Search - Various Artists :: Globus Mix 4: Button

Listener units will be pleased

Richard Diaz | 07/17/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It's a cold, precise dancehall inside the Mind of Daniel Bell. Movers and shakers will perform within the designated areas; Straight lines are to be maintained as the glittering disco cubes lower in the room. The minimal techno and house of Bell will proceed.It begins with the crackling tones of "Live at the Sahara Tahoe, 1973," warmed slightly by smooth synth lines. The currents of house blow in; before you know it you're grooving to "Synchro." System corrected; back to the music for automatons (nodded approval to several treats including Bell's own creations). A golem has snuck in the gears: the clanging of Herbert's "Dropped" and the future funk of Thomas Brinkmann's alien cocktail party "Karin." Something is happening... the robots are starting to shake to the crisp diva house of "Vybe" and Mono's "High Life." The old vinyl soul of "Feelin' Sad" is causing a commotion! Order must be maintained; emit the stripped dub of Round Four's "Found a Way." No use - concede - play the swaying, somber strings of "Detroit State of Mind."The listening units are pleased; Compact Disc quality is confirmed. B+"

My favorite techno mix to date.

Alex Hardy | San Diego, CA USA | 06/02/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Yes, folks, this is one of the best pieces of DJ work I have encountered on disc. Nothing flashy in the DJ style, but perfectly paced and exemplary of the spacial explorations that techno and house mixing can achieve. The tracks are amazing, combining the quirky and bleepy tech-style that has made Mr. Bell famous, stompy house rhythms formed from sharp percussive sounds, deep bass lines, and just enough futuristic weirdness to keep us on our toes. Some vocals are present, but used in a subtle and eerie way--never cheesy. My favorite tracks are those from London-based Herbert, who presents one of the rawest, most haunting rhythmic loops around in "Dropped." His remix of "Das Bisschen Besser" by Die Stern gives us a powerful glimpse at the quirky fragmentation of vocal and jazz elements as he molds a demented orchestra of disconnected sound built around a funky (but also strangely detached) bass line. Also check out the highly developed dub-style of the Basic Channel crew in Round Four's "Found A Way," which serves to wind down the mix by sending it out into a barren, reverberating space before Bell brings us back to earth with a contentedly reflective down-tempo epilogue about the spirit of Detroit. Bell has every right to acknowledge his home town, as he has surely done Techno-city proud with this outstanding presentation. Get this disc and enjoy the exploration..."