Artist: Nick Warren
Album: The Masters Series: Mixed by Nick Warren
Label: Renaissance
Release Date: 21/01/2013
They say there is a time and a place for everything. And, whoever they are, when it comes to the likes of house, techno, drum ‘n’ bass, dubstep, or whatever else you choose to listen to (hopefully) in a pitch dark room at high volume, they have a fair point.
With that in mind it’s baffling how many podcasts, mix tapes, and CD releases don't consider the context in which the release is likely to be heard (probably at home, or out and about via headphones). Not so in the case of Nick Warren’s new Renaissance outing, part of the aptly named ‘Masters Series’, mind. Because although it could be described as unabashedly progressive, it never approaches the relentlessly uninteresting sound the genre can often resort to in a club at 3AM.
A vast improvement on the kind of middling mixes we frequently have the misfortune of playing, crafted under the false impression dancefloors and living rooms share much in common. Better yet, the contents can be recommended for more than just the way in which they are melded together. Putting it simply, the overall approach of the man responsible for connecting these dots is on target, whilst the tracks themselves are worth a listen; hence the ‘Album of the Week’ thing.
So then, in the way decent DJ compilations once always did we kick things off somewhat removed from where we eventually exit, not least when both discs presented here are taken into account. Aurtas’ sublime introduction offers us a piano rendition tune-up, DFRNT’s Nocturne Part 1 strays towards Kruder & Dorfmeister, before Labyrinth sees I Awake take us to some dark netherworld of hulky yet funky drums and delicate melodies. Odd, unexpected, and certainly all very welcome.
By contrast Disc 2 brings the tempo up from the get go, and follows a route that proves its creator to be a truly fine selector. Soon then we’re deep in the hypnotic tones, tough beats and melodious chimes of Darren Flecta’s In Moments. And not so long after that the bleeps, occasional keys, white noise and chant-like vocal refrain of Levente’s Csillagok provide even more meatiness for our aural grinder. Of course the real hook-led, dirty, driving, and downright sweat-inducing numbers are to follow- namely Cesar Lombardi & Luis Bondio’s rolling groover, Toro, and Nicolas Ruiz & Marko Zalezar’s proper piece of crisp percussive prog, Choir- but perhaps that’s enough referencing. In summary- impressive work on all counts.
WORDS | Martin Guttridge-Hewitt
