Search - D:Fuse :: Progressive Mix Session 1.0

Not perfect, but a welcome dose of percussive trance

Douglas A. Greenberg | Berkeley, CA USA | 04/05/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In his third full-length cd release, Austin-based dj Dustin Fuslier (D:Fuse) offers listeners a quality, take-no-prisoners, high-energy mix of rhythmic, hard-driving progressive house and trance that merits repeated listenings. The mix starts off with the seemingly obligatory short "weird, ambient-type warm-up," which frankly I could do without (these types of intros work far better in live settings than in cd's designed for repeated play). After that, however, Fuslier gets things cooking in a hurry with Aussie Kasey Taylor's (aka Ocean Wave) remix of Black Dove's "Capsule." The following portion of the mix is the strongest part of the cd, I think, with highly rhythmic yet also trancey selections that are in keeping with the darker style du jour among more underground trance dj's. The sequencing and mixing in this portion of the presentation are absolutely superb.The middle of the mix suffers a bit, in my opinion, in its inclusion of tracks like "Dutch Drumming Attack" in which nearly unaccompanied percussion is the central (and almost sole) feature. Again, this type of passage within a mix works well in a live setting, but not is not as effective with a cd designed for oft-repeated playings. Fortunately, things quickly return to the more textured and yet hard-driving progressive style, and the rest of the journey is enjoyably hynotizing until the last two tracks. Following the example set by Sandra Collins in her "Tranceport 3," D:Fuse chooses to finish the set with two "uplifting, melodic" trance tracks, perhaps figuring this is an appropriate "ending to the journey." I disagree; I think the turn toward this more formulaic (and in my opinion, overworked and tired) style of trance weakens the impact of the earlier musical statement Fuslier has worked so hard to establish. Overall, however, this is a fine release by a fast-rising star in the still sadly low-profile world of progressive dance music. If Fuslier continues to spin high-quality, high-energy sets like this one, he'll make us all change our minds about the apparent incongruity of a trance dj wearing a cowboy hat while he works the decks."

One of the best of 2001. so far.....

John Gauthier | Toronto Canada | 04/19/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"d fuse is back with his third cd and it his best by far. driving bass lines of deep dark dirty progressive house/trance, nothing beats it. the only bad part about the cd is the intro which in my opinion isn t nessasary. after the into the fun begins. d fuse wastes no time to kick it into gear and the mix is off and running. its hard 2 find quality cds like this. I saw d fuse live with oakey and he put on a awsome set similar to this cd. This one and digweeds new G.U are the best of 2001 but Max Graham is coming out with tranceport 4 soon(I know it will be good) but this is a must buy for the true progressive Quality not cheese fan."

One of the finest Prog mixes around

The Dude Abides | Mountain View, CA United States | 04/04/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"D:Fuse never lets me down. The quality of the mixes he puts out is always superb, and this one is no exception. This mix is well paced, and does not have a single track that seems like it was squeezed in there. The whole CD flows very well to the climax at Track 10, Circadian Rhythms, which is an amazing track. Mixing is excellent. What can I say, buy this! If you like D:Fuse's work, you should also check out his CD ... check out the Illusion Mix, which is also excellent."