What a Mix!
F. Hoffmann | Toronto CA | 05/01/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Disillusioned by the recent excesses in Drum N'Bass - with its techy, wobbly, faster-than-180bpm-jump-up-tracks as pushed by the likes of Andy C, DJ Hype, Pendulum, Subfocus, Noisia on the one side, and the thrash-metal like tracks coming out of North-America and Eastern Europe on the other side - I decided to give the Fabriclive-mix by Commix a chance. After all, the duo itself criticized the state of DNB in a recent interview. When I put the CD into my stereo for a first listen I expected the typical bombastic intro. Instead, jazzy, loungy music, with piano underlined by a gentle old-school jungle-beat and a wonderfully organic sub-bass, were streaming out of my speakers - no doubt a great start. After about 4 minutes a very upbeat, jump-up style beat rises from the depths of the sub-bass, and suddenly we are in the middle of a very danceable DNB-track. Fortunately it is not the typical jump-up stuff, but a Rufige Kru aka Goldie track - and Goldie is a great producer with a preference for more atmospheric music.
The first highlight of the mix comes at the transition between this track and the next. Melodies merge seamlessly, while the beat changes abruptly to a very old-school jungle-beat. In fact, track 3 by dbridge is a fantastic old-school track - a bit slower than the newer stuff, very atmospheric and dark, and underlined by a great sub-bass that will stress your speakers. The next track by young-star Alix Perez goes in a similar, though somewhat lighter and jazzier, direction. An insanely dark DubStep-track leads into the middle, and the hardest, section of the mix.
It features the sound mostly coming out of Hospital Records these days, predominantly represented by the likes of Logistics and Calibre. This is 180bpm, very danceable stuff - but fortunately, techy and wobbly sounds are completely absent. Instead, the sound is moody, dark, almost trip-hoppy in the post-"Mezzanine" sense. It culminates in the highly energetic remix of Commix' "Bellevue" - another highlight of the mix.
What comes after this is my favorite part of the mix: Commix now turns to a type of DNB that has gotten some attention recently, a sound that is pushed by Commix, Instra:mental and DBridge. It is very minimal, dark, far below the 180bpm-line, quite experimental, and driven by old-school jungle-breaks - Amen, Apache etc. It is like turning the time back to 1997 and leading jungle into the direction it should have taken at the first place. Not surprisingly, Commix mixes an old Photek-track into this section. Fabriclive 45 ends with the wonderfully melancholic "Photograph".
After the first listen my first thought was "Wow, this is one of my favorite mixes ever - maybe even my favorite one", and I am writing this as a long-time listener to DnB. Anybody who likes the more subtle, melodic, and experimental side of DnB should get this CD. If you like the last part of it I also highly recommend Fabriclive 50 by DBridge and Instra:mental.
"
Great D&B, great for driving.
Audrey | 01/27/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I really enjoyed this CD, it was the first I had heard of Commix. I was thoroughly impressed with the superior mixing skills and the unique drum and bass loops. I must say though, it does get old pretty fast. I still listen to it in the car (you're driving experience will be forever enjoyable with this music!), but not much else where. Still great CD and will surely satisfy those D&B fans out there."
Track Listings (20) - Disc #1