Customer Reviews

Balance 014

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There has been a growing trend of DJs using technology to layer multiple tracks over one another create a unique sounscape. For Balance 014, Joris Voorn has layered 100 tracks over 2 discs to create one of the finest compilations out there (ever).

My expectations for this release were very high, as I am a huge fan of both Joris and the Balance series, and my expectations were easily surpassed. These discs are ideally suited for home listening (especially with headphones), as they are not your standard "club" discs. The thing that impresses me most about about Joris is his ability to take you on a journey. The flow of both discs is impeccable, building appropriately and with beautiful highs and lows, and not a boring moment in between. For those people who want a label of the type of music (i.e. progressive house, techno, etc.), all I can say is that there are many styles of music (techno, minimal, tech-house, ambient, downbeat, and even a splash of reggae) layered on top of one another that the result is difficult to pigeonhole into a particular genre.

I realize this review sounds like a plug, but I can honestly say that I haven't come across a compilation like this in long time, if ever. Do not hesitate to pick this one up.

In this mix we get to experience a producer/DJ who is as meticulous as he is creative. Taking one look at the set list and it seems dizzying - how is this guy going to make this work? The answer is through razor sharp mixing, well practiced programming and a finely tuned ear for all types of music. This type of DJ walks into a record store (when they existed) and didn't just go to the Techno section, but spent hours in the chicago house, rave, jungle, soul, hip hop, jazz, classic rock, acid jazz, experimental electronica, progressive house, etc (you get the idea). This guy just loves music and it shows. Although primarily known for his proclivity towards techno production - this mix shows he can branch out and joins the ranks of DJ/producers who can weave intricate mixes that go beyond genre restrictions such as Laurent Garnier.

This mix may turn off people looking for more of a pounding, epic energy with build-up, break down, 4/4 formula. This type of mix is epic in another way - its not predictable and if you listen the whole way through it will definitely expand your appreciation for electronic music across many genres and raise your standards for what a tremendous mix is.

I had never heard of Joris Voorn before, but this entry in the Balance series came with a lot of buzz, so I thought it was a safe bet. Voorn mixes a combination of techno and deep house, with a few overtures to progressive. What makes his soundworld really special is that he weaves so many tracks into the mix, and in fact this two-disc set features a full hundred, far beyond DJs like Sasha or John Digweed whose Abletone explorations are content with just a few more than the mix CDs of old. It is therefore not reasonable to list a series of individual components like one would with another DJ, but rather the odd combination of sounds.

Disc one starts with a sample of a confrontation between two men, and then some deep house motions resembling infernal clockwork. Above this rises a loop of a Japanese woman speaking some phrase, with each iteration sounding slightly different. The deep house groove is occasionally broken by moments featuring horns. In disc two, Voorn even lets the sense of pulse fall nearly completely with a wash of horns and strings, though the techno oddities are still present with a sample where a woman talks of attending the University of Illinois. The climax of the second disc, and of the set as a whole, come with a rasta woman vowing revenge on someone who has wronged her man, and then Thom Yorke's vocals from Radiohead's "Nude" weaving through the mix.

Voorn's disc does meander at times, and I find my attention wandering through a few lengthy portions, though in making a recording like this meant for headphones instead of booming speakers, Voorn could have tightened things up quite a bit more. Nonetheless, Voorn's entire aesthetic fascinates me, and I do look forward to what he comes up with next.

Joris KILLS this one from beginning to end. The mix is unlike anything I've ever heard (in a good way) and I've heard 1,000's of mixes. This one strives on that technological approach, but doesn't go overboard and lose those grooves that we yearn. Fantastic mix no doubt!!!

If Joris Voorn is ever in your town, don't miss his gig. That slim, nerdy-looking, smiley, bouncy Dutch man (who looks like he is in his early twenties) delivers one irresistibly groovy track after another. Before you know it, you are up till 6, dancing nonstop.

Now, his Balance 014 is an entirely different animal. It is slow at times, ever moody and atmospheric. It is not a music for your feet - it is for your ears, your brain and your heart. Its multi-layered structure is incredibly complex, but it never loses its elegance. In two words - simply stunning. After listening to Lee Burrdige's Balance 012 I didn't think anyone could match that. S.O.S did it with Balance 013. Joris Voorn topped them both.

If you like electronic music, there is no excuse for you to miss this Balance release.

Most creative and interesting. When I first heard it in Rebel, Rebel on Bleeker St. in NYC, the owner started playing it and the whole store stopped and was listening. He said I'd love it and he was right. Also anyone who likes music that I've played it for also thinks it's the best compilation of the year.

Balance 013 was my top album of 2008, and Balance 014 is slated to be my favorite. The layering of tracks (and the selection of those tracks) is masterful. Joris Voorn is at the top of his game on this one.

It's quite different from Balance 013, and is probably more suited to listening on headphones or while driving in a car. There are few sustained 4 on the floor tracks, and instead there is more of an auditory exploration.

Give this a few plays while driving or on your mp3 player and you will quickly be hooked.

I am a big fan of house, trance and electronic music in general, ... and sorry did never hear of JORIS VOORN (sorry) until today, ... - it was in the electronic section of ma'fav music store and it kind of "looked cool". So, I took it home - put it in the mixer, grabbed a beer ... and was blown away by the sound. Very well made layered progressive trance. Add a laser light show - sound operated, crank it up a notch and have a great time ... - WOW !!! And, what I like as well: ... it's not commercially playing everywhere you go. ... it's really COOL ... some great speaker rocking bass as well ... luv it. THANKS, Joris.

I guess I am going to be the second rotten apple when I say that my review is rather low of this album because of the dissapointed lack of direction. Technically the album is excellent. The biggest problem I have with this is that it feels like there is no true theme or focus on these two discs. I wanted to hear something that was deep and thought provoking, and to a certain degree I did get a bit of that. Every time it started to get you in the mood, the mix was broken up by some funk-house booty vocal sample and that continued to derail my listening experience. It got to a degree of annoyance. I tried to look past it but every time I put this in my CD player, I will listen to 15-20 minutes and then hear "the sillies", then again get entrance into something deep and once again here comes the 70s disco funk-train track.

I warn the listener of this flaw before you shell out $20.

Trance Fans of DJ Tiesto (a formidable DJ in himself) will be struck in awe for Joris Voorn is nothing like him, especially since they are both Dutch, and by that association alone many believe that anything Dutch will kind of resemble a similar fashion of electronic music and DJing that they are used to from that region of the world. After all, there is a genre that is Dutch Trance. On the other hand, I am struck in awe and absolutely blown away with Joris's genius and artistry in this balance 14, which in my opinion, not only is it the best balance release to date, but arguably the best electronic release ever to be produced so far.

What makes this release such an Epic you ask? Well, I really don't want to sound cheesy (maybe it's too late now) but the best depiction I could think of is "emotional voyage". Joris is taking us for a voyage through this wonderful piece of art, a voyage that sums up what makes us human, which is so far unprecedented in this art form. His Balance 14 release contained optimism, depression, love, lust, fear, sadness, joy, encouragement, and spirituality (check out the list of related tracks below), all audibly woven in a genius mix of over 100 tracks. Voorn made `no rules' of the trade his number one rule. Moreover he has not conformed to what one or others might expect from dance music, because doing so would yield just another dance mix. For his painting of his Balance mix, Joris started with a `metaphorical' fresh piece of transparent canvas (eliminating the color white in this case) as if not to be distracted or even influenced by anything but the essence of art itself and his disengaged imagination. His aim is (in his own words) to "paint with sound rather than performing a traditional Dj mix". Joris did not just paint with sound; he created a master piece that should be displayed in fine art museums around the world. To put it in other words, it is like the Audio equivalent of Vincent Van Gogh's Portrait of Dr. Gachet. This my friends will go in my safe deposit box at my bank.

Forget about technically describing the 2 cds here, I'm not even going to entertain such an idea, nor am I going to exploit such work of art, as no one (sorry fellow reviewers) is capable of such critique of Joris's work. Opinions shared (in my opinion) should only be described from the emotional state that this release instills in those electronic heads listening to it, rather than technical jargons. Of course that is not to say that everything here is technically absolutely perfect in its own way. Whether this helps you or not, I really don't know and I even apologize if it doesn't. But the usual description of highs, lows, flow, build up, peaks, fillers, killers and so on, of any other electronic release does not apply here. You just have to take my word for it, or not. Still many have commented that Joris's Balance 14 lacks party power, culminations, or even not being "clubby" enough to dance all night to. Well, while this might be true (although you will dance) I'm afraid they have missed the point. Voorn's epic mix transcends those of party dance mixes, here it is all about invoking human emotions to summon up your feelings as a consequence, in the same way a powerful movie, drama theatre, a sculpture or a fine art painting suppose to conjure up feeling of the ones experiencing it. There are no rules for that, there shouldn't be. It is what it is.

Some of the emotional Voyage includes:

Spirituality... in track 01 Circunbalation I (Alex Under View)-Stol-In a Distance-Loud-We All-Journ

Joy... in track 03 Enjoy-Ambee-Keep On (Boris Werner Keep on Truckin' Mix)-Lethe 1

Love... in track 05 Crypt -Fire, Water, Machine-Hard Loving -Déjà Vu-I Zebra (Acapella)

Optimism and encouragement... in track 06 Bole Beats-Beach Kisses (Joris Voorn Edit)

Fear and lust... in track 09 Altitude -R U OK -Topdrop (Acapella)

Sadness and depression...10 Stress-3am (Balance Beatless Version)-Ribcage-Elevation(Radio Slave)

Joris Voorn's Balance 14 is (imho) the best that there ever was, and hopefully not the best that there will ever be, becuase I'm greedy.

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