Search - DJ Icey :: For the Love of the Beat

Well rounded but not his best 3.5 stars

Jesse Kohlbeck | W. St. Paul, MN USA | 10/15/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"DJ Icey was one of the first DJs to get me into any techno. I own all of his CDs. I got a chance to see him live in Minneapolis about a month ago. He definetly tore it up and got the crowd going. This would be a good CD if you are a long time Icey fan, the funky Florida break elements are still found on this CD. Highlights would include the remix of Shakedown's "At Night" and Two Lone Swordsmen's "Neuflex". I have been a fan of Two Lone Swordsmen for years now and was kind of sad to find in the liner notes that Icey had just found out about them as of late. But back to the point, if you are a first time listener pick up his "Essential Mix" album. If you already have that pick up his "Essential Elements" album. If you are at that point and dig those albums you will dig on this album as well."

For the Love of our Ears

emochris9 | Atlanta, GA USA | 04/21/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"More chaotic and scot free of the meek moments that kept his Different Day release from catching fire, For the Love of the Beat is solid. Icey benefits from his new combination of uninhibited and inspired, picking a loud and slick set of tunes and mashing some together (which he joyfully talks about in the liner notes). Dance purists might scoff at the fact that Icey is just now digging the Two Lone Swordsmen (he speaks of hearing them on the Internet and buying from a big retailer - very un-hardcore), but his new passion for music without the smooth sheen of his past favorites deserves attention. He's right at the heart of funky nu breaks for most of the set, complementing it with more pop moments that won't alienate your friends. Most of the tracks have either a big-name electronica artist as the performer or the remixer, and the ones that don't are undiscovered gems. "At Night" is the best, a smack in the face at first that turns into a buzzing bug in your ear. Pulling that track out alone shows that Icey has come far enough in his love of the underground to teach even the nu breaks faithful something new. For the Love of the Beat's winning trifecta (excellent tracks, exciting mix, clever nod to Herb Alpert on the cover) adds up to an album that Icey's detractors will have trouble burying. Sorry, but you can't use that "too slick" argument on this one."

Less Funky more Nu Skool !!

sharpmaksfl | Fort Lauderdale, FL United States | 05/07/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Well let me say to this to start. I am an icey fan since the early nineties and still love his work. He has always surprised me by keeping his unique style of breaks but still putting nu elements into his music. This is is my least favorite mix for sure. It has lost a lot of funk and we certainly can't talk about funky breaks here anymore. I am sure this mix will sell more though than any of his previous ones because that's what the breaks scene want's to here right now. The cd has big name tracks which are certainly well produced and nobody can say that they are junk and his mixing is excellent as usual. Personally I don't like his direction too much but as he is gaining global popularity he is adjusting to the uk breaks sound more and more and let's face it: It's the UK Breaks sound that's been popular all over the world with only a few producers from the US jumping on the wagon. I can't even blame him since there is too much cheese coming out of Florida lately and I hope that this will change soon and Icey will put some Florida feeling back in his mixes.
Good CD, good tracks but not enough funk for me."