Expected more
dead stars | Dallas, TX United States | 05/02/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Great concept, fair execution. I expected much more from these discs. Most of the tunes on disc 1 are a bit too sparse for my tastes...I was expecting more "electro" or "electroclash" styles. The Juan Maclean track is more of an agressive style that I like...too bad the rest isn't in this same vein.I mainly bought this for disc 2. Many classics I have on vinyl and I wanted to see how this guy handled the mix...doesn't really come through. The Bigod 20 track is actually "Body to Body" and not "The Bog". The second Front 242 track is pitched up significantly...I would have worked it into the mix elsewhere. These cds were mixed on Native Instrument's Tracktor software, with which I'm unfamiliar...maybe that has something to do with the odd style of mixing.Overall this is a nice addition to anyone's DJ mixed CD collection...good, not great."
DJ Hell turns out a solid effort, as usual
Steward Willons | Illinois | 07/18/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This CD is a perfect example of why the practice of excessive labeling leads to confusion. House is a pretty straightforward label, but all of its off-shoots are impossible to keep track of and even more difficult to use with any consistency. And what does it get us? Does anyone really go to a record store looking a "leftfield house" album - any leftfield house album? Many of these selections "house" in beats per minute only. Underground Resistance is clearly techno (although Hell picks a slow cut), Playgroup is electro, Chris & Cosey have strong connections to industrial, do I need to go on?
This is all to say, the mix has a lot of variety and nobody should be scared off because it's a "house" mix. When house is done right, it's really good, but when it's done carelessly (often the case), it's bland and derivative. DJ Hell skillfully blends straight house with all sorts of related styles, all seamlessly as if they all belonged together.
Since Hell doesn't do a lot in the way of layering or complex mixing, the emphasis is not on his deck skills, but rather on the music selection. He always finds great sounds - dark, mysterious, modern, and seductive. If he has one major talent, it's setting the perfect atmosphere for whatever you may need. The tracks are mostly repetitive making "Electronicbody" more of a record for dancing than for sitting and listening. It's plenty interesting, but I can't really picture sitting down and listening to both CDs straight through.
I might compare this to Junior Sanchez's superior "The Best of Dirty Dirty House" since they both feature the same sort of house/electro. Sanchez picks great music as well, but he's also an amazing DJ performing complicated mixes with all sorts of things happening, all on the fly. Hell's mix has less flavor, which probably has to do with its length. Sanchez keeps the energy high from beginning to end, while Hell's best selections get slightly diluted by some not-so-hot picks.
This is a solid mix, although I prefer Hell's "Japanese Gigolos" as it has more of an electro focus. DJ Hell isn't my all-time favorite DJ, but he always turns out a good, if not great, mix. If you know at least a few of the artists here and you like them, you're going to enjoy the mix. With the glut of no-name house DJs flooding the market, you're always safe with DJ Hell."
Great mix by the master of Intl. Deejay Gigolo's!
Seb Jarakian | San Francisco, CA United States | 04/28/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Great album, great mix by DJ Hell with a rare remake of the Depeche Mode classic Behind The Wheel by Playgroup. Other stand out cuts include Miura by Metro Area, You Can't Have It Both Ways by The Juan Maclean and How We Do by Mount Sims on CD1. CD2 is EBM and contains great Electro Industrial cuts by Nitzer Ebb, Bigod 20, Front 242 and Chris & Cosey. Great mix! Get it if you haven't already!
SJ
www.bestplaylists.com"
Track Listings (18) - Disc #1