Yeah, I know. That's when it got really cheeky. I think you should've played the original of Starlight. I love Atkins' stuff from the mid/late 90's in general. It sounds so carefree, yet also futuristic at the same time. You just don't get that anymore.
I don't really see much in the original version of Starlight, in all honesty. The Echospace Unreleased Mix just makes it completely redundant. That version actually goes perfectly into Intex Systems - Absorb (you can hold the mix for five minutes if you so desire), but would have made little sense following on from The Astrophysical Nebula.
Incidentally, I think the difference between the Echospace Unreleased Mix of Starlight and the Deepchord Mix is an instructive divide between what I consider brilliant dub techno and paint-by-numbers Modell aural fog dub techno. I wish they would release an album in the vein of the former, rather than in the latter.
EDIT: I've never really listened to the other mixes on the re-release before now. Some serious quality on there, and on Spotify the tracks segue nicely into each other. Echospace -> Soultek -> Convextion -> Mike Huckaby -> Echospace Dub is as good a half hour of dub techno as I've ever heard.
I should label this mix time and waste of space on this dumb website of trance.
Dec-22-2012 02:51
Dykes_on_Jay
Ape me.
Registered: Aug 2012
Location: Shenzhen LBC
It was a good listen Jack. No need to get deeper.
___________________
Freak Out Tóng Zhì
Dec-22-2012 07:45
JonDC
Supreme tranceaddict
Registered: Mar 2007
Location: Birmingham
Superb mix, this is. Really enjoyed the opening and the first dnb track - I'm always impressed by your ability to merge tracks of completely different genres like that.
The only tune I didn't really get on with was the final dnb track before it moves in to prog - I just didn't feel like it fitted that well with everything else because it is far less melodic. I might grow to enjoy it more after a few more listens though.
The prog section was really good - I found it quite groovey whilst still maintaining the lush atmosphere. The highlight was without question 'The Astrophysical Nebula'. That track is just sheer beauty. It doesn't work on an dancefloor at all - I've seen John open a set with it and everyone was just stood around. It's perfect for this type of set though!
Full marks anyway - I'll re-listen again and again
Jan-02-2013 10:55
SYSTEM-J
IDKFA.
Registered: Sep 2003
Location: Manchester
Astral Soul is admittedly something of a bridging track, but I also deliberately wanted to bring the mood down after the big epic drama of the intro, so I could build it back up in a new direction. The same is also true of the Intex Systems track - my only regret is perhaps that I edited such a great track down to an ambient tool, instead of just playing it.
Aw, I was hoping you would start with this, as made famous by Cass & Slide's Essential Mix:
The concept of this mix reminds me of the same space/atmosphere theme that Joe Claussell explored on Translate. However, that CD was marred by a load of pretentious spoken word, aimless synth and sample experiments and very strange track structuring. Not so here, where everything feels focused and determined, despite following a structure that isn't necessarily compatible with the original purpose of the music in it.
The whole "rhythmic intensity"-debate in this thread really seems irrelevant to me. After all, this is a mixtape based around a theme rather than a DJ mix for a dancefloor. The variation yet seamlessness of the structures around the space/atmosphere concept is the key here, as far as I'm concerned, and that concept is executed perfectly.
The bit after Time & Space until B12 didn't do a whole lot for me personally, as I don't rate any of the artists involved that highly, but other than that there isn't much I can put my finger on here.
Ah man, I forgot about that track. Would probably have used it as well. That was a bizarre Essential Mix indeed, especially from Cass & Slide of all people. Although possibly not as weird as that Claussell mix looks.
Thanks for listening anyway, and I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Really enjoyed this, all just worked really nicely, felt it was put together well, flowed, all the rest of it. Not really much need to say any more than that!
