quote:

Originally posted by SYSTEM-J And I'm not discrediting the tracks because they are quite accessible and poppy. I'm not claiming "not accessible" is an important part of music. I'm arguing on your axis of discussion, so don't strawman me. You are the one who said the first CD is "deeper" and dismissed the second as mere "good dancefloor entertainment" that does nothing new simply because 4/4 house beats had already been mixed.

Well "deeper" can be interpreted in various ways, and I don't know what your interpretation is, but to me tracks like Cascade, O.B.E. and Satellite Serenade simply have no equivalent on the second disc, not because they are melodic listening music, but because they have multiple different faces to them. They don't just change layers over the 4x4 beat, they change in mood and tempo, use specific sounds, create different atmospheres... Cascade, for example, has that typical FSOL's ancient-futuristic dark-ish vibe to it. It's so complex (at least for that time) and well detailed, but at the same time so simple (mostly because of its main melody). You can almost imagine that shape (from its single cover) doing some wicked transformations Gantz Graf-style while you listen to it. O.B.E. on the other hand sounds extra spooky, atmosphere created there is unparalleled in pretty much everything I've ever heard... Pretty much every track has its distinctive flavour, uses characteristic sounds and has its own storyline behind the music. I simply can't hear that in tracks from disc 2 (except in Dark Train and Heliopolis) no matter how much I try. But to each his own, I guess. We are not all the same.

quote:

Originally posted by sljiva Well "deeper" can be interpreted in various ways, and I don't know what your interpretation is...

For me, deep music is music that is subtle, it has things going on that don't leap out at you, its mood is restrained rather than obvious. I think throughout the second disc there is this internal contrast between darkness, rhythm and bass, and really delicate beauty. I think it's much more accomplished as a DJ mix too, not just technically.

And there's something about Cascade on NE that just doesn't work for me. I really like the track, because it sounds lush and organic whilst simultaneously cold and eerie. But on the mix... I just don't like it. I don't really think it fits, I don't like the edit and its break sounds so leaden and insipid. In fact, with most of the tracks on disc one I think they sound better on their own.

EDIT: By the way, I think it's worth mentioning that I own quite a lot of early 90s music similar to what's on disc one, such as Lifeforms (and the Cascade single), Strange Cargo III, Last Train To Lhasa, the Guerrilla compilations, lots of lush downtempo and progressive house stuff. I'm sure you do as well, but for me that makes it sound less unique and individual.

___________________
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

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Last edited by SYSTEM-J on Oct-19-2009 at 23:55