Customer Reviews

Decks Efx & 909

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I recently picked this up with a little hesitation, having heard that the mix was basically just hard, banging, no-frills techno. That is true. Other mixes have obvious peaks and valleys, for instance, while "Decks, EFX, and 909" has... harder drumbeats for the peaks and more subtle bass for the valleys. While other mixes have lots of vocals and warm synth tones, here we have... drums and bass. (Occasionally some human voices, but don't count on it.) In other words, this is not a Top 40 dance mix - it's strictly for the brave.

But, if you are one of the brave, check this out now. It's very intense, but also very danceable, and the constantly shifting rhythms and programming keep you from getting bored. Oddly enough, if yo're into techno, the subtle changes in drum patterns and stabbing synth lines is more interesting than a lot of more mainstream stuff with many more elements to the tracks. This mix is a triumph of minimal techno. If you're looking for something hard, intense, and raw, add this to the shopping list.

"A Music Fan" is an idiot. Do not listen to him. DE9 is NOT repetitive... at all. In fact, this CD is a perfect example of speed and diversity... Hawtin is just so good at subtle layering and mixing that "A Music Fan" probably didn't notice it. Make no mistake. This is straight-up techno at it's absolute best. Hawtin is a madman behind the decks. He has an almost superhuman control of rhythm that goes beyond simple mixing from track to track. At times in this CD he layers four different elements on top of one another. He does so with almost superhuman speed... just as you start getting hooked on one pattern he starts up another hypnotic beat. The structure of this CD is perfect. He starts out with some slow thumping grooves and gradually turns it into a frantic slam fest before bringing it all back down again.

This entire CD is totaly danceable or perfect for chilling. I am quite fond of listening to it on long car trips. I put it on repeat and let it go.

This is my favorite techno cd. Period. I heard it for the first time last month, and fell in love with it. It builds a tremendous amount of energy and variety, and it is very much like Richie Hawtin's live sets(for those who haven't been lucky enough to experience them...)

Decks, Efx & 909 is a journey through minimal "bare bones" techno with moments where some extra complexity is thrown in for effect. This is NOT a boring album, but is rather a slick monster of an album which EVERY techno fan and partier should own, and listen to before putting on their fat pants and heading out.

i've heard too many compilations that are just a bunch of songs strung one after another...this is something different. techno turntablism. the mixing on this is FLAWLESS. you're almost never hearing less than two tracks layered together. the use of EQ and volume is excellent. and there's some tricks on here that I have NO idea how he did them. he must have eight arms.

however, this is straight, unadulterated, minimal, percussive techno. if melody's your thing, don't get this.

This CD is a trip from the beginning to the end. Like the master of techno he is, Hawtin starts off with an introductory lesson in hard beats and schools the uninitiated as he slowly gives you a taste of what's to come. By song 14, he unwinds with a barrage of Jeff Mills tracks that just seem to get harder and harder, until he mixes in a Nitzer Edd tune, which is just plain evil. Unlike most techno CD's that peak, and then fall flatter than American beer, Richie keeps goin and goin, layin' hard track after hard track, with surgeon-like skills. Technically and emotionally, this is one of the best CD's I have ever had the pleasure to experience! By the way that NYE party w/ Richie in Detroit was wicked.

What can I say when I listen to this album. It is a truly moving experience. Richie Hawtin is without a doubt the best skilled DJ in the world. Of course there are many DJ's that are good at what they do, but few of them make me want to listen to their music at max volume. Seeing him live on his decks, efx, and 909 tour was so far the highlight of my underground music career. It was 2 1/2 hours of pure genius. His mix was flawless in every way. He is simply a robot. He is just a mechanical juggernaut of hard techno and is unphased when he stands behind a 909 machine and creates works of art. This cd is far too short. After playing it, you just want to hear more. It is the sheer essence of Richie Hawtin (although just a glimpse of what his is like live). Your collection is not complete unless you buy this album.

I first have to disagree with some of the other reviewers and note that Hawtin does not play "hard techno" by any means, nor is he an "underground" dj. The definition of underground in my opinion would be unreleased and up-and-coming djs/producers which Hawtin clearly is not. Hawtin is a very skilled and talented producer and dj who has been in the game for quite some time now. This release is definitely one of his finest works. Although I don't like a lot of the songs on this album, it is difficult to not be amazed by the sheer quaility of Hawtin's mixing style. It's easy to tell he is mixed this album using at least 3 decks. The style is techno if not a little housey at times. Overall a great release for techno fans. The best song is easily Riche's own "Minus Orange." For people looking for "hard techno," the best I could find on amazon so far is Marco Carola's "Open System." A groundbreaking, earthshaking techno release.

With this album Richie Hawtin revolutionized the way DJs think about creating mix albums. DE9 is a must-own for any fan of techno. I've listened to this disc regularly ever since it came out and it still never gets old. Buy it!

Hawtin's sonic vision by far puts him ahead most of his contemporaries. This album is a benchmark reflection of the token. Great however its not done 'live'. The additional mastering in studio puts the album on another notable level of perfection. Not quite possible in a live set at this speed and pace. I don't mean to say this album is bad, by far one of the best so far. If you have heard him in a liveset, you will not be alone when u r blown away.

I hereby totally deny what Chris Godfrey's review of this CD says. He says that this CD is not "phat and phunky." By phat and phunky he must mean conformist and cheesy, because frankly the difference between this and a DJ Skribble mix is that a dj skribble mix is cheesy anthem after cheesy anthem after cheesy anthem. This is hard techno. If you are not a fan don't buy. Mixing is flawless. Tracks are hard, excellent and have a solid groove. It gets full reccomendation from me to anyone else who enjoys the genre/