Elements Of Life (Latin Jazz Dub) - 'Little Louie' Vega
Beau Mot Plage (Freeform Reform Parts 1 & 2) - Isolee
Orixas - Saudacao Aos Orixas
True House (Eddie's Spirit Filled Beat Down Mix) - C & M Productions
Her Song - MKL Vs. Soy Sos
Passages - Tony Watson
Happiness (Soul Dharma Remix) - Sylk 130
Departure Lounge #2 - Departure Lounge
Blackbone Roots - Tedd Patterson
Love And Tears (Soul Creatures - Reworked Live Mix) - Aquarian Dream
Stereo (Glocal Communication Remix) - Stereo People
In the world of dance music, "West Coast" often translates to throw-your-glow-sticks-in-the-air epic trance. Thanks to Los Angeles DJ Marques Wyatt, that's beginning to change. Wyatt has spent the better part of the last 1... more »4 years spinning, booking, and evangelizing the soulful, house sounds that are normally relegated to clubs in Chicago and New York. Educated in the school of Frankie Knuckles house music, Wyatt favors uplifting, lyrical numbers. Sound Design shows Wyatt expanding his reach to other branches of the house-music tree. If you're coming to this CD expecting all divas all the time, think again--this mix is all over the map. Wyatt starts things off in familiar territory, with the heavily rotated club hit "Ain't No Runnin' Away," with diva Paula Ralph at the helm. After a Latin jazz remix of Little Louie Vega's "Elements of Life," Wyatt throws a curveball with Isolee's Beau Mot Plage. Lo-fi and even a bit noodly, this track is sure to have his house disciples scratching their heads. Recovering nicely from this passage into geekier realms, Wyatt brings everything back to the warm, soft center for which he is known best with a mellow groove from Saudacao Aos Orixas. Hats off to Marques Wyatt, one of house music's bravest crusaders, for this brave yet party-friendly outing. --Courtney Reimer« less
In the world of dance music, "West Coast" often translates to throw-your-glow-sticks-in-the-air epic trance. Thanks to Los Angeles DJ Marques Wyatt, that's beginning to change. Wyatt has spent the better part of the last 14 years spinning, booking, and evangelizing the soulful, house sounds that are normally relegated to clubs in Chicago and New York. Educated in the school of Frankie Knuckles house music, Wyatt favors uplifting, lyrical numbers. Sound Design shows Wyatt expanding his reach to other branches of the house-music tree. If you're coming to this CD expecting all divas all the time, think again--this mix is all over the map. Wyatt starts things off in familiar territory, with the heavily rotated club hit "Ain't No Runnin' Away," with diva Paula Ralph at the helm. After a Latin jazz remix of Little Louie Vega's "Elements of Life," Wyatt throws a curveball with Isolee's Beau Mot Plage. Lo-fi and even a bit noodly, this track is sure to have his house disciples scratching their heads. Recovering nicely from this passage into geekier realms, Wyatt brings everything back to the warm, soft center for which he is known best with a mellow groove from Saudacao Aos Orixas. Hats off to Marques Wyatt, one of house music's bravest crusaders, for this brave yet party-friendly outing. --Courtney Reimer
CD Reviews
Bad Rollercoaster
Oliver J. Little | San Francisco, CA, USA | 08/23/2000
(2 out of 5 stars)
"For those who have heard Marques Wyatt spin live, this CD is a disappointing effort. His record selection is eclectic and interesting, but the actual mixing/the sequence of tracks is spotty and seems... disorganized. The mix opens with warm vocal house, then quickly veers into more abstract territory. The change is abrupt and disorienting. By track 5, the mix seems to be back on its feet with the track "Orixas," one of the real standouts on this album. However, from here on out the record selection seems to have little direction... Marques had a grab bag of good records, mind you, but his choices still seem totally random. He throws down with a series of house tracks that are all fine on their own, but together don't create any consistent vibe. The listener doesn't get the sense that there was any care taken to create a work that builds up or sustains energy... isn't that what a good house set is all about? Maybe you'll find something in the mix that I didn't; you might even really like it. And don't get me wrong... an eclectic selection of records can be a great thing. After all, house music is widely varied... some deep and funky, some harder and tech-y, some atmospheric and abstract. While this album does well to show that there is an array of styles of house out there, it fails to show that they can be put together effectively. Sound Design Vol. 1 has its stylistic ups and downs, but this rollercoaster is no fun."
What Are People Talking About?
The Groove | Boston, MA | 07/07/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I've been reading the below reviews from people who have dismissed this house CD as being too eclectic and not a consistent mix of grooves. This is really a CD you don't want to review until you've listened to it at least twice. Does Wyatt's "Sound Design" stray off course slightly with grooves that may be "out there?" Yes, but I'd rather have a DJ challenge me with something new than a DJ that remains in their comfort zone without breaking new ground. "Sound Design," despite this minor concern, is an overall seamless mix of standard soulful vocal house, Latin influences, jazz vibes, and a few instrumentals, and the whole thing works well. While the disc isn't flawless, it certainly doesn't deserve the cool reception some people give it. It's a well-above-average disc that's a welcome addition to my collection of dance music."
Don't believe the hype.
M&M | Virginia, US | 03/13/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Over rated CD, nothing great here, deserve 3 stars max for this album."
Ehhh...
Zain Rashid | Irving, TX United States | 05/03/2002
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Started out good, sounded like it was going right, only to find out it makes a left, then veers slightly to either side, then... I don't know... I guess the "Does Your Mama Know" crowd knows better than I, oh well."
Best house album ever.....................................
M. J. Schmitt | montana | 11/06/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you want the same old love gone bad diva with a one word name disco cheese dodo, don't buy this album. It kicks from beginning 'till the end with real music done house style. To the folks who who can't figure it out, I don't know what to say..........."
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1