More than excellent
R. Friesel Jr. | Burlington, VT USA | 12/27/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This CD continues to prove its worth to me. I've had it for quite some time now and it hasn't gotten old yet. The two CDs in this set converge, yet are distinct from each other at the same time and this set serves (I feel) as a milestone and measuring stick for the Global Underground series, as well as mixCDs in general.Disc one is the more adventurous of the two. It begins with an ethereal tone, floating inward from silence with "Imagine" before exploding into straight out trance with "Blu Savannah" only for Digweed to take the mix and ground it in a much grittier, heavier style of music. I am hesitant to label the tracks sandwiched between the Liquid Language track and the closer by Albion with a style. They don't quite seem to be trance. Nor deep house. Nor hard house. A deep techy hard melodic housey trance...? Regardless, the mix is expert and bold and for as much throttling of the ears and the soul that the middle portion does, he lets everyone off easy with a club classic: "Air" by Albion.Disc two is a little more predictable, a little more formatted. Easier to pin down, I'd say it's progressive trance -- but solid, building up nicely, exploding, then coming down. It kicks off well enough with that "Apache Spur" (which happens to have one of the catchiest basslines I've ever heard), peaks early with "Release", dips down and gets a bit techy for a few tracks until it blows up again with "Stargazer" and "Words" -- going off on an arguably psychedelic tip. Following "Words," the CD takes a turn as if it were headed back to the sound exhibited on the first disc, hitting you one last time with an unheard of mix of "Keep Hope Alive" and then bubbling out with "Out of It."Overall, excellent and a good CD to keep around as a benchmark by which to measure the performance of others. Of Digweed's available mixCDs, I am undecided which to suggest above all others. If you own none, buy the "Bedrock" set first -- it's more eclectic. And when it comes down to this one versus Hong Kong -- flip a coin. You'll be equally pleased. Just remember, while Sasha often gets more hype -- Digweed is the man to watch."
Digger strikes again
CloudMan | 03/01/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"i just want to starts things off saying that John Digweed is the most underated dj. This compilation truly shows why he is a true pioneer of trance.Cd1 starts off mellow then it gets really dark and trippy typical digweed style it ends with a mellow version of albion-air.Cd2 starts of slow on track one then it picks up from there and every track just grabs at you keeps you on your feet you just cant stop listening to it.His mixes are flawless, track selection very good expecially cd2.1st cd sets up the mood perfectly for cd2. I personally was disapointed with the bedrock album but this album definitely made up for those flaws.Great album you should definitely buy if your a digweed fan or even a fan of darker more trippy type trance.I also recommend his hong kong album another great one."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1