Search - Martinez :: Restructured Layers

Martinez back with another fine label mix, although this tim

Doctor Trance | MA, United States | 02/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In early '06, Swedish tech house artist, DJ, and remixer Martinez, a very hot commodity in the tech world these days, delivered a stunning tech house label mix from Audiomatique. That mix was actually recorded at Triple-O Studios in Copenhagen, home of Martinez's own label, Out of Orbit Recordings . Now he decided to turn his focus to his own label, and create another stellar mix out of all Out of Orbit tracks, which range from the 2nd Triple-O 12" from 2004, right up to the new Phil Stumpf single, Cut, just released in January of 2007.



Inspired by Richie Hawtin's Transitions mix, Martinez also uses Ableton Live to create a unique mix formed from the fragments, layers, and loops from dozens of individual tracks. Taking as little as 2 to as much as 10 tracks, he forms one bond as a single, unnamed track, linking all of them into one energetic tech house mix. As Hawtin's was an intoxicating journey through layers and soundscapes of minimal techno, Martinez sort of simplifies things and creates tracks that could more easily be heard as an individual single. The CD as a whole actually comes out sounding like it really were one DJ's mix through 19 various tech house and minimal tracks. It is also without the clutter that was prevelant on some of the tracks in Hawtin's and also Magda's recent mix. It certainly seems like Martinez is the odd many out (in a good way) in the way he created his mix.



He comes up with almost entirely new tracks, born of old and current ones in his existing Triple-O catalog. While you may have a tough time picking out each individual one, there are spots where tracks like Beta Boy by Trentemøller, and Martinez's remix of Jussi Pekka's Stereo Interleaved creep up to an entirely recognizable (although edited) state. Not only is this tailored to be an Out of Orbit sound, but more importantly, that trademarked Martinez sound. It plays out like one big Martinez remix and re-edit, with his signature electrified tech house that's fit to explode any dance floor. After only the first few tracks, it's head first into a swiftly moving pace, churning out more head nodding vibes then Magda's She's A Dancing Machine could even start to generate. Martinez does gives us a slight break at tracks 12 and 13, taking the tempo way down, only to pump up the BPM's once again from track 14 to the end of this exhilarating mix.



This mix, Transitions, and Magda's mix are the 3 recent ones using this similar format, and I completely feel this is the most pleasing and straightforward end result of the three. A full 5 stars for the innovation in this original, high impact tech house mix, and for solidifying my top spot in the recent trend of Ableton Live mixes such as this."