Search - Scott Henry :: Buzz: Politics of Sound

Seen him many times, but no more at Buz

cortney | VA, USA | 09/23/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you've ever seen Scott Henry play live, you know the show is not to be missed. Ditto for the music on CD. Unfortunately, due to increased "military pressure" and the newly enacted Rave Bill, we will never see him play at Buz again, because it has shut down. Like it's gone down countless times in the past (I'm specifically referring to the 1960's), youth-centered recreational music enjoyment has come under fire from the military, and the music so many enjoy has been deemed synonomyous with drug use. And once again, the officials making the decision to close down electronic music facilities have never set foot inside a rave and have never seen the sheer joy (not drug-induced) that comes from the music itself. If you've ever heard trance, drum n' bass, and the like, you know exactly what I am talking about. Once again, government interference and widespread misconception has prevented the youth culture from expressing themselves and enjoying themselves and each other through the music. Buz was first because it was so large and well-known. Soon others will fall to the hypocrisy of the federal government, which promotes free speech and assembly yet takes it away when the kids get too rowdy.So, enjoy the music while you can, before they come and take the CD right out of your hands."

Fine progressive mix, but a bit behind the curve

Douglas A. Greenberg | Berkeley, CA USA | 09/26/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Scott Henry, resident dj at Washington D.C.'s Buzz Club, has deservedly earned a reputation as one of the nation's best progressive club dj's, and this is reflected in the smooth sequencing and mixing on his new cd. Henry has crafted a musical journey that weaves, dances, and swirls its way smartly from start to finish. Anyone who enjoys the deep, hypnotic progressive house/trance sound will find the twelve tracks that comprise this disc to be easy on the ears.There are, however, some negatives. The extended spoken sample in "You Are Sleeping" is not something that many of us will want to listen to repeatedly; consequently, once its initial impact has been digested, its function forever after seems mainly to bring the beat and groove to a temporary standstill.A more significant problem is that Henry apparently neglected to check out the competition before assembling and releasing this mix. In a market that has become (surprisingly) crowded with progressive dj mixes over the past year or two, it's certainly advisable that a dj do his or her darnedest to unearth new or otherwise undiscovered tracks and mixes to render the finished product distinctive and original. However, Henry has gone ahead and included a number of tracks that already have received a LOT of play over the past year or more. The Utah Saints' "Lost Vagueness" is featured prominently on Paul Oakenfold's "Travelling" mix; Tarrentella's "Karma" has been a veritable track *du jour* in mid-2001, included on a number of recent progressive mixes. Ditto for Funky Junction vs. KC Flight's "Voices," as remixed by Pete Heller. Perhaps worst of all, the Humate mix of Schiller's "Ruhe" has been kicking around for over a year and doesn't belong on any mixes released in August 2001. The remix of Luzon's "The Baguio track" included as a finale by Henry is a new one, but that song's sound overall remains so reminiscent of previous versions that it veritably cries out "soooo last year.""The Politics of Sound" can be recommend for people who don't buy a lot of progressive mixes, as the repetition of much-used tracks will hardly bother them. It also will appeal to people who are "progressive completists," i.e., people who want ALL of the better mixes released within this subgenre (guilty as charged). Finally, people who are fans of Henry on the basis of his regular club appearances in D.C. will certainly want to own this disc. For people seeking out new/different music reflecting the cutting edge of the progressive style, however, this may be a release to avoid."