quote:

Originally posted by spc I'm gonna keep bumping this thread for awhile lol. I'm listening to Digweed's 95 EM you linked right now and I absolutely love it! Sasha & Maria - Be As One just started getting mixed in and I started spazzing out since it's one of my favorite vocal trance tunes. (On a sidenote I wonder how much of a hand BT had in this production) Anyway if I keep finding more stuff similar to this, I might end up making an "epic house" mix too.

the transition from "Daphne - Change" to "Be as one" is legendary

quote:

Originally posted by Nostalgic the transition from "Daphne - Change" to "Be as one" is legendary

Yeah, I've tried mixing with "Be As One" and it's not very dj friendly for me... when I heard it coming in I thought to myself, "how in the fuck is he doing this proper in 95 and I can't even do it with all this technology today"

Anyway, all I've been doing this week is listening to epic house from this era with the occasional Radiohead and Apparat... I'm going to try and make an epic house mix later on this week, though it will definitely be nowhere near as good as this mix. What I do know is that Sunscreem - Perfect Motion (Boys Own Mix) is def gonna be on my mix fooooo' sho.

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

quote:

Originally posted by spc What I do know is that Sunscreem - Perfect Motion (Boys Own Mix) is def gonna be on my mix fooooo' sho.

Ah hell. I was planning to use that for my classic prog set I mentioned earlier. Get out of my head.

___________________
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/

Alright, I've listened to this one twice again now since you posted this (keeping it in mind while listening)....

quote:

Originally posted by SYSTEM-J I don't post sets because I don't consider what I do proper DJing, in particular when it comes to buying music. I don't really trawl to find individual tracks and develop a unique style. I don't have that mindset. Musically (although not technically), this set is a homage to Sasha and Digweed circa 1995, and I've not hidden that.

...and what consistently came to mind was the realization that I'm beginning think compilations/sets/etc. should be done by people with this mindset as opposed to who you're deeming "proper DJ's."

I guess I'm starting to think the difference between the mindset you describe above and someone who's working to play out on a regular basis is the risk of a labor of love becoming simply labor. For the working DJ, staying relevant may become something that feels more like work and less like fun if what it takes to stay relevant isn't compatible with your tastes or standards - and a decision inevitably needs to be made as to whether or not continuing these efforts is worth worth one's time. I imagine this is part of the reason why the shear number of "DJ's" is so large yet the number of them who really stick with it past a year or two is so small.

This, on the other hand, and the frame of mind it seems it would take to create it, could never be anything less than a labor of love - and that's the reason it is as good as it is. Not only are the tunes instantly identifiable as at the very least sounding "classic" (if not just out and out qualifying as classics), but regardless of how long it took you to put together, it just sounds well thought out - like something that consciously or not you may have been working on since you've heard these tracks. There aren't too many mixes or compilations I listen to in a given year that fit that description, I really wish there were more.

And if you get a classic Leftfield/Underworld set done I can almost guarantee you I'll be a fan.

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last minute disco dot net

quote:

Originally posted by RJT Alright, I've listened to this one twice again now since you posted this (keeping it in mind while listening).... ...and what consistently came to mind was the realization that I'm beginning think compilations/sets/etc. should be done by people with this mindset as opposed to who you're deeming "proper DJ's." I guess I'm starting to think the difference between the mindset you describe above and someone who's working to play out on a regular basis is the risk of a labor of love becoming simply labor. For the working DJ, staying relevant may become something that feels more like work and less like fun if what it takes to stay relevant isn't compatible with your tastes or standards - and a decision inevitably needs to be made as to whether or not continuing these efforts is worth worth one's time. I imagine this is part of the reason why the shear number of "DJ's" is so large yet the number of them who really stick with it past a year or two is so small. This, on the other hand, and the frame of mind it seems it would take to create it, could never be anything less than a labor of love - and that's the reason it is as good as it is. Not only are the tunes instantly identifiable as at the very least sounding "classic" (if not just out and out qualifying as classics), but regardless of how long it took you to put together, it just sounds well thought out - like something that consciously or not you may have been working on since you've heard these tracks. There aren't too many mixes or compilations I listen to in a given year that fit that description, I really wish there were more. And if you get a classic Leftfield/Underworld set done I can almost guarantee you I'll be a fan.

I've never agreed with you more! Very well said!

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Fortuna Favet Fortibus.

quote:

Originally posted by RJT This, on the other hand, and the frame of mind it seems it would take to create it, could never be anything less than a labor of love - and that's the reason it is as good as it is.

You're right that my mixes are a labour of love, because I don't usually share them and don't usually play for them anyone for myself. I don't get paid for them, I don't get kudos for them. The only reason to make them is for myself, because I love the music and want to hear it.

However, I believe that this is probably because it's a classics set. Classics to me, and to a certain extent to everyone else as well. I'm paying respects to music I love, and that has to be a labour of love. Would I get the same effect if I'd tried making a set out of new tracks that haven't had their histories already written? Hell no. My set would be horrible, because I couldn't just go to the classics and pay loving respect to them. I'd have to dig up my own tracks. It'd change the whole dynamic of the set.

Perhaps the best sets by proper DJs are the ones that encapsulate this "labour of love" feel with new music. You have to find a sound you really love, where you can make the set purely for yourself out of tracks you just want to hear in a set. And to do that, you've gotta dig.

___________________
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/

You raise a good point, I guess I just think that even in the realm of "classics sets" this stands out - which is an impressive feat when you look at all the supposed sets of classics that wind up being about as predictable as wagering I'm going to have a cup of coffee in the morning - generally speaking, "safe bets."

I think your modesty is outstanding, but I'll definitely take spc's lead and continue to try and keep this on the front page - it's a good bit of music for both casual fans to hear a bit of history (and it's clear influence on modern house, techno, etc.), and for those of us who may need a reminder every once in a while that playing records is about having a good time playing the music you love - and really shouldn't ever become anything other than that.

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last minute disco dot net

Thanks. I'm being modest because my intention was simply to let people hear and enjoy the music. I wasn't expecting anyone to focus on anything I'd done. For me, the reason this mix is good is because in 1995 people made some fucking brilliant records, and I just wanted everyone to remember that.

___________________
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/

Now, this I like! Ever since I heard Sasha's Essential Mix from 1995 about a year ago I've been looking for music like this. And the mixing is really good to. Good work.

quote:

Originally posted by SYSTEM-J Thanks. I'm being modest because my intention was simply to let people hear and enjoy the music. I wasn't expecting anyone to focus on anything I'd done. For me, the reason this mix is good is because in 1995 people made some fucking brilliant records, and I just wanted everyone to remember that.

Mission accomplished.

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last minute disco dot net

quote:

Originally posted by RJT I guess I'm starting to think the difference between the mindset you describe above and someone who's working to play out on a regular basis is the risk of a labor of love becoming simply labor. For the working DJ, staying relevant may become something that feels more like work and less like fun if what it takes to stay relevant isn't compatible with your tastes or standards - and a decision inevitably needs to be made as to whether or not continuing these efforts is worth worth one's time. I imagine this is part of the reason why the shear number of "DJ's" is so large yet the number of them who really stick with it past a year or two is so small.

This is something I've been struggling with lately, since I had my heart in progressive, and naturally dug out music I wanted to play because I loved the music. After 2004 or so, when trance became insufferable and progressive became uncool, I didn't feel invested in the same way, and my sets lost their sparkle. Even when I pieced together ten blippy records I found passable, it was obvious that something intangible and passionate was missing from the product.

Privately, I've been rummaging through old 95-02 sets, such as those recently posted in the Sasha Archive thread, recapturing all that used to inspire me. Sure, there are tracks familiar to me, but it's the ones I don't know that really make me stop and wonder if I should just mine the past rather than forcing myself into the present. Could I make old records pass in public, without admitting a retro tendancy? Would people notice or care? Maybe not, so long as I love what I'm playing. There's plenty to be uncovered from that era, records as new to me as the freshest cut from Beatport. The hard part is that they're difficult to find. Could the scheme work?