Digweed asks "What's your favorite track on Transitions Vol. 2?"

John Digweed is curious what your favorite track from Transitions Vol. 2 is. Visit his MySpace blog to vote.

Here are my personal favorites:

1. Guy Gerber - Digital Memories
2. Antena - Camino Del Sol (Joakim Remix)
3. Williams - The Shivering (Pitch & Hold In Camera Obscura Remix)
   

John Digweed - Transitions (February 18th, 2007)

John Digweed featured new tracks and remixes by Kosmas Epsilon, Booka Shade, Presslaboys, and Dave Seaman (as Group Therapy), while Audio Therapy stalwart Habersham provided the guest mix. Here are the tracklists:

John Digweed

1. Dani Casarano - El Zapo Hablo (Original Mix) [Connaisseur Supérieur]
2. Sam K - Doesn't Matter (Ripperton Remix) [Perspectiv]
3. Booka Shade - Darko (Ganzer & Niggemann Remix) [Get Physical Music]
4. Jay La Forge & Gauchel - Sonne Im Arsch (Original Mix) [Deep In Rhythm]
5. Art Of Tones - Praise (Llorca Remix) [20:20 Vision]
6. Presslabboys - GGmini [Viva Music]
7. Hugg & Pepp - Snabel (Repepped Mix) [Dahlbäck Records]
8. Kosmas Epsilon - Paranoid (Eelke Kleijn Remix) [Groovecollection Records Black]
9. Hybrid - Last Man Standing (Group Therapy Mix) [Distinctive Records]

Habersham

1. Rift - Deep Bled
2. Andrea Doria - YaoO! (Minilogue Remix) [Great Stuff Recordings]
3. Gaiser - Separation [M_nus]
4. Thomas Schumacher - Hiroo [Spiel-Zug Schallplatten]
5. Habersham - Where's My Guitar? [Audio Therapy]
6. Pig & Dan - Digital Life [Weave]
7. Thomas Schumacher - Mad Robot [Spiel-Zug Schallplatten]
8. Rob Dowell - I Could Be Wrong
9. Son Of The Electric Ghost - Concept Of Nature (Habersham Remix)
10. Wighnomy Brothers - Hankkofloppe [Freude Am Tanzen]
11. Habersham - Aceide [Audio Therapy]
    

Digweed's mix was decent. The last three tracks were highlights for me, in particular the very nicely done reworking of "Snabeln." Two listens in, and Habersham's mix is still doing nothing for me though. The guy's productions have always been hit and miss with me: some are gold; others not so much. This mix seems to fall into the latter category of his sound. Both mixes can streamed from John Digweed's website.

EQ Magazine interviews John Digweed

Key quotes:

“I’m not reinventing the wheel here,” says John Digweed, almost making it sound like a confession. He’s talking about his new album, the second volume of the Transitions mix series, in which he does something a lot of DJs don’t do when they’re making albums: he remembers that good music is essential. In a world where trying to break new ground is often lauded over listenability, it must take balls to put good tunes first when you’re a DJ with Mr Digweed’s reputation for innovation. Kudos to him then for compiling an album that doesn’t require repeat listenings before you ‘get it’.

...

“So far the reaction to Transitions has been great,” he says. “People seem to like the idea of me releasing an album every six months or so. These days music moves so fast, people are buying music every week, if not every day, on digital, so I think there’s a demand for this adjusted approach – the reaction we’ve had to date speaks for itself.”

EQ Magazine: Full Interview

John Digweed - Kiss 100 - Transitions (February 4th, 2007)

This weeks Transitions radio show was excellent, with Digweed's mix stealing the show. The Alexander Maier, Oliver Moldan, and Eric Borgo & Oxia tracks in particular were great. These are some of the most melodic, straight foward tech-house tunes I've heard in a long time. Oliver Moldan's new track is simply stunning, which is fitting considering the song is titled "Stunning" (if my research proves correct). The new remix of Slacker's "Psychout" is quite the fitting update as well. A new package of "Psychout" remixes is set to be released this year including updates by Canadian favorites Micah and Shiloh. Here's the tracklist for Digweed's hour:

1. Alexander Maier - Road Of Injury [Buzzin' Fly Records]
   
2. Abyss - The Dreamer [Buzzin' Fly Records]
   
3. Phonique - What I Fake (Sleeper Thief Remix) [Souvenir]
   
4. Unizzon - Balonizator (Robert Babicz Remix) [Astrodisco]
   
5. Pitch & Hold - Eris
   
6. Oliver Moldan - Unknown
   
7. Eric Borgo & Oxia - Another Man [Tsuba Records]
   
8. Faithless - Music Matters (Pete Heller Dub) [Columbia Records]
   
9. Slacker - Psychout (Unknown Remix) [CDR]

The guest this week was Sven Vath in his first appearance on the show in it's nearly seven year existence. I don't have a tracklisting for the mix, but it seems it was a rebroadcast of a recorded live set instead of an exclusive Transitions mix. Some pretty nasty techno grooves here, though I didn't hear anything particularly appealing.

Both mixes can be downloaded here.

Review: John Digweed - Transitions Vol. 2

I've begun writing reviews for the increasingly popular webzine, Filter27 (www.filter27.com), starting with a review of the recently released Transitions Vol. 2 on Renaissance. You can read the review here.

John Digweed - Best Of 2006/Live @ Space, Ibiza

I've been on somewhat of a John Digweed kick as of late. Lots of great sets to be heard from the man at the moment, all incidently leading up to Transitions Vol. 2, which is due out January 29th. Starting on December 24th, Digweed played a three-part Best Of 2006 on his radio show. I've got them all hear for download. Here are the tracklists:

Best Of 2006 - Part 1: http://www.filefactory.com/file/90f058

1. Merz - Mentor (Caged Baby 'Italian Baby Sauce' Remix) [Gr?nland Records]
2. Martin Landsky - 1000 Miles [Poker Flat]
3. Mistress Barbara - Azzurri [Bedrock Records]
4. Lawrence - Along The Wire (Superpitcher Mix) [Ladomat 2000]
5. Pete Heller - Simpler [Phela]
6. RadioSlave - My Bleep (Roman Fl?gel Remix) [Rekids]
7. Paolo Mojo - 1983 (Eric Prydz Remix) [Pryda Friends]
8. Nic Fanciulli - Lucky Heather [Renaissance]
   

Best Of 2006 - Part 2: http://www.filefactory.com/file/9d8e4e/

1. Djuma Soundsystem - Les Djinns (Trentem?ller Remix) [Get Physical Music]
2. Booka Shade - In White Rooms (Original Mix) [Get Physical Music]
3. Spooky - No Return (Spooky Main Club Mix) [spooky.uk.com]
4. Loafer - Dirt Bike [Hope Recordings]
5. Muskat Nuss - Misteek Drive (Robert Babicz Mix) [Precinct Recordings]
6. Plastik - Plastik (Alex Dolby Plastik Vision Mix) [Youngodds]
7. Trick & Kubic - Easy (Misc Remix) [Great Stuff Recordings]
8. Gutterstylz - I Want Your Love (Vocal Duke Mix) [Bedrock Records]
9. Michael Mayer & Reinhard Voigt - Transparenza [Kompakt Extra]
10. John Digweed - Warung Beach (Original Mix) [Bedrock Records]

Best Of 2006 - Part 3: http://www.filefactory.com/file/c77c29/

1. Gabriel Ananda & Cio D'or - Lauschgoldengel (Original Mix) [Treibstoff]
2. Schatsi - Dead End [Hadshot Haheizar]
3. Gui Boratto - Like You (SuperMayer Mix) [Kompakt Pop]
4. Notorious Mot - Jojo [Mauritius Special]
5. Audiofly - Inside The Beat (DJ Remo Drifted Mix) [Revox Italy]
6. Stephan Bodzin - Tron [Systematic]
7. Audion - Mouth To Mouth [Spectral Sound]
8. Pryda - Remember [Pryda Recordings]
9. Peter Gun - Damn Words [Millennium Records]

Also, this past weekend on John Digweed's Kiss 100 radio show, John played an hour of his August 8 Space set where he warmed up for Carl Cox. The last hour of the set was originally broadcasted on Radio 1's Essential Mix. Here's the tracklist:

Live @ Space, Ibiza: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=Q6UHLKT8

1. Rekleiner - Somewhere (Sasse Remix) [Moodmusic]
2. Rekleiner - Future Past [Maschine Musik]
3. Spooky - No Return (Josh Wink Remix) [Spooky.co.uk]
4. Patrick Chardronnet - Eve By Day (Fairmont's Mix) [Connaisseur Recordings]
5. Robert Babicz - Markatech [Audiomatique Recordings]
6. Martin Landsky - 1000 Miles [Poker Flat Recordings]
7. Dominik Eulberg - Bjorn Borkenkofer [Traum Schallplatten]
8. Burnski - Headlandmad [Infant]
9. ID
   

Having just finished listening, I can assure you that it's classic Digweed. The sound is deep, funky, and melodic. According to those who were in actual attendance during the recording, at the beginning of John's set there were only 20 or 30 people on the floor. Definitely a different setting than what were used to hearing from Digweed, and the difference is reflected in the music. Hopefully, Digweed will continue to play other portions of the set in the coming weeks.

John Digweed's New Website/DJ Mag's Top 100 DJ Poll

A couple of newsworthy bits:

• John Digweed has launched his redesigned website. Although still entirely flash based, it's moves a bit faster and doesn't require you to sit through excessive amounts of animation. I'm still not a fan of his PDF-based discography or press archives, but I am pleased with the change overall. Check it out at www.johndigweed.com.
• In case you've been living under a rock, voting for this year's Top 100 DJ Poll has begun. Vote for your top 5 favorite DJs until September 25th. The results will be unveiled on October 25th. Whether you agree with the poll or not, its influence is undeniable. Click the image to the left to place your vote. Personally, I haven't voted yet, and don't plan to until the final week the poll is open. My current favorites are as follows: James Zabiela, Luke Fair, Desyn Masiello, Phil K, and Nick Warren.
• Speaking of Top 100 DJ Polls, I've created an archive of all the poll results since it first went public in 1997. You can find it in the newly created Features/Articles section.

Review: John Digweed - Transitions

Label: Renaissance [REN27CD]
Release Date: June 5th, 2006
Rating: 7/10

John Digweed's sound has certainly changed with the times. Gone are the days of deep, atmospheric prog, and in their place are the sounds of minimal tech house and funky electro. The first volume of Digweed's new "Transition" series shows Digweed going even further down the minimal electro path. Whether this is a good or bad thing is really a matter of one's personal taste.

Last year's "Fabric 20" was a little more rocking compared to this mix. The tracks Digweed has selected for this mix are interesting, off-kilter little ditties with some unorthodox bleeps and bloops layered over buzz saw bass line stabs. The tempo is a little more laid-back, but the mood is a little on the creepy side, especially early on. An early highlight would be the very electronic "Feelin" by Every (a new alias of legendary German producer, Oliver Lieb). Digweed's mixing, as always, is spot on. His transitions (no pun intended) are fluid, and the middle portion of the mix feels like one, big, long, creepy track. By the time Niekish & Hermann's Dub mix of Trick & Kubic's "Easy" comes in, the tempo picks up slightly and the sound becomes a little more urgent. The strongest track on the album is On Spec's "Knights Of Columbus". This track has a very catchy rolling bassline and just the right amount of emotional, cute melody. The track is actually a dub version of a bootleg Guy Gerber remix of "Why Are You Looking So Grave?" by Mew. It's unfortunate that the vocals had to be left out, as the original remix with them included is even more entrancing. The mix peaks with Digweed's first original production (without Nick Muir), "Warung Beach". The "Lützenkirchen Mix" of said song is a nice, techy track with some thundering synth work. Oddly, Digweed ends his mix on a questionable note with Paul Kalkbrenner's "Gebrünn Gebrünn". Somewhat anti-climatic.

Can't say there's a bad track on the whole mix, though similar to Sasha's Fundacion NYC, the majority music of the is a little on the bland side. Including the highlights I mentioned, there aren't any truely amazing standout tracks. Admittedly, amazing exclusives are becoming harder and harder to come by these days as more and more mix compilations are released every year. But one only has to look at DJs like Dave Seaman, Paolo Mojo or James Holden who've each released comps in the last few months and each managed to include several fantastic exclusives that will easily be considered classics in the years to come. Here, although the On Spec track is good, it's not exactly what I would consider an instant classic. Perhaps my standards for Digweed are too high? Still, this is a very polished, very solid mix. Older Digweed fans will still be put off by his current taste in music, but judge this mix on it's own merits and you have a winner. I personally feel this mix is slightly superior to his Fabric 20 mix, though I'm sure there are those that disagree.

Recommended if you dig the sounds of funky, minimal electro and not recommended if you still think Digweed should make mix albums that sound like Global Underground: Los Angeles.

Digweed's Transitions Released On Renaissance

John Digweed's new mix CD was released last Monday. The release marks the launch of a new series for Digweed that will include bi-annual single CD releases from now on. Digweed also promotes the Transitions brand via a Podccast and a weekly radio show on Kiss 100. Read my review of the CD here. Also check out John Digweed's website at http://www.johndigweed.com/ for more info.

Review: John Digweed - MMII

Label: Bedrock [PEA-CD-6166-2]
Release Date: 2002
Rating: 8/10

Normally, when one thinks of John Digweed, one thinks of deep, banging progressive house. Not here. This is Digweed's most somber mix yet, sounding more akin to a Northern Exposure release than any of his Global Underground releases. Digger does pick up the pace about midway through the mix, but this is more of a mood piece than a club mix. And like any mix album, there are some awesome tracks, and there are some stinkers too. Lonely Planet's 'Pollon' has a resonatingly beautiful synth loop that will immediately catch your ear, while Pole Folder & CP's 'Dust' is a beautiful, spacy down-tempo piece with some beautiful vocals and nice ambient washing synths. On the more up-tempo side, James Holden's 'I Have Put Out The Light' is absolutely chilling, while Spooky's 'Belong' has an addictive house groove and a gorgeous female vocal, both of which you'll be humming for weeks. The best track goes to Darren Emerson's phenomenal remix of 108 Grand's 'Te Quiero', with it's multiple layers of beautiful swirling melodies and bouncing beat. The rest of the tracks range from average, to annoying (as in the case of Sean Q6's 'Of Course'). So while this isn't Digweed's best effort, it most certainly isn't bad, and is recommended to anyone who enjoys the more melodic, somber side of progressive house.

Classic Review: Sasha & Digweed - Northern Exposure 2

Label: Ministry of Sound [NECD2]
Release Date: September 22nd, 1997
Rating: 10/10

While this statement may go against popular belief, Northern Exposure 2 is superior to the original Northern Exposure. While neither mix on NE2 quite matches the majestic quality of CD1 of NE1 (but then again, what does?), both mixes are classics in their own right whereas CD2 of NE1 was comparably weaker when compared to other mixes in the NE series.

The first CD is a gorgeous down tempo/break beat mix in the same vein as the first CD of NE1. The mood and atmosphere is different however. Whereas NE1 CD1 was earthy, organic, and spiritual, the first CD of NE2 is jazzier, funkier, more melancholic, and near the end, more euphoric. The mix starts off phenomenally with an ultra chilly mix of Gus Gus' "Believe", which perfectly segues into Chicane's mix of Furry Phreaks' "Soothe". After we're transitioned with Violet's "Burn The Elastic", we're treated to the less memorable funky breaks of Prana's "Geomantik" and Acoustic Hoods "Cycle Of Time". Frontside's "Dammerung" brings a more serious tone back with its beautiful melancholic melody, which sets up for the mixes first and last 4/4 numbers, and also the most amazing numbers on the whole album. The trickling melody of Doi-Oing's "Blue" is perfectly blended with a superb live version of Spooky's classic "Little Bullet". The live version included here is even better than the original with washing synths and several layers melody that bring the album to it's first peak. While both of the tracks are amazing in their own right, this is a case where the expert DJ mixing of these two tracks creates something that is greater than the sum of it’s parts.

Having already reached heaven 8 tracks in, the funky breaks of Uberzone's "Botz" is dropped bringing the mix back to the earth before slowly climbing back up with some of the most euphoric electronic tracks ever recorded. The tinkley melody of Fluke's "Reeferendrum" builds perfectly into Lost Tribe's gorgeous "Angel" (incorrectly listed as "Distant Voices" on the back cover), which out of nowhere turns into Gus Gus' mid-tempo masterpiece, "Purple". The final track, Hybrid's "Symphony" is perhaps the most emotional electronic music I've ever heard. A perfect closer to a near perfect mix.

The second CD is the more danceable of the two CDs, with some of the best progressive house tracks of the era/ever. Opening with Cygnus X's "Positron" (incorrectly listed as "Superstrings" on the back cover), a lush, bouncy, euphoric mood is instantly created, only to be torn down by the stabbing melodies and abrasive percussion of Speedy J's "Fusion". Humate's classic "3.2" is mixed in creating a dark, atmospheric sound, that melds perfectly with William Orbit's/Spooky’s remix of Sven Vath's techno classic "An Accident In Paradise". The Light's "Panfried" and Third Man's "Solar Cycle" keep the beat steady, before the duo really turn up the energy with L.S.G.'s "Netherworld". The Jules Vern mix heard on this album is the best version of the song I've ever heard emphasizing the best elements of the song, and creating a hard hitting progressive house floor-filler. Taucher's melodic "Waters" is perfectly mixed in holding the peak created by "Netherworld" to over ten minutes of sheer electronic bliss. "Teach Me" by Art Of Silence is a serene break from the energy, but we're soon brought back to 4/4 floor-stomping energy with Transa's anthemic (and somewhat formulaic) "Enervate", before slowly closing with the trance inducing groove of Armin's "Blue Fear".

The weak moments on CD1 are when the mix goes for the more abrasive, funky numbers, but in the scope of the album as a whole and in terms of setting up the more serious melodic songs, they work. CD2 on the other hand, while more immediately accessible and overall consistent, it is ultimately less resonating than it's counterpart. Still, as a whole, this is the strongest entry in the Northern Exposure series, and an essential for any electronic music fan’s library.