you don't need to forgive bedrock, you just have to accept it... the music isn't what it was. they aren't at fault though.

if there were other rival labels consistently shaming them in the quality departemt, then it would be bedrock who has dropped the ball - but i don't believe that to be true.

i think it's getting better though. i see sasha returning to a much more melodic state, and that means those kind of records are back in circulation.

although bedrock have taking a bit of a techno turn in recent years, i hope that's just the dying throws of the stripped-down phase. not that i dislike techno.

At no point did I ever fault Bedrock for the direction they've taken in adapting to a changing scene, and at no point did I ever express a refusal to accept this (on the contrary, I fully acknowledge it, albeit critically). And I also don't think Bedrock dropped the ball, as I don't believe the ball was ever in their court in the first place (nor in the court of any one label). Sure, they've remained a dominant and influential tech house label for years, but they didn't single-handedly dictate the musical trends that would be reflected in their compilations.

But all this context is barely relevant to me finding Bedrock on the dancefloor a mostly dull and flavorless experience that just doesn't warrant a committed listen. Mostly. To both illustrate an exception and answer your earlier question, one of the best tech house/techno compilations of the year (that was entirely worth listening to) just happened to be Digweed's 'Live In Miami:'

http://www.beatport.com/release/joh...n-miami/1303372

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He traded sands for skins, skins for gold, gold for life. In the end, he traded life for sand. Afari, Tales

i have his live in miami mix. didn't think it was any different to his other 'live in' CDs that he has been churning out recently, which weren't anything special (the usual few gems, as you said) ... still to give it a proper listen though.

also don't kock something before you try i.e. bedrock 11, i felt like that one was wall-to-wall quality (and a double disc) - some of the recent ones like the single-disc bedrock 14 only had ONE decent track, though it was fucking magnificent (robert babicz - eastside)

so the quality does seem all over the place. for my personal preference, anyway.

quote:

Originally posted by rubez also don't kock something before you try i.e. bedrock 11, i felt like that one was wall-to-wall quality (and a double disc) some of the recent ones like the single-disc bedrock 14 only had ONE decent track, though it was fucking magnificent (robert babicz - eastside)

I didn't knock it, I pointed out that it doesn't undermine what I said about very few Bedrock compilations being released in unmixed format, since it was only one example and would seem to support what I said (if you know of many other recent examples, feel free to bring them up).

The standout on 'Live In Miami,' for me, was this bomb:

___________________
He traded sands for skins, skins for gold, gold for life. In the end, he traded life for sand. Afari, Tales

no, bedrock 14 is the unmixed bedrock. it comes only in unmixed form. not only is it a single disc - but all tracks on it except one are shite. they didn't even have enough tracks to make one quality disc, never mind two.

bedrock 11 has 2 CDs (well, 3 - a bonus unmixed disc of selected tracks) you said you would disagree with my assertion that bedrock 11 was quality - without even hearing it! that sounds like knocking before you try.

also soundcloud doesn't work with this antiquated browser forced upon me - what's the track?

Last edited by rubez on Jul-17-2014 at 11:58

quote:

Originally posted by rubez no, bedrock 14 is the unmixed bedrock. it comes only in unmixed form. not only is it a single disc - but all tracks on it except one are shite. they didn't even have the tracks to make one quality disc, never mind two. bedrock 11 has 2 CDs (well, 3 - a bonus unmixed disc of the best tracks) you said you would disagree with my assertion that bedrock 11 was quality - without even hearing it! that sounds like knocking before you try.

Oh, that's right. My (intended) point was that even if I were to disagree with it, the ensuing conversation is as fruitless as any other 'why this music isn't as good as/is better than you think it is' conversation, and one that I'm certainly not willing to have.

quote:

Originally posted by rubez also soundcloud doesn't work with this antiquated brower forced upon me - what's the track?

Daniel Bortz- Pictures (Tuff City Kids remix)

___________________
He traded sands for skins, skins for gold, gold for life. In the end, he traded life for sand. Afari, Tales

Last edited by Paradox Lost on Jul-17-2014 at 12:05

quote:

Originally posted by Paradox Lost Well yeah, I'm referring to the compilation as a whole, which is relevant considering that very few of them are issued in unmixed format. There's always a gem or two to be found on any given Bedrock compilation, but their track-record throughout the past decade hasn't made listening to them from beginning to end a worthwhile endeavor. ...with the exception of the downtempo/chillout mix usually attached to their multi-disc compilations- something that I recall beginning with the first 'Layered Sounds' edition in 2004, and continues today with 'Structures' and anything that isn't a Digweed mix per se.

I don't know. For me the first disc of this is to downtempo what your average Bedrock disc is to tech - immacutately produced but ultimately bland tune-dodging fare, with two or three highlights (notably We Control Everything).

___________________
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 don't know. For me the first disc of this is to downtempo what your average Bedrock disc is to tech - immacutately produced but ultimately bland tune-dodging fare, with two or three highlights (notably We Control Everything).

Yeah, I admit even this one is a bit underwhelming for me as far as chilled Bedrock goes, despite still faring off well into the black; the best recent examples have been the downtempo selections on 'Structures' 1 and 2, and even on the Digweed & Muir 'Vs' compilation (that seemed to just arrive and disappear without much notice).

It's still really 'Layered Sounds' 1 and 2 that continue to hold up spectacularly well for me all this time.

___________________
He traded sands for skins, skins for gold, gold for life. In the end, he traded life for sand. Afari, Tales

Last edited by Paradox Lost on Jul-17-2014 at 12:42

Disc one of the first Layered Sounds is definitely a comedown classic. I've only heard the samples of that Vs downtempo disc but in my opinion it was completely forgettable. I was actually quite excited at the prospect of a whole disc of Digweed and Muir stuff I could use in that kind of set, but even the two minute excerpts bored me to tears.

___________________
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 rubez bedrock 11 has 2 CDs (well, 3 - a bonus unmixed disc of selected tracks) you said you would disagree with my assertion that bedrock 11 was quality - without even hearing it! that sounds like knocking before you try.

I have Bedrock 10, 11, and Structures; all hard copies. I use disc 1 of 10 to help me fell asleep occasionally. 11 and Structures were listened to once and immediately put onto a shelf. They blow.

quote:

Originally posted by rubez it isn't bedrocks fault the entire industry took a nose dive, quality-wise. they can only work with the talent available - and the genres trending in recent years (most notably minimal and it's offshoots) made good music harder to materialise - since everyone seems to follow the same pattern... anyone producing stuff that bedrock did 10 years ago just would not get any support. i'm interested... is there any contempory non-ambient compilations worthwhile listening to beginning to end? maybe you just aren't into club music?

There is a shit-ton of great club music being produced right now. Just none of it is being made by Bedrock. That is the sad thing - it used to be that almost every release was amazing, now every release is disappointing.

quote:

Originally posted by SYSTEM-J Disc one of the first Layered Sounds is definitely a comedown classic.

I always wished those tracks were released unmixed. I know they're only really sequenced, so it's not too hard to play around with them, but still. Absolutely beautiful stuff.

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Quarantine Classics Brunello di Montalcino (In Transit) Edition [Progressive Classics] (August 2020)
Quarantine Classics - Puligny-Montrachet Edition [Progressive Classics] (April 2020)
What Is Progressive Anyways? [Progressive House Classics] (November 2019)

all hard copies? does that make you an expert or something?