crafty at what they do, that it sometimes takes a few listens to able to digest completely what they are doing. I'v had the pleasure of seeing this duo perform live several times at Club Space in Miami....Huge Deep Dish fan and I think they are paving the way (along with Steve Lawler) as to where music is going. This mix is as sexy and flawless as anyting you'll hear from them. And it keeps getting better with each listen. If you're a Deep Dish fan, do yourself a favor and pick this up..It wont disappoint. Has a good pace and never dies out. So many DJ's today make the mistake of building it up and up until the peak, then die out from there. The rest of the mix is a throaway. THIS IS NOT THE CASE HERE. Eevery track works together perfect and the flow is seamless. I do agree that I wasnt too thrilled either with the Timo Maas track, but the rest of the set outshines that minor blunder.....Stop reading and GET THIS NOW!!!

We know these GU albums are not mixed live..GU never claimed that. These albums are a "peek" into the artists time in that city. And contrary to what some may think, they are mixed by the DJ or DJ's themselves in a studio with all the bells and whistles. How else are you gonna get that sound quality. Read the sleeve notes. That does not take away from the fact that these are great mixes....

(...)

Setting the record straight
I sick of reading Global Underground reviews exclaiming how "flawless" the mixes are. Of course they are. I hate to burst your bubble, but all of the global underground CD's are mixed by the same guy, in a studio, on a computer. The artist picks the tracklisting, and is the face on the cover of the cd...Thats it. These albums are NOT mixed live, and G.U. has never claimed them to be. But, besides that fact, they are great albums.

nearly flawless...nearly
i am a Deep Dish fanatic. Since they they shed their traditional house sound of the Yoshi mixes for their new heavier, under-the-influence, piercing and hypnotic ProgHouse sound the DC duo have become my favorite jocks. Waste your time with no other labels. Global underground is Deep Dish today. Moscow set is solid. 025 -Toronto- (all 4) is solid...Nothing anyone has released to date as been this deep or sexy. Ali's afterclub is fine indeed. It shakes and moves. The CD is brilliant.
There is one MAJOR problem with this mix. As Ali warms us up and transitions from grooves into the deep end of things, he drops Timo Maas 'help me'. This track is crap and ruins the whole feeling/scheme of things. Help me sounds like some haunted house disco theme from hell. very repetitive. very annoying. When will Timo and his German disco torment go away? His tracks have no direction and are not worthy of any GU issue. However, Ali recovers nicely, if you can forgive him for the oversight. The afterclub CDs are a perfect mirror of Deep Dish live; seen them twice. Ali can hold it down... but Sharam will blow your mind!!! only buying one afterclub mix? buy Sharam's (fiveStars) it has more emotion.

Oh GOD! that's the record
Probably the best part of this 4CD compilation...Revealing the spirit of who is who in deep dish, Dubfire shows an unique mix that will make u fly through all kind of beats and vocals...my personal favourite beat is that "way to high" 'deep in space' track. And definitely there is no other better reconstruction of the Timo Maas first record 'Help Me' track (it sounds better than the original mix). Reaching track 4 will show you the real mix style and a big applause for that mix on Morel's 'Queen of the Highway' "Cabaret". You won't be able tostop litsening to this record and if u like Deep Dish this is gonna be one of your favourites. ... Read more

Album Description

What is tech-pop? This is Tech-Pop - 21st Century Electroand New Wave is a seminal greatest hits collection for arevolutionary new sound! Featuring Fischerspooner, Soviet,Green Velvet, Felix Da Housecat, and many others - this isone essential collection!Tech-Pop, a hybrid of Techno,Rock , Electronica, House and Pop, is already creating acommotion big enough to have Indie shops buzzing about itand clubs around the world playing it exclusively. Incities like New York, Berlin, Detroit, LA and London,electronic music aficionados have adopted this new sound as their own! Ministry Of Sound / US release. Slipcase. 2002. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Best Electro CD of 2002
This was my first taste of what's become known as the "Electroclash"TM scene...and what a taste it is! A non-stop barrage of near classic songs that sound like they should be huge hits...if we were still watching Dynasty and wondering what Ronnie was going to do about those pesky Russians. Brilliantly compiled by the innovator himself, Larry Tee, this is the best 21st Century electro compilation available (and there are plenty out there). Crossover harkens back to glory days of The Waitresses, Zoot Woman to Hall and Oates, Soviet to Naked Eyes and yet each manages to bring something fresh to what could be seen by some as cheesy synthpop. Even the Corey Hart remake suddenly revitalizes a tired "80s lunch" staple and makes it worthy once again. If you ever loved "new wave" or alternative dance music and want to get away from all the "modern rock" that rock radio is playing (ie Creed, Puddle of Mudd, Disturbed, etc), buy this CD. Felix da Housecat and Miss Kittin rule the world!!!

The Best Of
This compilation works perfect! I would say that 16 of the 20 songs are absolute masterpieces in the modern synth-pop and electroclash genre's. This mix compilation was the CD that started my obsession with this style of music. The compilation opens and closes with 2 very important songs...

Fischerspooner - "Emerge" - Probably the most well-known song on the compilation. Fischerspooner are from NYC and the guy/girl voices in this song are immaculate. (11/10)

Console - "14 Zero Zero" - A semi-interesting song by an interesting group from Europe. (6/10)

Zoot Woman - "Nobody Knows (Part One)" - Very soft sound.. almost like a synth-ballad. Believe it or not, but there is a Part 2 to this song, featured on their own album. Part 2 is very different but also much better! (8/10)

Tiga/Zyntherius - "Sunglasses At Night" - An awesome electro version for an awesome 80's hit. Tiga is hot stuff, and his new song "Hot In Herre" is a cover of a terrible song, but the dub mix proves what Tiga can do. Tiga is the greatest producer and DJ in the entire electroclash movement! Nobody beats Tiga!!! (10.5/10)

Soviet - "Candy Girl" - Goodness, an 80's vibration has overtaken myself with this song! The male singer is perfect. The beat is very comparable to that of 80's italo disco. I bought their entire album because of this one song, and it is one of the best synth-pop albums I ever owned! (11/10)

Circ - "Destroy She Said" - Female vocals with a dance beat.. Very cool mixture of beat, vocals, and effects. (9/10)

Green Velvet - "Genedefekt" - Green Velvet (AKA Cajmere) is a must for this compilation! Although "La La Land" is his best song, this one makes its obvious appearance. (8/10)

Waldorf - "You're My Disco" - Here we go with another awesome song that absolutely blew me away on the first listen. Sounds like a production out of the original synth-pop era in the 80's. It has a very un-appealing and absurd synthesizer noise at the beginning and mid-break of the song, but beyond that, this is a wild song to listen to! (10/10)

Tomcraft - "Overdose" - Hmm.. DJ Tomcraft has done some very experimental stuff lately in Europe and has actually had a top 5 hit with "Loneliness" from early 2003. I am beginning to consider this a possible favorite song on the compilation. Tomcraft is doing for the 00's what the founders of synth-pop did for the 80's. His new album features this song and all his other big electro hits! (11/10)

Swayzak - "State Of Grace" - More awesome synth-pop!!! This is another song that mistakes itself for an 80's dance club smash. I've heard this beautiful voice far too many times before. Top song on the compilation! Swayzak is sexy and needs no introduction here! This song is absolutely not their normal sound.. they are very experimental and dark.. this is a softer release by them and for their true clash sound, try "Ikea" which is a b-side and appears on Tiga's DJ Kicks mix. (11/10)

Yellow Note Vs. Pukka - "Naked, Drunk And Horny" - Definately the funnest song on the compilation. A very happy sound involved here. (9.5/10)

Golden Boy / Miss Kittin - "Rippin Kittin" - One of the best electroclash songs ever. You should already know this one! Anybody who Miss Kittin collaborates with becomes an instant star in the electroclash world! Very dark vocals! (11/10)

Felix Da Housecat - "Happy Hour" - Miss Kitty's good friend is here with an excellent song. Very 80's! One of FDH's best productions! (11/10)

Crossover - "Extensive Care" - A song that builds on you and then it takes over your mind. This song reminds me of a movable new wave hit from the 80's.. (10/10)

F.C. Kahuna - "Machines Says Yes" - (8.5/10)

Selway - "Pozition" - A bit like Tomcraft's incorporated sounds with some synthesizers thrown in. John Selway AKA Memory Boy is a friend of mine and I must commend him with all of his music, but "There Is No Electricity" by Memory Boy is by far his best production and it competes with the best of Fischerspooner and Miss Kittin. (7/10)

Ladytron - "Playgirl" (Zombie Nation Mix) - This has grown on me. I originally despised any mix other than Felix Da Housecat's, but now I am beginning to think just as highly of the Zombie Nation mix of Playgirl. This is a very catchy mix, very different from the Felix mix or any Zombie Nation production. A quick plug to "Kernkraft 400" by Zombie Nation from 1999: one of the originators of modern synth-pop, and a #1 European hit! (10.5/10)

Toktok Vs. Soffy O - "Go!" - Nothing groundbreaking, just nice to listen to. Their entire album is fair at best in my opinion. Quite popular in UK. (8.5/10)

Mirwais - "Naive Song" (Dave Clarke Mix) - Hmmm, probably one of the 2 songs I didn't really jump for on this compilation. Dave Clarke is big in Germany and has done a production in partnership with none other than Chicks On Speed. (6/10)

F.P.U. - "Ocean Drive" - Damn right, finish this compilation with an awesome cover version. "Crockett's Theme" has been covered so many times, but this is the one! This is the best version I ever heard of this song! Jan Hammer has let someone outdo himself! F.P.U.'s album is fine, and so is the Tiga White Linen mix of this song (once again Tiga takes his own voice and implements it into this instrumental song). One of those songs with a title that fits quite well. Without a doubt! (11/10)

This is the best compilation to start from because it gives you a little bit of everything. And the songs are almost all awesome and innovative. Worth every penny!

21st century liquid sky?
I am not going to endlessly compare Electroclash to New Romantics, Europop, Synthpop and other bubblegum pop styles of of the early 80's. Some songs on this collection combined Techno, House, funk with New Wave. That sounds great to me.Waldorf's fun song is one of the better tracks but it is not a New Romantic "mix." He is probably not old enough to know what the movement was about. Visage was a NR. Vicious Pink Phenomenon was a NR. The first Duran Duran album is a New Romantic classic. Not even Cee Farroh could cut it as a NR. Waldorf is a 21st century disco. There is nothing subversive about "Your My Disco". The catchy and totally danceaable song did not take me back to the glory days of lipstick kisses. Back then, to be a New Romantic was to be unique, and it was for a fan to be more fabulous than the actual bands. A club was a giant fashion show for the elite. The music was second and the blitz kid's wardrobe was first on the list because it was perhaps the only way to pass the fashion police doorboy to get in a real New Romantic venue if you did not have any inside connections. "Emerge" by Fischerspooner is nice. I wish it was a short version. The only factor I did not like about this song is the phony annoying female. It sounded like a pitched up voice of the male singer. This song, on the other hand, is closer to New Wave than 90's Techno but more complex than most 80's hits as far as the rhythm goes."Naked, Drunk And Horny" is the most standout. Think of it as Laury Anderson with a 21st century youth appeal high on body fluids. Yellow Note Vs. Pukka captured most of the current clubgoers' hormonic "needs" throught the world. The electronic voice manipulations are tasty enough to prove my point. If the singer's cuteness matches her playful robotic voice, she will be a big star.You will also hear the totally awesome "14 Zero Zero". This song is probably the closest you will get to take you back in the 80's. The music is full of sythetic attitude to convert even the jaded Techno fans but I wouldn't hold my breath. It reminds me of Telex meets Information Society and Zapp. You will not be disappointed unless vocoders are not your swing.Overall, at a "used" price, this cd is worth buying. It would have been a classic if the compiler included the following songs: "Hot Room" by Lind Lamb, "Space Invaders Are Smoking Grass" by I-F, "I Don't Care" by Dexter, short versions of "Life On MTV" by Miss Kitten/Hacker and "Get Me Off" by Basement Jaxx and Peaches. The compilation as it stands does not have enough drama a la "Liquid Sky".

The More Radio-Friendly Side of Electro--
This is a very good compilation of the new sound of ElectroClash (or Tech-pop, or whatever it's known as this week).
Having said that, it is very much the softer side. There is Miss Kitten, but she's singing what equates to a rather pretty little melody (regardless of the murderous lyrics). There is Green Velvet doing 'Genedefekt', But it is the version without the trade-mark off-kilter vocals. Just about the only thing on here which is even a little more challenging is Fisherspooner's 'Emerge', but come on, it's on so many collections now that even my mom could sing along with it.
Now, I'm not saying that this isn't a great collection, because it is a lot of fun, packed end to end with catchy tunes that in all fairness would be getting a lot more radio play in a more fair universe. However, just know that it is called 'Tech-POP' for a reason on the cover.

One of the best CDs....
....I've bought in a while. I've always loved synthpop so it's great to have new stuff to listen to. This is a great compilation to get if you want to hear the different sounds that make up the Electro genre today. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

SICK
Im gonna tell you one thing. When you are listening to Sasha or Digweed's GU cds just know that live they are just as good as their cds. However, Danny Tenaglia live is about 1000 times better! So, buy this cd, and even if you don't like it, just go and see Danny T live when he comes to your town. Even if you don't like house music, trust me you get into it after you hear that man.

Simply AMAZING!!!
Leave it up to Mr. Tenaglia to make the best dance CD ever. Though its not as good as hearing him spin live, this comes pretty close. Flawless mixes, incredible track selection, and great flowing music, makes this the essential cd to have if youre into any and all forms of club music.
CD1, as is normally the case with DT is funky, soulful house, with a few hard beats thrown into the background. Not exactly the type of music to dance your arse off, more like muzak to make sweet lovin to with your honey. :-) An awesome surprise is the last track...superchumbo's remix of 'revolution', a personal favorite of mine due to hearing danny spin it at 'vinyl' many times.
CD2, takes you on a trip thru the various forms of house music. everything from trancy stuff to deep, dark house, with a few vocals thrown in here and there. its guaranteed to please everyones tastes.
This is the best house cd ever. period. and if youre ever in NYC, you owe it to yourself to see danny live at 'vinyl' friday nights.

True Genius
I've had this album since it was first released in the UK. Not only is it performed by a master of his craft, it is the 10th birthday celebration release of the finest club in the north of England. BacktoBasics has now been a Leeds institution for almost 12 years, and will always be my first choice for a smooth, funky, deep, sexy house vibe. Danny Tenaglia fits the Basics mould like he made it himself. The mix mastery of this double collection is simply breathtaking. All mix CDs promise to take us on a journey over a period of time, but none has quite delivered that promise in comparison to this selection of tunes. Danny takes us from smooth and mellow vocal house, with the superb Do It Now and those delectable bongos teasing us into something more tribal, then on to funky, then onto deeper and more twisted rythyms and vocals. Cass' 'Fever Rising' never fails to chill me with its insistent beat and spectral electronic noise. Then onwards and more sexy, until the final, shivery climax.

lame
Danny Tenaglia... not impressed. There are a couple dope tracks... dubtribe, catch that boat, stop fooling around; however, there are some "raver" tracks... NOOOOOOOO! You'd think someone who has access to sooo much music would spin some dope beatz but that is not the case. Check: Patife, Bukem, Royal Drums, Hernan Cattaneo, DFuse - People, Sasha - Airdrawndagger, Rafa Navarro, DJ Garth, H:Foundation. Peace!

It lives up
As someone who has the honor of seeing Mr. Tenalgia every friday at his residency at ARc/Vinyl this cd set definately lives up to the type of atmosphere you can expect there. Having been there on the night he premiered this at Vinyl (which is now ARC...even though everyone still calls it Vinyl)I can honestly say that i knew at the time it was a must by. Standout tracks are the David James Track "Always ( A permanent State)" and of course the entirely overplayed Safe From harm....for those of you who love this cd i highly suggest a trip down to ARc/Vinyl in NYC....hearing DT on cd and then hearing him live are two completely different experiences...but for those of you out there who live on the otherside of the world...this holds up nicely ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Solid, but not up to the level of other recent breaks discs
Plucked from premiere progressive-breaks label Distinctive following a triumphant string of Y3K releases, breakbeat guru DJ Hyper now gets a flashy marquee appearance from John Digweed's vaunted Bedrock company.

Hyper leaves most of the progressive elements behind, forging a sound that probably won't resonate with fans expecting tougher, yet still Bedrock-y dance music. Certainly there's a big selection of jerk-rhythm, knob twiddle acid tunes that just occupy time ("Sudden Journey," "Premiere," "Future Abuse").

The Heads Down mix sputters in spots but still delivers key tracks. The star collaboration of "Retox" proves as advertised, with Fatboy Slim's cut up filter fun matched with Freq Nasty's dizzying bass groove. "Addicted to Bass" plies an obvious/brilliant vocal that makes it a certain smash, while those impossibly funky chaps the Plump DJs show off two big remixes for BT (blockbuster "Smartbomb") and Brothers Love Dubs. The Late Night set fares better with PMT and Hyper & Rhymes touting top new versions of tunes. Surprise goodies come near the end, where Stir Fry's "Breakin on the Streets" injects some meaty sizzle, peaking into Stisch's "Television Popper" and the Plumps one more time.

Hyper's efforts might aim a brighter media spotlight on the resurgent British breakbeat/nu-school breaks scene, but it was doing quite well by itself in 2001. Top notch mixes from PMT, BLIM, Meat Katie, Plump DJs and Koma & Bones all aced the test, with Tayo, Tipper, the Nu Horizons series and more nipping not far behind. Bedrock Breaks sounds solid, but ultimately doesn't achieve these artists' level of success.

The Definitive Breaks album of 2002!
Guy Hatfield A.K.A DJ Hyper takes you on a crimson journey of classic Breakbeat cuts.

Whether you are a recent convert to the break-beat sound, officionardo or just curious, you will not be disappointed....

As a natural successor to Garage House, Breakbeat combines the rhythms of Hip-Hop, R & B, and Electro to give an accessible dance music style.

This Double Album CD takes us from the calm, collected and catchy to the racing tribal beats of the coolest Party Soundtrack on the block! A Red hot House party essential.

Hyper gives us solid urban rhythms , light strings and occasional vocal tracks. His construction is deliberate and involves you from the outset. The track selection is eclectic and cleverly sewn together with expert DJ'ing skill.

Marking the set with classic tunes like 'Retox' (Fatboy Slim); 'Addicted to Bass' (Puretone); and the Dark Globe/Boy George Collaboration 'Auto Erotic' on CD One he lifts the mood at an even pace - driving the surprises by his nimble mixing. CD Two is a clubbers passport to party - John Creamer & Stephan K's 'Wish you were here' is the invitation and Hyper uses it to perfection. Finishing with Radio Active Man's 'Radio Eins' this CD is the ambassador for the Breakbeat Style!

With residencies at John Digweed's club BEDROCK, London (from where this CD takes it's name), Agatha's in Rome, Italy and appearances scheduled for the Miami winter Music Conference and the Legendary PHONIX in Scotland his pedigree is secured! Your opportunity to be part of the magic is here...

The Baron of Breakbeat is Guy Hatfield A.K.A DJ Hyper and if you buy any CD this year it needs to be this one.

UNBELIEVABLE QUALITY MUSIC FINALLY!
Being a producer of progressive trance I have heard alot of music in my day. I was switching through the music channels on my digital cable and came across the electronic channel, which I periodically listen to. This Album was playing and I was absolutly blown away. Its the most innovative thing I have heard in a LONG TIME. If you are a Raver, DJ, or someone who likes good quality beats and music, you would be hard pressed not to like this album...The first two songs on the album, are some of the best released 12" music I have heard on CD'. DJ Hyper was voted the 2nd best DJ in the UK and it definatly shows. John Digweeds Bedrock lable has to date not failed me yet. You will absolutley listen to this album until you can't anymore. The new hit that everyone is talking about in the UK "Totally addicted to bass" Has made an apperance on this album as well.
What an awesome mind blowing album, and I never jock anything- Breakdancers and Poppers ready yourself for the breaks.

FINALLY QUALITY MUSIC!
Wow, being a DJ and a producer I have heard a lot of music good and bad. To tell you the truth I haven't been impressed with anything in the past couple of years. The Bedrock label has changed my mind. I believe that Digweed is the finder of true talent. DJ Hyper was voted the 2nd best breaks DJ in the UK and in listening to this album I want to know why he wasn't 1st.
The music is incredible, I believe that this DJ is one of the best I have ever heard. The mixing is smooth and the record choices are all incredible. Every song - even if you are a raver, DJ, or just a person that just likes eletronic music captures the true quality of the undergroung scene. WOW - What elese can I say, and I never review anything. This is definatly one thats going down in the history books as one of the best albums of the 21st century I tell you. ... Read more

Album Description

Their name says it all – Masters At Work. For over a decade, "Little Louie" Vega and Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez have shepherded dance music down new paths with their inventive production style and imaginative feel for different musical forms. The two native New Yorkers have amassed an overwhelming body of work in that time, one that includes hundreds of original productions, remixes and side projects, redefining the way we think of music in clubs. Vega and Gonzalez defiantly mix everything they can find – house, hip-hop, funk, disco, Latin, African and jazz – into a universal groove. And in doing so, MAW has become a cultural mélange unto itself, emblematic of the multicultural society in which we live. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

My introduction to the legendary Mr. Tenaglia
To the best of my knowledge New York's Danny Tenaglia is the only American DJ to release compilations in the Global Underground series, and one of the only ones who plays predominately house. This selection is mainly inended to represent his darker, techier side and does a more than adequate job. Disc 1 starts out a little too mellow for my taste, but quckly moves into some great dub-house with twisted samples and exquisite bass work. The tracks push gradually to a more techno feel, and finally he drops us into some really off the wall electro-style stuff. Disc 2 is a little more uptempo, although there are several mellow spots here too. The overall feel is more progressive and eventually goes into some straight up trance. Aspects of both discs can get a little overly repetitive, but there are enough truly superb tracks on here to be worth the money. My dominent complaint about this set is that its quite slow throughout, and even disc 2 falls about 10 bpm's below normal club tempos. Still, any open minded fan of deep house and techno will probably walk away from the first listening with a smile on there faces and a burning desire to see this living legand live. I did.

A Hypnotic Journey Through The Dark
With his 'Athens' mix, New York legendary DJ Danny Tenaglia quite possibly gives the most cohesive set of tracks in the entire Global Underground series, with John Digweed's 'Los Angeles' mix following close behind. Danny spins us some deep, dark, shallow, and minimal-sounding records, inviting us on a journey through the subterranean.

This mix, released in 1998, was a precursor to the flood of Dark Progressive House and Deep Trance tracks that would quickly surface afterwards. John Digweed seems to have been heavily influenced by Danny, releasing his "groundbreaking" (but not so groundbreaking) Global Underground 'Hong Kong' mix a year later, mimicing the same deep and dark vibe found on this CD.

Standout tracks include Scumfrog's mesmerizing 'Watersong', Miss Kittins' neurotic 'Frank Sinatra', and Tilt's ever-fascinating 'Seduction of Orpheus'. As a whole, there are few mix CDs out that are so fluid. It's almost as if Danny is weaving a story through the music he plays. Any serious listener knows that the order of the songs played AS WELL AS the track selection are what make a DJ mix great. This is what separates the amateur from the professional.

This CD is not for everyone and it's not for every occasion. Some tracks may bore the heck out of the listener with over 3 minutes of the same repetitive beats, but listen to it late at night right before bed, with all the lights out, and it will work its magic.

>>> 5 stars. This is a very enjoyable journey through the dark, brought to you by one of the most talented disc jockeys on the planet.

- the enlightened one

Vibe
If DT can do one thing right, it is to create amazing vibe. The dark tribal beats spun out on this record are amazing. Danny creates sets that not just sound good but that take tracks that shouldn't go together and blend them with incrediable vibe. Anyone can throw together some trance beat and string it out with some ups and downs and leave with an 'afterglow', but to make a set thats undeniably sexy,smart, and with that VIBE is hard, real hard.My reaction is that this is electronic music for the more experienced and more sophisticated listener, no glowsticks allowed. I say congrats to the GU label for not only letting DT spin one cd but also that they let him do another GU title. It is also incrediable. Check it out, Global Underground London.

Burnin' Down The House
Bottom Line on the Tenaglia set: I guess I'm not a House fan.

Juxtaposed to just about every other relase in the GU series, this one stands alone due to its languid, undulating house grooves. Hindsight being 20/20, I am surprised this one made the GU grade. It rolls around on the floor, sexing itself up without delivering the end result of an afterglow I would have expected. Maybe I'm missing the point of house and it seems I'm missing the esteem of Danny Tenaglia's reputation as an American DJ, but with 3 strike-out tracks such as: "Frank Sinatra," "Red Light Distract," and "Phonic Call," I felt I could have heard the same kind of material at my neighborhood ... "disco."

Overall, it's not a total loss, but in the scheme of the Global Underground standards, I found this one to be surprisingly lackluster.

My apologies to Tenaglia fans; I'm certain I'd get much heated debate as to why Sandra Collins hasn't received a nod from the powers-that-be at Global Underground.

Excellent
This is a great mix. Smooth throughout. My favorite songs are #3 Disc One ("Moody"), and I've seen some negative feedback about the last two tracks on disc one, "Frank Sinatra" and "Red Light District". Those two are my favorites too, But I'm a huge fan of house/vocal blends... they are really incredibly cool songs, just outright cool... but they have some naughty language (Gasp!) So if that offends your virgin ears, then I'm sorry.
But, I really can't think of any songs I really didn't like on the CD. It was cool. Both discs. The Seduction of Orpheus is awesome. Buy This. You won't be sorry. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Keeping House Alive in the Birthplace
Let's begin with a bit of background information. I first stumbled across this particular cd while window-shopping inside FYE, at the mall in Mary Esther, FL. How ironic is that? Actually the real question is: How lucky is that? I picked up the cd, looked at the track listing (mentally noting how I already have over ¾ of the tracks on vinyl), and said to myself, "I'm coming back to get this". One week later I bought the cd and the rest is history...

This cd package is an excellent introduction to this phenomenon we call "House". As a house dj "ambassador to the G.I.s" I would often have difficulty describing the music to people who had never heard of it (or mistaken it for Euro-Techno). This cd package would make the explanation that much easier. Great selection, and equally great blends - I pay attention to those -with the occasional flange for effect! After listening to the first 3 tracks of CD1 you might find yourself increasing the volume controls. If by chance you didn't increase the volume, then the first 3 tracks on CD2 might convince you.

Word on the street is Trax Records is back, with new releases. Time to Jack all over again...

THIS IS HOUSE!
Screamin' Rachael, the woman behind Trax records, has hit a home run with compilation! From its roots back to the city of Chicago in the early 80's, this House music CD is a must have. You've heard of Frankie Knuckles and of the wild house music scenes he has created, now hear the music that made it all happen. From hard house to the more mainstream club music, this compilation is sure to satisfy on so many levels. If you are new to this genre, jump right in with this collection and you will never look back! 5 Stars, for sure!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

fireplace-warmth on a cool night-out
Apart from being overly electronic and techno, the french 80s' aficionado DJ remains WITHIN traditional rock esthetics. Imaginative, tentative and Pink-Floy-ish (reference: "Careful with That Axe Eugene") - warm as opposite to acid, cool or dissonant, that is. Sparce too, probably. The idiom about "finger in the pie" or something rolls on the tip of my tongue (you know what I mean) in this regard. This feel is so rare, alien to the genre of "serious" electronic stuff that no further argument is needed to let the disk enrich any rock-biased collection... and to procure that 40 Hz vibe you long despaired of with your hi-fi. Check out track 7 please.

On the otherside of "dance" music is art
I can understand how someone looking for a banging techno record could be dissapointed, but this doesn't even look like a banging techno record.Also anyone who is a LG fan will know that he is much deeper than your run of the mill EDM artist.This album is a masterpiece, my favorit part of some of the tracks is that they bring in 1 drum, like the begining of a build and then pull back completely.Plastikman fans, IDM fans, Jazz fans and people who enjoy really interesting use of sounds will LOVE this album.(I say this because the previous descrition describes me).Bottom line, not a DANCE record not even a CHILL record, this is beatnick breaks, IDM and spoken word nu jazz (fusion, not lounge) at its absolute FINEST

Not your typical Garnier album but great for chilling!
This is a good album.It is electronica (despite what the previous reviewer said).It's just not the usual fast thumping techno beats we have come to expect from Laurent Garnier.It's more jazzy/blues.Call it chill out sounds - perfect for relaxing after a night out clubbing.My personal favourite tracks are 9.01 - 9:06, Barbiturik Blues, Huis Clos.All beautiful, mournful sounds.The pace quickens a bit (but not much) with the tracks Control the House and Waiting for my plane.To sum up- if it's techno your after do not buy this album (try Bible of Dreams by Juno Reactor - 5 stars).If you're looking for something different albeit experimental then I highly recommend this album.Great for late night listening.

3 Thumbs Down!
This album is a real snoozer.Just when you think it is going to pick up the pace, it doesn't.I was really dissapointed that this CD is classified as Dance/Electronica.If your looking for a CD to help put you to sleep or if your looking to hear Electronic music that doesn't have any high points, then this CD may be just what your looking for.My copy is going up for sale on Amazon Marketplace right after I get through writting this review, which is NOW!!!! ... Read more

Album Description

Following up the hugely successful 01, Ultra Dance 02 willno doubt be the soundtrack to your summer clubbingexperience. Featuring a collection of the biggestdance-radio tracks around. Featuring Dido 'Thank You',Chemical Brothers 'Star Guitar', ATB 'You're Not Alone',Moby 'We Are All Made Of Stars' (DJ Tiesto vocal), Omnibus'Laut Sprecher' (extended mix) and many more! Slipcase.2002. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Nice Follow Up To Ultra Dance 01!
This volume two of the Ultra Dance series is more great dance music for those who enjoy mixed cd's. The mixing is good, but there are a few rough transitions between songs (track 7 to 8 as an example). The songs on disc one are a mix of house and trance focusing more on the trance side. You've got big hits such as DJ Encore's own "I See Right Thru To You" (special Pulsar remix which I've never heard until now),Moby's "We Are All Made Of Stars", "Heaven" by DJ Sammy & Yanou,etc. Disc two is also nice with the songs more trance with more house songs towards the end of the disc. Again there are some big hits here as well such as "Take Me Away" by 4 Strings, "Like A Prayer" by Mad' House, and Barthezz's "Infected". This compilation is one of the better two cd collections released here in the U.S., but it isn't quite as good as The Ministry 2-cd compilations from England. Great stuff! Highly recommended!

Awesome remixes!
I have to say it is probably the best ultra dance out there. The remixes for "I See Right Through To You" by DJ Encore, and "They Say Vision" by Res were very impressive. Sunglasses at Night wasn't quite going along with the hard dance genre...though. Perpetuous Dreamer's "Sound of Goodbye" Robbie Rivera Remix was a very great track, along with Jam & Spoon's "Be.Angled" Paul Van Dyk Club Mix. DJs@Work's "Someday..." was a more "trancy" track, but it went perfectly into the CD.

Lots of 'Average' Songs/Mixes. May Find One/Two 'Good'
This is a very average 'Dance' CD with very laid back mixes for the most part... Average is not necessarily bad and surely some will grow on you, but nothing will likely give you that 'feeling' you are looking for... maybe 1 or two songs after repeated listenings will grow to become good/very good. While tagging these 2 CD's I did not give any 5/5, a couple received 4/5, several 3/3, and many were not worth ripping at all (I use lossless APE compression and J Rivers Media Center)... I found the least amount of likeable songs on Ultradance 02 as compared to others on the Ultradance series. Ultradance 01 has a lot more classic dance songs, but also very average and not the best Johnny Viscous can do (probably because he was limited to material available for the label). None of these songs are as good as the better Louis Devito and Johnny Vicious's material, although they have their share of duds also. I reccomend this CD, but put it much further down the list than others such as the vastly superior NYC Underground Party series.

The best brings together the best
At this very time, I'm listening to this CD. It hasn't left my CD in 2 weeks and love every minute of it. It's a great CD set jam packed with the best songs from around the world. I've always been a fan of DJ Encore and he shows that he has great taste in music. Since I have the first CD in, I'll give you a song by song review (first CD only).

1) Thank You (Deep Dish Vocal Remix) - Dido
Rating: 4/5 - A good intro to the CD, not much variation in the song but still offers a good remix. There's one part that has this wierd effect and it hurts my ears.

2) They Say Vision (DJ Encore Remix) - Res
Rating: 5/5 - Not until today did I give this song a full listening to and I'm happy I did. The vocals match great with the beat making it one of the best on the CD.

3) We Are All Made of Stars (DJ Tiesto Vocal) - Moby
Rating: 3/5 - I've never been a fan of Tiesto and I can't say this song changed my opinion. I liked the song to begin with, but this version seems bland.

4) Heaven (Extended Mix) - DJ Sammy & Yanou feat. Do
Rating: 3/5 - This is a good song but it was played so often when it was popular that it seems old now.

5) I See Right Through to You (Pulser Remix) - Dj Encore
Rating: 4/5 - The beginning seems to last forever but gets into a good mix. I think it could be improved a little but still worth a listen from time to time.

6) Who Will Love Me (Radio Edit) - Riva feat. Dannii Minogue
Rating: 5/5 - Great song! Fast paced with great beat and vocals. I listen to it every time. The song seems so forceful that you can't stop listening to it!

7) Wanna Be With Me - Da Buzz
Rating: 2/5 - Granted it has a good chorus, the rest seems pop-ish. A little disappointing. I listen to it every once and a while.

8) Omnibus - Laut Sprecher feat. Katie Skate
Rating: 5/5 - My favorite overall. The chorus is amazing and the beat keeps you dancing. The voice does get annoying but is tolerable. I loved German music and this gives me more reason to do so.

9) Fire (Orange Factory Vocal) - Dolce
Rating: 2/5 - One word...."DISCO". I felt like I was in the 70's again. It's decent but nothing more.

10) The Sound of Goodbye (Robbie Rivera Vocal) - Perpetuous Dancer
Rating: 2/5 - I had heard the regular mix of this song and this version does not do it justice. I recommend the original.

11) Safe from Harm - Narcotic Thrust feat. Yvonne John Lewis
Rating: 3/5 - Decent song. Seems almost Caribbean at the beginning. It's a good song but doesn't fit my taste.

12) Sunglasses at Night (Extended) - Tiga & Zyntherius
Rating: 2/5 - Repetitive and bland. The first time I listened to it, I kept wondering when it was going to end.

Well that's it for CD #1! The first CD is alone worth the price so go for it! You'll love it!

This cd is great
The best mix of trance music i have ever heard amazing. ... Read more

Album Description

After his string of legendary progressive mix albums for GU and Renaissance's 'The Masters Series', Dave Seaman unleashes his newest concept...'The Therapy Sessions'

Each Therapy Sessions release will see a split 2XCD mix album, with Dave Seaman on disc one, and a handpicked future star of tomorrow on disc two. To get things started with a bang, Dave has enlisted Australia's progressive breaks master, Phil K, for Volume 1.Little wonder, as Phil is the undoubted superstar DJ of tomorrow, being widely acknowledged by DJs such as Sasha as technically the best in the world9.

The track selection and mixing reveal the next level in progressive house and breaks without ever losing sight of the dancefloor.Features upfront tracks & remixes from The Crystal Method, Cass, Infusion, Luke Chable, The PQM Project, Nubreed, and Phil K. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Breakbeat done to perfection
This is one of my favorite dance CDs I've picked up in a while, along with mr.deviant's "Techno Obsession". The reason I bought this was to hear Phil K's breakbeat work on disc 2, and he doesn't dissapoint. That's not to say that Seaman's disc wasn't good, I just dig Phil's better. It's tough to find some good breakbeat music that still caters to the dance crowd and Phil's mix does just that. His selection of tracks is great and offers a diverse range of musical styles: house, techno and breakbeat.
Overall, it's well worth the money for this set and I highly recommend it along with another hot dance CD: mr.deviant's "Techno Obsession".

therapy
This CD kicks ass!! I have lots of Dave Seaman cd's and i was glad to hear this is just as good and it definatly grew on me. Now cd2 is just as good if not a little better in my opinion. Its mostly breaks and a couple of techno/house tracks. At around track 6 it moves into a all breaks fest of cool ass stuff. Now I never listened to too much breaks but this cd goes good with the other one. (cd one) Neither heve i listened to other Phil K. THis is a great introduction. Out of 20 stars i would give it 19, probably cuz i didnt literally fall off my chair. Less than 3 stars I cant agree with. You probably didnt do what youre supposed to do and listen to it a few times.

Not really a true Renaissance title, so what'd you expect?
Here's what you need to know... Most of the tracks featured on this compilation are from the Audio Therapy record label - hance the "Therapy" in the title. Although Audio Therapy is a decent label, and these are some decent tracks, the album itself is nothing special.

Disc one gets off to an incredibly slow start. Maybe Dave was busy doing something else while mixing, so he just put on some long, slow records so he could walk away from the decks for a while! It isn't until track 3 that the pace finally starts to pick up, and the sounds start to get interesting. Dave's mix has its moments - the version of Paul Jackson's The Push is great, but sounds out of place after Infusion's Girls Can Be Cruel. The Redanka track is pretty awful, but is situated between two of the best tracks in the mix - Ernest St. Lauren's Do Ya Dub, and Stel & Good Newz - Particle.

Disc two gets off to an even slower start. In fact, I reccomend skipping the first track entirely. There are a few good tracks on this breaks mix, but not much variety. The Operator's Furball is amazing, but I first heard the track almost two years ago on another, better, Phil K mix. The mix I mentioned was a free promo CD from a UK magazine and remains one of the best mixes I've ever heard. In fact, Phil K.'s reputation was the main selling point for me to buy this album. But poor track selections like the worst tune of the year - Born Too Slow, and that horrible track 1, make this mix pretty hard to listen too.

Skip this album and get a true Renaissance title.

two great discs that balance each other nicely.
Rather than the standard two discs mixed by one dj we're getting two by different dj's. (Like the fabulous Fatboy Slim/Oakenfold essential mix) These guys obviously come from different places in someways musically but somehow these two discs work nicely with each other. Seaman is by far one of the most underappreciated artists in dance music and it's always nice to see new talent that is exceptional. hope to see more from phil k because there aren't enough great breakbeat dj's out there.

Great Therapy!
This album is awesome! Renaissance has not failed in delivering another fantastic, yet still diverse album.

Dave Seaman's Mix is deep, dark, and dangerously sexy with great tracks like the opening track from Habersham and other tunes from great artists such as Cass, Powerplant, Infusion, and of course "the Push (Far From Here)" from Paul Jackson teamed up with Steve Smith from Dirty Vegas.

Phil K's Mix brings a great quality to the album - DIVERSITY! rather than giving the same thing twice Phil K delivers great technoish breaks that are not chaotic but chillingly deep and cool like Vance Musgrove's "Music In The 24th & A Half Century".

5 Stars and two thumbs up for this one.

You think this album is good?
Get Renaissance Masters - Hernan Cattaneo - awesome!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Unlike the Chemical Brothers--their longstanding U.K. brothers in electronica--Underworld have been allowed to grow (relatively) old without being accused of stagnating. A Hundred Days Off, Underworld's first studio release since the departure of member Darren Emerson, demonstrates why. An ecstatic headrush of percolating beats, swirling synth, and shape-shifting melodies, A Hundred Days Off drags everything from Delta blues to space-age pop onto the dance floor. Because the pair takes their cues in part from the real world, filtering each idea through the prism of a rave record, we get wonky faux church bells chiming in one especially frenzied passage of the nine-minute epic "Two Months Off." Elsewhere, as on the curiously named "Trim," straightforward vocal phrasings are set against (what might be) twangy, scotch-soaked guitar while a static drum beat clicks in the distance. On the towering centerpiece track, "Dinosaur Adventure 3D," a vicious cymbal guts an otherwise unassuming house track, albeit one built on an increasingly complex (and speedy) palette of sounds, before a tribal vocal goosesteps over top. Clubby, dubby, and positively smokin'. --Kim Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (82)

Slick, impassioned, pointed, & poised... incredible!
I don't know how they do it!

Underworld has now released four five-star albums in a row (not including the Live "Everything, Everything", which is of a different sort). Despite losing a participant in the creative process, the band continues to grow within their artistic identity. In contrast to the obvious charms of experimental-crazy "Beacoup Fish" and the dance-storming debut "Dubnobasswithmyheadman", the vibe of "A Hundred Days Off" is more subtle at first impression. Yet soon, its aural complexion is rapidly differentiated upon repeat listens; so, in this sense it is more like "Second Toughest In the Infants" in terms of experiential structure for the beholder. It does not disappoint.

"A Hundred Days Off" is a gorgeous freeway driving soundtrack, for starters (in the city, at night). Again, Underworld tenders songs with sparkle, power, seething with class. And again again, unlike most techno bands I've encountered, most tracks've been sufficiently pocketed by the band so that one may match and also pour oodles of your own intimacy and emotion into them ... resulting in some rather classy ruminations, with the occasional sonic explosions.

Most sublime are "Twist" "Sola Sistim", "Trim", "Ballet Lane" & "Dinosaur Adventure." "Twist" & "Ballet Lane" are stylish instrumentals. In "Sola Sistim", his lyrical rueing of his pesky shadowside ... "my devious nature" ... glows in the dark. That glacial-glidin`, cowboycoolcat "Trim" funks a sexy riff. His new explorations with some outrageous middle-eastern howlgurgling on "Dinosaur Adventure" is just plain mad. WOW, I love it!

The entire disc smolders beneath the vivid urbane sheen. Cossets the ticklish netherregions of your psyche into a temporal state of aural bliss. Awe-inspiring.

Slick, impassioned, pointed, & poised... incredible!
I don't know how they do it. !!!

Underworld has now released four five-star albums in a row (not including the Live "Everything, Everything", which is of a different sort). Despite losing a participant in the creative process, the band continues to grow within their artistic identity. In contrast to the obvious charms of experimental-crazy "Beacoup Fish" and the dance-storming debut "Dubnobasswithmyheadman", the vibe of "A Hundred Days Off" is more subtle at first impression. Yet soon, its aural complexion is rapidly differentiated upon repeat listens; so, in this sense it is more like "Second Toughest In the Infants" in terms of experiential structure for the beholder. It does not disappoint.

"A Hundred Days Off" is a gorgeous freeway driving soundtrack, for starters (in the city, at night). Again, Underworld tenders songs with sparkle, power, seething with class. And again again, unlike most techno bands I've encountered, most tracks've been sufficiently pocketed by the band so that one may match and also pour oodles of your own intimacy and emotion into them ... resulting in some rather classy ruminations, with the occasional sonic explosions.

Most sublime are "Twist" "Sola Sistim", "Trim", "Ballet Lane" & "Dinosaur Adventure." "Twist" & "Ballet Lane" are stylish instrumentals. His lyrical rueing of his pesky shadowside ... "my devious nature" ... in "Sola Sistim" just plain glows in the dark. That glacial-glidin`, cowboycoolcat "Trim" funks an oh-so sexy riff. And his new explorations with some outrageous middle-easternesque howlgurgling on "Dinosaur Adventure" is just mad. WOW.

The entire disc smolders beneath the vivid urbane sheen. Cossets the ticklish netherregions of your psyche into a temporal state of aural bliss. Beyond impressive, this one is luminous.

funky smooth
you gotta be kidding!! what a really great cd! once you start, you know that your in for a really great musicial ride. well balance between voices and beats. smooth to the ears!! funka funka wonderful. enjoy!

first underworld experience, definately not last
I never thought i would appreciate these guys even though i knew they were good. when Dinosaur 3d was released I admitted i didn't understand it although i was fascinated at least by their amazing video. I even complained to a friend about the long video for their single and how it was played hogging . Then one day i was home alone and again the song played. i was pretty bored and lay down staring at the ceiling...and closed my eyes listening. Next thing i knew and was up dancing to it feeling the beat finally understanding it. Over the next weeks i did a 180 and became an avid underworld and began to completely appreciate their music.
Getting an album as un-mainstream as Underworld was a task esp. where i live but my mum surprised me with this disc a few months after i fell hoplessly in love with underworld. It's an amazing disc and my favourite track is Little Speaker probably bc i've neva heard anything like it.
One of the best things about underworld is it is so good yet it seems from other fans is it is nowhere near their best.
This album is one of my complete fave's. I definately will be purchasing their other albums or at least their '92-'02.

A fresh start for Underworld since Beaucoup Fish
Underworld has come a long way after starting off simple (Underneath The Radar and others) and coming on strong with albums like Everything, Everything; LIVE, Dubnobasswithmyheadman, Second Toughest in the Infants. My take on A Hundred Days Off would be this --> Underworld sort of fell apart in this album for two reasons. They lost one of their great members (Emmerson) and the beats were more ambient and easy-going. Don't get me wrong though, I thought of Underworld A Hundred Days Off was a fresh start cause they did things a little different in the songs on it. Number 7 sounds like something Aphex Twin would do in his ambient works and Dinosaur Adventure 3D reminds me of some music I would hear in The Matrix. When I first purchased this album, I was RELAXED when I listened to it. I thought Two Months Off was a bit strange in the beginning but it DEFINATELY gets better throughout, Mo Move was a very nice introduction for the album, and Sola Sistim put me in a dream world. Ballet Lane is a great song you could listen to while it is raining outside. That's my take on A Hundred Days Off...I hope my review has made sense ... Read more

Amazon.com

With the esteemed Nick Warren (a.k.a. Way Out West) on hand, we should know what to expect on Reykjavik, his fifth entry in the Global Underground series. However, Warren's ear has picked up new sounds, and GU 024 may surprise those seeking the usual thump. The consistency provided by John Digweed, Paul Oakenfold, and Danny Tenaglia has made Global Underground a brand in itself, one associated with the highest end of progressive trance and house. But Reykjavik often hovers around the beat, more interested in ambient crackles and Boards of Canada-like wanderings than the usual rhythmic grandeur. For much of the two-CD set, especially on disc 1, Warren spins light, sparse wax that rambles through electro and Orb-ish atmospherics and refrains from predictable peaks and valleys. Later, after the dance floor ignites on disc 2 with bouncy tracks like Aquaculture's "Don't Play the Game," it's clear that disc 1 was just the dreamy eye of a hurricane. Still, when DJs like Warren and Sasha (with his endlessly interesting Airdrawndagger) are looking forward and being creative, those who still have hope for the oft-derided trance genre should be encouraged. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (35)

Exquisite...
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This latest GU compilation from Nick Warren is absolutely superb. Featuring flawless mixing and an excellent track list, it nears perfection. It is an album with actual thought poured into it, featuring a well-defined beginning, middle and end.

Disc one has an exquisitely beautiful beginning. It is austere, dark and frigid -- yet with a faint and distant warmth to it. Just as one becomes enshrouded with the mellow tunes of "Dub in Time", "Firewire" (misnomer), "Compass Error", "Nobody's Home" and "Happy Cycling", Warren breaks the ice with "Tightrope Artist Tale", followed by a line of funky and enjoyable choons.

Disc two begins just as beautifully as disc one. "Awakening" is a thumping, lively tune, followed by "Aural Navigation pt2", a track that's over 12 minutes long (!!). Just as one's mind and imagination drift away towards the end of this track, Warren literally jerks you back with Vector's "Rise". Simply great. It is from here on that the energy picks up. "Rise", "Dont Play the Game" and "Headpusher" are high-energy, dance-inducing tracks. "Karma" has some cheese female vocals, but the catchy drumline and synths more than make up for it. Starkid's "Crayons" and "Strawberry Fields" slowly build down to "Last Minute Flight". A great close for a wonderful and refreshing album.

Looking back at Warren's previous GU compilations, one can notice how his style evolved. From the raw, heavy trance, to the more mature and refined house/progressive. The turning point seems to be the GU Amsterdam album, which sharply contrasts from the Prague, Budapest and Brasil CD's. One can assume that it was a prelude for this, his greatest (and presumably his last) Global Underground compilation.
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Warren creates great atmosphere
Disc one is a little on the chill side but picks up a little toward the end. The selection of breaks are terrific. Subtle, but everchanging. This is the kind of cd that makes you lose track of time. By the time you understand what Warren is doing behind the decks the set is over. Leaving you craving for more.

Disc two is the epitome of "pure" trance. The tracks are like ambient beats laced with mellow vocals combined with a "punchy" 4 on the floor sound. This formula creates a moody, dreamy, and refreshing vibe. He really captured the "eerily beautiful" aura of Reykjavik without it feeling dreary and boring. You really lose yourself on this disc.

The mixing on both cds is excellent. I prefer the mixing on disc 2 better though because the transitions are a little more fluid and not as sudden as they are on disc one.

I would recommend Reykjavik GU024 to any fan of atmospheric dance music. However, I wouldn't recommend this compiltaion for a house party, it's not that type of mix.

Another good one from Warren
Warren's GUs have yet to let me down. Brazil had some great variety, tons of energy and memorable tracks, and Amsterdam, though pretty shabby as far as mixing (fade-ins, anyone?), had wonderful track selection. Reykjavik doesn't disappoint in either mixing or set programming, and it has quite a few standout tracks, including 'Nobody's Home,' 'Yewminyst,' 'Rise,' and 'Karma.' I subtract a star for the way both discs sort of peter off instead of ending strongly, but all in all this is a great final GU for Warren. Now I hope that the upcoming Way Out West LP will equal or even surpass the beautiful Intensify.

Nick Warren, Taliesin of Bristol
Bards were travelling musicians who through their authentic experiences with the mysteries of other cultures and far off lands created epic ballads of sensationalist history and people. For centruies bards have died out replaced by whiney, obselete, or drunk singers in taverns; at best folk artists that are over looked for their inability to channel the current of emerging music.

Metaphorically, and I suspect literally, Global Underground has flown, driven, floated, and walked quite a ways across this world. A long way. Since Paul Oakenfold has sold out and started his own label, titled, 'perfecto,' Global Underground's syndicate of contracted Dj's has realized it was time to step up to the booth and fill a monster's shoes. At least, that is how the electronic pop public sees it. The truth is, apostles of electronica in its most raw, primal form: Nick Warren and Danny Tenaglia Babysat Oakenfold shaking their heads as he sipped his college can of Keystone to FM anthems such as "James Brown is Dead."

The western music world has always been fascinated with the beats, rhythemic melodies, and chord progressions of middle-eastern, indian, and far-eastern authentic musicians. Genres such as World Beat, New Age, light jazz, and Dance are suspects in a line up that attempts in vain to recreate the ethnicity of these cultures. Electronica has been no exception to this group of alleged culprits of aesthetic crimes. Until Global Underground.

In all honesty GU isnt immune from minimal cultural clichee or monotony in its artists selection of Vinyls spun in all four quadrants and both hemispheres of the globe; these are recorded live sets mixed in the throbbing pulsing depths of clubs half buried in the soil of forign concrete jungles. In light of the growing need for artists to seperate from the bulk and fuse singularily to a set of technics or eachother, One could write volumes on what Global Underground is not. I choose rather to write on what it is, specifically this "Adam and God' section of the Cistine Chapel.

This Cd is a cacophony of assorted beats that span semblances of drum and base, jungle, break beat, progressive house, and trance. Warren opts to open, and subsequently foreshadow his set in Iceland with an ecletic combo of synthetic water noises and an elusive fading and echoing female vocalist. A slow breakbeat harbinges the creamy epoch of the Set.
Ambient, Atmospheric, and subtle electronic sounds are the threads of this magnificent tapestry. Sequences and themes heard in the beginning of this set can be heard congruently through the entire aural myth that Warren spins.
Ulrich Schnauss glides into the mix via song 4 on CD 01. His arrival is much like a bullet train through cascading fog, suiting for his latest Album "far away trains passing by." Ulrich opitimizes the german electronic chill scene providing tonal supplications of longing and bardic mystery.

Later in the CD a ranting englishman can be heard, heralding the apocaplyse. His voice as his urgent speech continues rises with passion and fervor, the melodic swell in the background responding like a porche on the autobahn. No idiotic snare swell here, no multiplying of an 4th (speaking in quater second beats) into an 8th, into a 16th, etc . . .etc. . . No Tiesto-esque or Acosta beat to death B flat 6 prdictable transition in the bass, no roland synth. No no. For you quality music lovers who have been waiting for a druid, a bard, anyone to bring electronica to its current potential. Here he is.

Nick Warren has bards blood coursing through his veins and the heart of a DJ to rhythemically pump and circut the crimson essence the Jews say life is in -- through his soul.

Like many music enthusiasts I have lost count of the electronic CD's in my possesion. This boxed set is it. Being careful not to eclipse Debussy or Gustave Holst as artists- Nick Warren is perhaps my choice musical artist ever and invariably the premier DJ of this coming decade.
Aural Prophet, Bard, or just a great mother friggin dj, however you will view Nick Warren is contingent on your purchase of this cd.

Buy it, burn it, whatever. This cd is transcendant

Outstanding!!
In the Era when everything looks alike, including new plastic electronic music this album is: original, powerful, thoughtfully aranged and simply magnificent. If you like brainless melodic beats with whining pink Blondie in the back - this isn't for you! If you liked the old Sasha that's more like it! This is one of my best albums so far, I'm truly impressed by your new avenues Mr. Warren keep it up! ... Read more

Album Description

This the newly repackage Larry Levan Live at the Paradise Garage CD.This new package has the same song listings, enhanced with never scene photographs of Larry Levan's childhood and Paradise Garage special moments. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

I was completely blown away
This is the only thing I have ever reviewed on Amazon, and will likely be the only.

I'm into house and techno and happened upon this CD by accident. I heard that US garage music came from the Paradise Garage so I had some money to burn and thought that I needed some over-the-top soulful house in my life (which is basically what US garage it).

So, I get home and IT'S NOT GARAGE at all.

It's amazing disco that I had never heard before. Not the stuff they play on the radio or sell on compilation cds late nite. And it wasn't cheesy and overcooked like alot of popular disco can get. It was just medium well.

The mix is amazingly well put together. For the time this was as close to flawless as it could get.

BUT THE KICKER was the enclosed booklet which goes into Larry Levan and the Paradise Garage. It makes me cry every time I read it.

The whole package is inspiring at the deepest level for me.

If you like house and wanna get to know the roots or just want to know what deeper disco feels like... get this cd.

HISTORY of Garage & Original House Music
This CD lives up to the hype.Larry Levan and Frankie Knuckles were making history in the late 70's and 80's.I grew up on Frankie, but Larry was first.The music is all from the era before 1980.You get over 80 minutes of seamless, transitional, dance music of the day.There are elements of Jazz, R&B, Disco, Dance all present here.From beginning to end, this is a moving CD. ... Read more