Search - Kasey Taylor :: Balance 002

Fans of progressive dance music MUST get this!

Douglas A. Greenberg | Berkeley, CA USA | 02/10/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First of all, I hope I am reviewing the correct item here, as the recent Australian release by dj Kasey Taylor actually is entitled "Balance 002." It's too bad that this two cd mix set is apparently hard to come by through Amazon, since this is simply a first-rate recording that all fans of progressive dance music will enjoy. Kasey Taylor is not yet well-known outside of Australia, but he has previously released two excellent two cd mix sets on the Vapour Records label, "Vapourised" and "Vapourised Two." He also has become known among fans of progressive house and trance for his fine remixes under the pseudonym Ocean Wave. In this his third commercially released mix set, he definitely succeeds in equalling the high standards he set with his previous work.On the first cd, Taylor establishes a tight, rhythmic, hypnotic groove and carries it skillfully throughout the eleven mixed tracks. Most of what is included here will be familiar only to the most ardent fans of progressive. One fine track that has been used in other mixes is Jas' "Belly," which is featured prominently in Parks & Wilson's fine mix set, "Painting on Silence." Also, if listeners find Lisha's somewhat discordant "That's Why I'm Here" familiar, it may be because it was included in John Debo's recent "Logic Trance 5." The only truly weak musical passage for me in this mix is the marginally cheesy vocal section included in Paul Mac's "The Sound of Breaking Up." Fortunately, this sequence is very short, and aside from these uncomfortable few moments, the track is quite excellent.As is typically the case with 2 cd proggy mixes, the second set is darker, deeper, and a bit higher-energy. The mood becomes almost too dark midway through, with one of my least favorite tracks of 2001, Loki's nightmarish "NYCU," making yet another mixed-set appearance. Overall, however, there is little to complain about in this presentation, and Taylor's sequence and mixing are truly exemplary. Of particular note is the inclusion of a fresh remix by the talented Satoshi Tomiie of Future Sound of London's venerable "Papua New Guinea," definitely one of the most-remixed songs in dance music history. If you favor the "uplifting" trance sound played by DJ's like Ferry Corsten, this probably is not for you. But if you enjoy the darker, deeper, pounding kind of material played by the likes of John Digweed, Fred Numf, Taylor, Jimmy van M., Parks & Wilson, Sander Kleinenberg, John Debo, Quivver, and Sandra Collins, this is DEFINITELY a cd set you will want to track down and own, somehow, some way."

Not his best, but trance that may warrant consideration

Richard Diaz | 02/10/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The Balance series spotlights Australia's top-notch DJs, and there's certainly no denying that Kasey Taylor belongs in that elite class. His import-only "Vapourized" volumes were some of the best releases in the past two years, showing the man simply knows how to craft a soundscape that pulls you in. Balance 002 brings him to America, and opens with slinky, subdued "Lazy Monday," light synths shimmering about to slip you into the mood. The instrumentals weave together so well that when voices do speak, as with the dusky hues of Lexicon Ave's "From Dusk Till Dawn" and the soulful verses of Paul Mac's "The Sound of Breaking Up," they strike a deeper resonance. Yet there's disappointedly more filler than expected, with "Belly" a stuttering skip-over and "48 Days" a tad dry. The flip's brooding, heavily experimental, and requiring the proper mood to enjoy; "Possession's" decaying crackle and backward whispers (perhaps) tries too hard, followed with Infusion's equally disturbed "Fallen Angel." There's street traffic in Loki's "NYCU, " and "Faza" even shows a gasping breakdown. Giving you something actually catchy, the incredible Satoshi Tommie tribal rework of "Papua New Guinea" appears, with ethereal material from Tetraflux closing things out. Simply put, Balance isn't his best work. But as a showcase of an artist with a unique viewpoint on trance, and a glimpse of a man trying harder than most, it certainly warrants your consideration. 3.5 stars"