quote:

Originally posted by Mattsanity Speaking of James Holden, his debut album got a 2/5 from one of the reviewers and people agreed. wow. https://www.discogs.com/Holden-The-...ng/master/24263

I can never work this 'album' out, although my opinion would tend to fall back to that of the reviewer. It would be a hell of a coincidence for the title not to be referencing the Chris Morris/Charlie Brooker TV show "Nathan Barley" from 2005, and yet the music inside seems to belong to exactly the kind of wanky, pretentious, hipster art scene that NB was parodying. The track "Intentionally Left Blank" is 2:05 of silence, for fucks sake.

But then, is this exactly what James Holden wanted me to think? He's got a reaction out of me, I played right into his hands. Arghhhhh.

Funny thing about Holden, he could have been an A-List prog DJ earning millions. But he jacked it all in for his own thing - highly experimental, odd music. And, from what I've heard, he's talked about the prog / club scene with great derision since. Respect I guess for sticking to his guns and doing his own thing, even if it's not to my taste.

quote:

Originally posted by Mainline Respect I guess for sticking to his guns and doing his own thing, even if it's not to my taste.

Same here, never was much of a Holden fan but I respect him for not being a cut and run scene chaser. Good on him.

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Help me ID these sets:
Sasha - Live @ Logic, Santa Monica, CA 12-21-97 - Groove 103.1 FM
John Digweed - Live @ Axis, Boston 28-07-1997



Old & New Electronic Music Channel
Soundcloud Mixes

quote:

Originally posted by hoopoe I can never work this 'album' out, although my opinion would tend to fall back to that of the reviewer. It would be a hell of a coincidence for the title not to be referencing the Chris Morris/Charlie Brooker TV show "Nathan Barley" from 2005, and yet the music inside seems to belong to exactly the kind of wanky, pretentious, hipster art scene that NB was parodying. The track "Intentionally Left Blank" is 2:05 of silence, for fucks sake. But then, is this exactly what James Holden wanted me to think? He's got a reaction out of me, I played right into his hands. Arghhhhh.

I don't even think my taste is 'advanced' enough to comment on the album. Props to those who are.

quote:

Originally posted by Mattsanity Speaking of James Holden, his debut album got a 2/5 from one of the reviewers and people agreed. wow. https://www.discogs.com/Holden-The-...ng/master/24263

If it's deserving of a higher rating, it isn't by much. Even by 2006, that snickering Border Community gibberish had grown quite tiresome, and it doesn't help that two of the album's three standouts already appeared months earlier on his At the Controls compilation.

2/5 is a bit harsh. But 2.5/5, 3/5? Yeah that's about right.

quote:

Originally posted by tranceCDs Sasha - Airdrawndagger

And possibly the worst marketed best album. I distinctly remember this this popping up in mainstream retailers with a bright 'The Most Anticipated Dance Music Album' of the year sticker plastered on the front, which no doubt would disappoint both fans and newcomers alike.

But I suppose that was inevitable, as this is just what happens whenever DJ's release artists albums, with an emphasis on the artist making an album full of club hits unworthy of such a solemn and introspective affair. Go in expecting GU: Ibiza, you're getting Airdrawndagger. Liked Nyana? Cool, enjoy Just Be.

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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

To be fair, I think in the case of Sasha the "most anticipated" bit was quite the appropriate thing to point out when it had become available. A lot of people will have struggled in the light of their particular "dance music" expectations.

I always thought the release of the Evolution album, about a year or two overdue with a sound practically nobody played anymore, on Nettwerk America of all places, must have been a mahoosive marketing mishap---basically launched into a void. (But it was nice to see it appear if only to finally have Solina...)

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quote:

He is a very talented musician and an enthusiastic entertainer but he can't mix two beers together with a bucket and a funnel.

quote:

Originally posted by SYSTEM-J In the spirit of trying to make another Mattsanity thread useful, here are ten trance(y) albums I consider genuinely good as a proper album listening experience, even if a couple veer towards progressive house: BT - Ima Paul Van Dyk - Seven Ways Chicane - Far From The Maddening Crowd LSG - Volume 2 Way Out West - Way Out West Blue Amazon - The Javelin Blue Planet Corporation - Blue Planet The Auranaut - People Want To Be Needed (The Album) 12 Moons - Solid State Cosmithex - Visions Of Sound Nome of these albums are remotely "cool", but at least no one can accuse me of anti-trance snobbery now.

I guess 2011 was the last hurrah in terms of good, cohesive trance albums.

Any decent arguments for that other than J's mention of Cosmithex?

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quote:

He is a very talented musician and an enthusiastic entertainer but he can't mix two beers together with a bucket and a funnel.

If you want to include trance on the psy side of things, artists like Astropilot, Cosmic Replicant, and Akshan (a lot of Altar Records, really) make solid albums, all released after 2011. I doubt that's what Mattsanity has in mind, tho'.

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Everyone has an opinion. Mine just happens to be a little more informed than most.
Electronic Music Critic: Near-Daily Ruminations Of Music I Own, In Alphabetical Order!

quote:

Originally posted by Sykonee If you want to include trance on the psy side of things, artists like Astropilot, Cosmic Replicant, and Akshan (a lot of Altar Records, really) make solid albums, all released after 2011. I doubt that's what Mattsanity has in mind, tho'.

Yes, but I would classify them more as psy-chill with a few uptempo cuts.

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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 In the spirit of trying to make another Mattsanity thread useful, here are ten trance(y) albums I consider genuinely good as a proper album listening experience, even if a couple veer towards progressive house: BT - Ima Paul Van Dyk - Seven Ways Chicane - Far From The Maddening Crowd LSG - Volume 2 Way Out West - Way Out West Blue Amazon - The Javelin Blue Planet Corporation - Blue Planet The Auranaut - People Want To Be Needed (The Album) 12 Moons - Solid State Cosmithex - Visions Of Sound Nome of these albums are remotely "cool", but at least no one can accuse me of anti-trance snobbery now.

Silly. spicelab - Lost In Spice is one of only good trance album. You are massive hippy and totally foolish.