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Free Music Notes for Balance 013Free Music Review: Idiosyncratic, but it came through. Hit: 4 Stars
I absolutely hated CD1 of this 3-CD compilation of Balance13 when I first listened to it. It lacked identity, mixing, flow and it definitely lacked balance. However, after many repeated listening sessions I can honestly tell you that the revulsion has subsided to a point where I can actually say that I don't care for it much. This is not the case with the other 2 CDs, and I'm going to review the trio's work based on CD2 & 3. The reason I will review this as a 2 CD and not three is because I feel that a 2-CD release is more than enough and certainly long enough (2+ hours back to back) to satisfy me artistically; therefore, a third CD is more like a bonus CD if you will; nice to have but not really necessary. So let's begin.
Unlike Jimmy Van M Balance 11, which is also a three CD venture (however horrible CD1 & 2 of it is), Balance 13 redeems it's self from falling into the same pitfall by the trio's good track selection and clever escalation of mood in CD2&3. CD2 begins with SOS edit of the cure's lullaby, not necessarily smart, but more of a showoff of their talent, this is the reason they included the unedited cure's lullaby at the end of CD1, just so you could tell the difference. Good job nonetheless. Next comes Luna- dusty kid, a track so captivating that it should have been the opening track of CD2. Then the tracks take on a medley of genres from minimal to prog and peaks with dark house with once in a lifetime (SOS edit)- bionic phunk, and immediately after that Atlas- marck romboy makes its way to ease the pace a bit just so you could take a breather, then the trio resume the funk all over again.
CD3 appeared at first to be of the same caliber as CD2, but the more I listened to them back to back, the more I realized that it's a notch better than CD2. CD3 has, I think, all the elements CD2 has but with a bit more character, if you will. Different genres are evident here without any clashing, which basically speaks volume of the flow and mixing found here. And yes again, just like in CD2 we get a breather here too with track 16 game over- bastian only to resume the funck once again after that. However the difference here is that the breather came at the end part of CD3, so it is really a way to slow things down till the end track. My only disappointment here with CD3 is think twice - the Detroit experiment is utterly out of place, which is the reason I would not give CD3 a 5 star rating.
In conclusion my rating is as follows:
CD1(N/A)....
CD2(*** stars)
CD3(**** stars)
Free Music Review: Above-Par Hit: 4 Stars
As of late most DJ mixes are blah blah blah electro-house. These guys go out and try to make something new. But they bring in some old songs which still sound great mixed in. And I really mean old. Like 1985 old. Almost as old as me... But it's still really good. Not as good as this other mix series' number 13. Which happened to be mixed by this guy named Alexander Coe. Also Sasha. That cd was a bit better, but this is a very solid few cds. Check it out if you're into EDM, if not leave it be.
Free Music Review: just another house/technno/ambient 3CD Hit: 3 Stars
After a lot of buzz and expectations for this CD, i got really disappointed when i heard it. Most of the songs are just average, the concept is OK, the mixing is nice but overall this is not a CD that will trill you, not at all. You can find several albums with this type of atmosphere and with more substance.
Free Music Review: Over hyped... Hit: 2 Stars
OVER-HYPED! This album is straight BORING. (disc 2 & 3 anyway.)
Disc 1: I thought was great. Build ups/storytelling/ambient break-beat house trip. Good stuff.
Disc 2 & 3: Old/repetitive/boring prog house (with the occasional good track).
Another disturbing notion was Lisa Loco's comparison of SOS to the Body & Soul legends?! LOL!!! Okay, enough with the hate, check it out for yourself, everyone's a critic.
;-)
More Free Music Notes: 1 2
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