John Digweed, Sasha & John Digweed - Northern Exposure II: East Coast

Our Price: $79.77
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $21.42 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more new music releases

Music CD Cover

Free Music Notes for Northern Exposure II: East Coast

Free Music Review: Northern Exposure DOES EXPOSE
Hit: 5 Stars

Northern Exposure, as suggestive of its title, is meant to be experimental and "exposing" -- the opportunity to explore new genres and ideas. Sasha and Digweed were the perfect team to handle this, and with the first album back in 1997, broke new ground in electronic music. Most people who have followed them throughout the years were most likely expecting something hard, edgy, and danceable. We're talking 4/4 kicks, hats, the computer bleeps and blurps, and so on. But unfortunately, that is not what Northern Exposure is about.

As the second set in the series, Northern Exposure II was divided into two editions: Eastcoast and Westcoast. As of now, I warn you: if you're interested in this series, but want something that's not slow but fast and "trancy," get the Westcoast edition or Northern Exposure: Expeditions. They'll most definitely suit you much better than this one.

And so, let's move on...

In my opinion, Northern Exposure II: Eastcoast Edition is BY FAR the best in the series. It is very much related to the first Northern Exposure disc, so if you liked that one, you'll definitely fall in love with this one. The entire CD is a total and complete mindtrip, best suited for headphones with the volume cranked to high. And just as other reviewers have stated, then so will I when it is mentioned that you listen to this disc from beginning to end. You will easily find yourself lost in the music as it wreaks of originality, taking you on what seems to be an endless journey across infinite, textured soundscapes.

Sound (excuse the pun) too much for you? Well it's really not. What I'm basically trying to say here is that the entire album mixes in an intelligent selection of electronic music from a variety of sub-genres, including breakbeat, ambient, acid, and a bit of trance. I do admit, the vocals for Gus Gus' "Believe" and Furry Freaks' "Soothe" do sound slightly out of place, but they eventually grow on you later on. The third track, "Burn the Elastic" boots "Soothe" out of the way and sets the mood for the next few following tracks, which evolve into a mix of both weirdness and ambience (i.e. "Geomantik," "Cycles of Time," and "Dammerung"). The beat in the set does not become consistent until Doi-oing's "Blue" kicks in, then being fully taken off by Spooky's "Little Bullet Pt. 1." Afterwards, the entire consistency comes to a sudden halt as Uberzone's "Botz" throws the listener into a vast array of synthetic noises and breaks. Once again, another consistent beat is picked back up with Fluke's "Reeferendum," staying that way to the very end. The last track on the album, Hybrid's epic masterpiece "Symphony," is hands-down THE best song in the set, creatively incorporating a live orchestra with breakbeats to bring you a really emotional piece that skyrockets NEII: ECE to its climax, then fading out as if this whole thing was a dream that you woke from.

All in all, NEII: ECE is a provocative piece that just screams "inspiration" for many listeners and aspiring DJs. You can't tell one track apart from another because the mixing is so flawless, which also goes to show that Sasha and Digweed's choice of tracks to use was probably TOO perfect -- but hey, it fits the formula.

Definitely a MUST-HAVE for any electronic music fan who's more than willing to try something different. Those of you looking for trance need to go elsewhere 'cause you're not going to find it here...

Dance & DJ Music CDs

• Music > Styles
• Pop