A broader and ultimately satisfying trip through house
Richard Diaz | 09/07/2000
(3 out of 5 stars)
"For those of you who didn't pick up Swedish producer Dahlback's previous set "Stockholm Mix Sessions," stop reading and go order it. Easily one of the best mix albums of last year but lost in the shuffle of bigger releases, anyone remotely liking house music will savor that collection of deep tunes, melodic and jazz free. High expectations ride such a follow-up, so instead of competing with the sublime vibe of his prior release Dahlback swings eclectic- funkier, soulful, and light hearted shifts run throughout the set.He certainly knows how to start things proper, selecting a meatier King Britt vocal mix of I:Cube's already lovely "Adore," and the sexy styling "Into a Dream." Alas, Metro Area's oft-kilter "Atmosphere" offers three minutes of pondering how it ever landed in the DJ crate, followed not so smoothly by Cpen's "Pirate's Life." But it's smooth spinning from there, dippjng soulful (peaking with Moonchildren's haunting "Run Away,") venturing into R&B vocals, touches of latin, and finally coasting through a series of pleasing, and yes, deeper numbers.A broader and ultimately satisfying trip through house, not as scintillating as the first, but a worthy sequel. Grade: B"
Not Quite Bright
Niklas P. Andersson | Santa Cruz, CA | 02/11/2001
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I simply love Jesper Dahlback's "Stockholm Mix Session Vol 1" (the best chill-house record I've heard), from the excellent Turbo label in Canada, but I can't mask my dissapointment in Vol 2. Hey, I like sexy downtempo but this never even gets to first base. It just plods along at sluggish and odd tempos, never grabs me, never shines. It lacks the transcendent mixes of Vol 1, where I float in a sea of house-bliss. I could say not bad, but who needs average when there's so much great music ou there to enjoy? Instead check out "Stockholm Mix Vol 1.," "Nude Dimensions Vol 1." or "ADNY Selections 2000" and put your hard-earned money to work for you."
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1