You know, thinking back on this a bit now, I do have to say that I find myself a bit surprised to be realizing I'm enjoying "nostalgic" sets this much. Traditionally I would say that when I look at something that has a theme to it like "____ House" or "Anthems of ______" or whatever the devil else could be imagined, I instantly toss them off as replaceable, cookie cutter compilation style sets. And this is regarding both the compilations labels like MOS etc. put out as well as amateur tributes to specific sounds.

When you first put up "Spirit of '95", I really didn't think that at all - which I imagine is due to the past few years of interacting with you on TA, and just seeing how genuinely thoughtful you are regarding music. But that's the thing - these are those kinds of sets. They have a very clear direction, and as you say yourself, they aim to capture a part of EDM history that is in no way, shape, or form disposable. It's this last part that I'm fairly sure sets your attempts at tribute or nostalgia sets apart - because when your focus is on tracks that stand the test of time regardless of their commercial success, you come up with these kinds of awesome theme sets that are still as fresh and interesting sounding as when the music was new.

Inevitably it seems with other tribute or nostalgia sets, I like them superficially - they have no staying power at all in the long run. These don't, and I think that's pretty neat.

Sorry for the tangent in your thread, J - just came to me and figured of the majority of TA's, those posting in this thread might be the kinds of folks up to this kind of discussion.

___________________
last minute disco dot net

Relistening to the previous epic mixes recently helped restore my faith in dance music in a big way. That's saying a lot, because I was really getting sick of beaty stuffy for a while.

Loving this mix so far, too.

Mix was absolutely awesome. Makes me wish that I was around to hear this stuff in clubs when it first came out. Like Rob I was dancing in my chair.



This will definitely be going on a CD for my car.

quote:

Originally posted by RJT Inevitably it seems with other tribute or nostalgia sets, I like them superficially - they have no staying power at all in the long run. These don't, and I think that's pretty neat.

I think the main difference between these sets and most others is that they're not about the nostalgia so much as the tribute. Most people tend to make this kind of mix primarily to elicit a nostalgia response, especially with commercially released mixes. I think there's a huge, huge difference in the listening experience when it comes to hearing a track you've heard before and hearing a track you've never heard before. This is true with all music, but I've tried to give a new perspective: the music is old, but the listening experience is new. I don't think too many people try to do that with nostalgia/tribute sets: more often they're tributes to tracks rather than to styles.

If I'd make a late 90s prog trance tribute then it'd mainly just be reminding people of a style they're already versed in, at least on TA. Epic house is different because not too many of today's clubbers experienced it at the time, and it's since been dropped from the history books or referred to in biogs as a kind of naive, early-career time for the people responsible. So you approach a lot of it with genuinely fresh ears. And I do too. I'm 20. I was 7 years old in 1995 and I thought 2 Unlimited were shit hot. I've got the same fresh ears making the mix as people do listening to it. I'm not playing a track thinking "This was a fucking bomb back then", I'm thinking "This sounds great now, on its own merit".

So to sum up that rambling in a way that I hope makes sense: I'm not making these mixes as though it's old music. I'm treating it as though it's new music, because it's new to me.

quote:

Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles Mix was absolutely awesome. Makes me wish that I was around to hear this stuff in clubs when it first came out. Like Rob I was dancing in my chair.

That's what I think too. It makes me wish I was there. I'm really glad to hear that this stuff restored your faith a bit. I wouldn't want you fucking off from TA and leaving a big void in the good discussion stakes.

___________________
Mixes:
> Maximum Elevation [Progressive House]
> DI.FM 26th Anniversary Guest Mix [Progressive House]
> Live @ Dance:Love:Hub London, 11.10.2025
> Higher Peaks [Progressive House]
> Dance:Love:Hub Afterparty (The Return) 23.11.24

Like these sets? Come see me play live at Kibosh in Manchester: https://www.instagram.com/kibosh.mcr/

So I've listened to this at least 6 times since I picked it up and just never remembered to post my thoughts.

In one word: epic. The sets and the tracks truly live up to their monikers. The final installment in the series didn't fail to deliver either. I'm going to completely agree with Rob and say that Blue Amazon - Searching was when I just started chairraving like mad and didn't stop until the end. I think that in and of itself is awesome because each set in the trilogy has a section that I usually just rock out to with reckless abandon.

Overall, I really can't thank you enough for these mixes. They've shown me an era of edm that I was completely unaware of. I must also agree, I would absolutely kill to hear even just a night of this stuff in a club. As cliche as it is these days, I'd be stretching my hands in the air as high as I could while absolutely raving my face off to this stuff.

Thank you again for all your work, I can't wait to see what you've got coming up next.

quote:

Originally posted by SYSTEM-J 7. Shango - Bodyrock (Native Mix)

Holy smokes, hidden gem!

I still like the Epic Mix best, though I haven't listened this newly tweaked version.

I haven't listened to edm for almost 2 years and this mix is exactly what i was looking for. ahh those were the days.

I love it. give us more.

edit: I am talking about the Epic Mix.

Last edited by Cloud on Sep-03-2008 at 00:08

quote:

Originally posted by enydo Thank you again for all your work, I can't wait to see what you've got coming up next.

And thank you for the good words- really glad to have shown you a new part of EDM. It might be a while before I post another mix though.

quote:

Originally posted by Cobalt Holy smokes, hidden gem!

Yeah, I went digging into Jackpot and found that one.

quote:

Originally posted by Cloud I love it. give us more. edit: I am talking about the Epic Mix.

Heh. I'm giving away three mixes for absolutely free and you want more?

___________________
Mixes:
> Maximum Elevation [Progressive House]
> DI.FM 26th Anniversary Guest Mix [Progressive House]
> Live @ Dance:Love:Hub London, 11.10.2025
> Higher Peaks [Progressive House]
> Dance:Love:Hub Afterparty (The Return) 23.11.24

Like these sets? Come see me play live at Kibosh in Manchester: https://www.instagram.com/kibosh.mcr/

quote:

Originally posted by SYSTEM-J I'm giving away three mixes for absolutely free and you want more?

Yes!!! more! Your mixes are always on frequent rotation on my mp3 player at work.

Since it seems you're taking a break from making some mixes, can you recommend some of your favorite epic house album mixes? I'm not as familiar as I'd like to be with this sort of music, but I'm always constantly listening to:
Dave Seaman & Ian Ossia - Renaissance The Mix Collection Part 4 (CD1 is probably one of my all-time favorites. CD2 is also good but atrocious songs like Horse - Careful tend to kill the vibe)
Sasha & Digweed - Renaissance The Mix Collection
Sasha & Digweed - Northern Exposure (though not really epic house but truly awesome)

Even though it's not an album, I believe you also recommended Digweed's 95 Essential Mix in a previous thread months ago... love it

___________________
April 10: Late Night Suffern Train
June 09: Sohan's Double Fudge Brownie Mix
GUIDO FISTPUMP ANTHEMS MIX
lol@theinternet

Have you got the Renaissance Mix Collection Part 2? I reckon Digweed did a bit of a sloppy job on the mixing but there's loads of great tracks on there.

There's also the Jackpot mixed compilations: The Winning Ticket (Again mixed by Digweed)

Danny Howells Presents: Jackpot

If you're after Essential Mixes, any of Sasha or Digweed's from 1995, Blue Amazon's EM with Diggers in 1996, and the two by Dave Seaman and Brothers In Rhythm in 1996 should sort you out.

___________________
Mixes:
> Maximum Elevation [Progressive House]
> DI.FM 26th Anniversary Guest Mix [Progressive House]
> Live @ Dance:Love:Hub London, 11.10.2025
> Higher Peaks [Progressive House]
> Dance:Love:Hub Afterparty (The Return) 23.11.24

Like these sets? Come see me play live at Kibosh in Manchester: https://www.instagram.com/kibosh.mcr/

Of course.I would like some more mixes like this man. Send me the links or post them here.

Sweet, thanks for the recommendations. I was able to order a used copy of Danny Howells - Jackpot for about 3 bucks. I'll try and check out the others.

___________________
April 10: Late Night Suffern Train
June 09: Sohan's Double Fudge Brownie Mix
GUIDO FISTPUMP ANTHEMS MIX
lol@theinternet