Search - John Digweed :: Global Underground 006: Sydney

Classic Diweed, Timeless Mix CD

Edwin P | Sydney, Australia | 12/08/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"To justify my review summary, this CD came out in 1998 (when I first got it), and now 6 years later it still sounds as solid and fresh as when it first came out. In the current dance music scene where today's club smash is tomorrow's stale track, this CD defies all convention by possessing the one thing that defines a 'classic': staying power. I've gone through countless mix CDs over the years, including most of the other GU series, and time and again I keep coming back to this as my favourite.



For some reason my CD is labeled as GU 001 and not 006... an import version perhaps?



Some people say that they prefer the mix in Disc 1 or Disc 2. For me there is no point comparing them as they are so different.



Cd 1 is a moody, somewhat tribal and atmospheric ride. You know when they say that the DJ sets the 'mood' of the dancefloor? Well this mix cd is the textbook example of how 'mood creation' is done. Each track is oozing with a dark, dirty atmosphere, the journey created and mixed to perfection by Digweed's track selection and ordering. The opening track 'Imagine' sets the steady pace and sombre mood of the mix set. Halfway through, the deadly trio of Shapeshifter's 'Flood', Astral Matrix's 'Towards Omega' and Danny Tenaglia's dark house classic 'Elements' merge to become some of the darkest, dirtiest, deepest sequence of grooves I have ever heard. 2 tracks on, Digweed drops Abundence's 'Spiritual', with a killer synth line that's sure to get your head bobbing. The trip ends with Albion's Air, props to Digweed for closing out a dark set with a trance classic. This is the slower of the 2 cds but it is also much more groove and feel oriented. Not the sort of stuff to jump around to, but definitely one to get your body shaking, and your head moving up and down. The beats are all in your head, perfect cd to listen to with your eyes closed.



Cd 2 is a different beast. It is faster. If Cd 1 has an intimate, small club, dirty house feel, this is more of a big club, floor stomping, acid trance atmosphere. Listening to how Digweed builds up the first 8 tracks is pure joy. Starting with the erratic breakbeats of Fatma Morgana's 'Apache Spur', he chugs along and gets faster, heavier, until the climactic release of Deepsky's 'Stargazer' with its mind boggling acid lines. I'm still amazed that Digweed is then able to seamlessly drop PVD's 'Words', at the same time a cool-down track yet another climax in its own way. Most people agree this is some of the best track sequencing ever made.



The common vein for both mix CDs: flawless mixing, epic momentum building, and impeccable track selection.



This is Digweed at his best and purest, all his other mix cds (including his other 2 GU releases for LA and Hong Kong) pales in comparison to this, his masterpiece. I highly recommend you experience this trip at least once, it will be one you never forget."

One of the best GU CDs

satisfraktion | 07/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Okay, first off, those of you people who gave this under 5 stars need help, and you should go back to listening to the Back Street Boys or whatever. This is by far Digweed's best CD, and one of the best GU's. It is one of the seminal works of trance. Digweed was slamming it hard back then, before he became "Sasha-fied." Sasha--perhaps even more overrated and overexposed than Oaky--has slowly sucked the soul and funk out of Digweed. [Yes, I do love the first and--especially--the second two Northern Exposure's, but that was when Digweed was still his own man and before Sasha got too rapped up in his own image.]



This is music to turn up loud and--gasp--dance to. (Remember dancing to electronic music? You go to a club nowadays and everyone just stands and watches the DJ spin--ooo, how fun!) More recent Sasha and Digweed releases are featureless, monotonous, unnecessarily academic and self-conscious, and TOTALLY lacking in rump-shaking and mind-melting grooves. Digweed's Sydney is thumping, pulsating, and full of wicked sinewy exotic atmosphere. You can feel the stuffy humid air of a dark warehouse party at 2am. This is the style that used to drive me and my friends crazy at Sporty & Nike parties in LA in the mid to late 90s. It remains one of the gospels of trance.



Sure, we've all heard Filter, Air, Words, Elements, and a few other tracks before. But they work great in Digweed's mix here. Track selection is brilliant. And that's what mix CD's are all about--the tracks. All else is irrelevant. Besides, this came out in '98, when those tunes were still fresh.



On Disc 1, Digweed builds the tension up through Wonky, the incomparable Filter, Flood, and a little Goa before reaching a climax with DT's mysterious Elements, then keeps us going before settling to a cool down with one of the great trance tunes ever, Albion's Air. As good as Disc 1 is (itself a 5-star CD), Disc 2 is legendary. Oh...my...gawd. After a warmup, we quickly get caught up in Digweed's greatest "suite" of tracks that ramps up mammothly from the cool and coy Rub-a-Dub through to the relentless drive of Steel Blue and Stargazer, constantly taking you to a new level just when you think it is impossible to go any higher. When the mix of Words comes in, it is like just finishing the greatest thrill ride of your life. You want to applaud the brilliance of those last 6 tracks.



I give this my strongest recommendation. Others to check out in the series that compete with Sydney as the greatest GU: Tony DeVit's Tokyo (long live TdV and NuNRG!), and Nick Warren's Brazil, Budapest, and Amsterdam. And for one man who still keeps it real, providing intense danceable prog trance for the masses, Christopher Lawrence."

Will take you places...

G. Neogy | San Diego, CA | 02/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well-first I'd like to say that the guy who wrote the 2 star review, must have been listening to the cd at some construction zone, while the workers were drilling cement. This is nowhere near to being repetitive. In fact-every song has a slightly different taste of the electronica/ambient genre. This is the most amazing cd I own,and I own roughly 30. I got the album 5 hours ago, and listened to the whole thing(start to finish), the way it was meant to be listened to.



This album, is absolutely phenomenal. It will take you places, and great for reflecting on your life, and just think about life. There is SO much energy in 'Apache' I was amazed.



For some people who may be a little new to the massive world of electronica, this may be too much for you. This cd is for sophisticated listeners only. If you're looking for an electronica cd that you can beat to right away, and just fast-foward to any part of any song and start jamming. This aint for you. Although, 5 or 6 songs are totally packed with energy, the rest needs to be 'logically' listened.



The remix of 'Elements' by Digweed is awesome. I have the original song by Danny Tenaglia as well and Digweed did an awesome job of emphasizing certain rhythym without killing it or losing its originality.





I highly recommend this, to any electronica fan who is getting bored with the same shpiel. Thankyou Digweed, you've introduced me to a whole new world..."