Search - Sander Kleinenberg :: Nu Breed 4

Polished, with suprises, another Nu Breed must-have

Richard Diaz | 04/22/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There's something exhilarating about a Nu Breed release. It's not just the quality or breaking vinyl-exclusives, standards for all the Global Underground releases. It's the feeling that these Nu Breed spinners are trying a bit harder to carve out their niche, exploring the boundaries of house music with their judicious selections. Previously, Anthony Pappa peered into a cloud of driving, tripped-out trance, Steve Lawler delved the tribal rhythms, and here Sander Kleinenberg effortlessly shifts through the house beat in all its conventions.Asian inflections fused to bass flow smoothly and slowly for openers, a luxury of having over two hours to work with. He proudly defies pigeonholes, from the crisp tech crackle of Purple `Money Shot,' to the needle-grinding Banco De Gaia standout `Obsidian' (think `That Zipper Track' with soaring vocal). Plenty of buffed-clean house and inventive percussion (Gintare's `Trancenavigation') prepare listeners for a plunge into heavier progressive numbers that close both discs. And of course the feat wouldn't be complete without one of Kleinenberg's own pieces, `Hidden Agenda,' showcasing the production skills that brought his name to attention in 1999. The set never really peaks (to be expected of Global releases these days), but balances the pacing quite well throughout; no disc one warm-up plate here. Polished and hiding surprises, Kleinenberg produces a must-have for this series' followers, and another welcome discovery to the new crop of DJs."

Refreshing, groovy and wild percussion! This gem stands out

Steven Nicolaou | Boston, MA | 12/17/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Producer Sander Kleinenberg's debut DJ album was an apt inclusion under the Nu Breed series. I wouldn't say it's so much genre defying, as it is genre defining. Sander spins in a league of his own that doesn't blur the lines between genres, but instead creates a new one miles away from the others. Upon hearing it the first time it was one of those CD's that had me scratching my head in search for a word to describe it. For those of you who own Lee Burridge's Nu Breed, you'll know what I mean. I wouldn't say it's progressive trance or progressive house because I don't think it's progressive at all. It's a mix of groovy trance and creative percussion that blends into a fast and solid compilation. What impresses me most with Kleinenberg's track selection is the impressive and wild percussion (eg Onyx1 & Trance Navigation). Contrary to the long and complex buildups seen with other DJ's, Kleinenberg's sound is more spirited, with little patience for slow buildups and more interest in wild spins and full-throttle mixing. Those of you who are used to the occasional treat of hushed undertones, fluid landscapes, etheral strings and haunting melodies are in for a confusing surprise. This is why it's hard to appreciate the first time and takes a while for it to grow on you. The razor sharp, sterilised, industrial beats control a swift succession of groovy sounds and dispassionate vocals into a refreshingly unique compilation that may not be the best to dance to, but is certainly worth rocking your house with. If you can appreciate the quality and variety in the rest of the Global Underground series, such as Danny Tenaglia's GU017, Darren Emerson's GU020, Deep Dish's GU021 and John Digweed's GU019, then this album will make a unique gem in your collection. If you're looking for another anthemic floor filler, look elsewhere."

Like that bag of exquisite potato chips...

yosh | Chicago, IL USA | 08/21/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album is like that bag of exquisite potato chips. You know... the kind that would be served aside your filet mignon in a nice restaurant. It might have some eggplants or carrots mixed with it. With the first bite, you think that it's disgusting and unpalatable. You would much rather go with the artificially flavored Doritos or Pringles you are so accustomed to. But for some unexplainable reason, you keep on eating the chips. And by the time you've finished, you find them to be quite satisfying.This NuBreed set is just that. Sander Kleinenberg flavors his set using tracks of subliminal melody and raw bassline, yet with just the right amount of spice to keep his listeners interested. There is a rich array of condiments, from the spoken dialogue of Zinger Meats Spry, new-age guru Art of Noise, club smash "Scorchio", to even Kleinenberg's own "Hidden Agenda". Don't expect to like this on the first sampling, because the odds are that you won't. It took me two weeks after purchase to start appreciating its subtle nuances (after I burnt out Max Graham's "Transport 4"). Even though I'm still not too reluctant for deep house (I still like Seaman's melodic progressive), Sander Kleinenberg proves to be one of the brightest new DJs around. So even if you didn't like Nick Warren's "Amsterdam" or Digweed's "Los Angeles", give this one a spin for its creative mixing. Cheers."