Various Artists ‘Balance 018: Nick Warren’

Various Artists / Balance 018: Nick Warren

CD

Balance / Released April 25th 2011

 

What does it sound like?

Deep, and sometimes dark, trance-infused house music that some call prog. Though this is one of the forefathers of that sound, transported onto one of the planet’s foremost modern techno mix series, and as such expect more melody minus vocal than hands in the air stadium fillers.

Die-hard fans will be pleased the classic ‘toughening up’ process is inherent across both CDs, with the first taking some time to state its true intentions and driving us to a harmonious conclusion, before the second picks up from there, and then takes us into more hypnotic, early morning territory. Way Out West man Warren’s ability to blend music musically is showcased to great effect, developing groovers into spankers, while never appearing without warmth.

Where would I dance to it?

It’s mixed, and should be heard as its creator intended. With that in mind perhaps the frontroom at 6am.

What highlights can I expect to hear?

The Tribe Has Spoken from Flord switches the dreamy, shuffling tempo disc one opens with up about six gears, and as such stands out by a mile. Emerging from the depths, hoovers blaring, it takes a few minutes for the relentless energy of the techy, vocal and horn monster to materialise, but when it does there’s no denying the power. And the same mix also boasts Eelke Kliejn’s Monkey Movin’, a track with a military bassline and sirens that, when the heavy kicks drop, is as much of an assault as that description implies.

Flip it, or rather swap the CD, and find Let’s Take A Walk, Beat Factory’s barritone-driven roller setting the pace early on, complete with slapped percussion and soaring filtered synth. Which is closely followed by the pounding kicks, inaudible female cries and industrially edged cymbals that dominate Lank’s Ain’t No Problem. Further down the line Bristol Warm is Yamil Colucci’s latter day ode to hands in the air, as classic keyboards and rave organs play cat and mouse with the beat structure, while a chugging groove flows beneath. And, finally, Aragorn, from Solee, is a straight up trip back in time to mainrooms of yesteryear, falling somewhere between Kompakt Extra and Hooj.

Why should I pay for it?

Packaging, artwork, tracklisting… it cost money to make…

Where can I buy it?

It’s a Balance album, so the high street, and online stores like Juno and Chemical Records.


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