Customer Reviews

Global Underground 003 San Francisco

5 star:		(74)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I would have to argue that this is the finest example of trance that I have ever heard. Every aspect of San Francisco exemplifies what trance is about and what it means to us listeners. The break-downs are deliberate yet timed perfectly; the emotioinal climaxes hit you like an adrenaline rush; and the mixing is absolutely perfect. CD1 takes a few tracks to get going, but once it does, you will not be sorry you bought it. Tracks from Breeder, an artist who only makes records for Sasha and Digweed, and a fine remix of Albion's "Air" are all emotional highs for the listener. But the good thing about CD1 is that it is really a progressive-house warm-up for the second, trancier CD2.

I honestly would have paid the full amount for this GU, and more money, for the second CD. I am biased toward my favorite DJ, Digweed, but I must say that this gives GU: Hong Kong disc 1 a run for its money as my favorite electronica mix. Everything about this CD is perfect, and I mean that sincerely. There is dark trance, there is emotional trance (without those boring anthems everyone seems to love), and there is deep, airy trance. And the mixing, oh the mixing! Although my first love is Digweed, I must concede that Sasha is the best DJ in the world right now in terms of mixing. It is perfect, to say the least.

The best thing about this CD is that it does not show age easily. Some of the older GU's like Oslo and Prague don't get much play time on my CD player because they seem like antiquated electronica now. But this CD always seems to capture the cuttting edge of trance, whether it was a year ago with Dave Ralph's new style of gritty trance or now with Seaman's and Warren's futuristic styles of trance. I know that this review seems a little excited and too laudatory, but I mean every word in this review. Don't miss this one. I beg you!!

I, too, first began my Sasha GU experience with the second disk of Ibiza; how can you resist a compilation with a BT acetate. I was amazed all the way through. Eventually, I meandored over to disk 1 and learned the true meaning of "progressive" (with his cool slow burning sexy style of 'Deep Progress', 'The Deep Edge', and Humate's mix of 'Feel so High') quickly gaining strength until 'My lexicon, Move!, and his 3 minute + creation that is the mix between Stage One (actually Two), and Sacred. I remember hearing this for the first time, and literally feeling changed.

Then I discovered the San Francisco sets, which until I really gave a full ear to, I never really understood its potence. Like Ibiza, Disk 2 was attention getter to the sf sets, cleverly starting with the Narcotik cut, ("be aware of every sound..") Blue gives way to Hale Bopp, one of the most glittery and deep progressive trance cuts which will drop you in an emotional mindscape if you let. This beautifully melts into Oliver Lieb's mix of hope... this pattern continues through the rest of the disk and by the time 'Moving thru your System' is half way given up to 'The Mission', you realize the man who mixed this is a genius.

Disk 1, took some time for me to grasp completely, but I now believe that this is the most amazing hour of continuously mixed electronic music to ever be recorded, period. Freaky Chakra's 'Platform' is an quirky offbeat, but extremely well produced track, and perfect to start off a set defining what it feels like, from Sasha's point of view, to be an SF clubber. Other great tracks, Van Bellen's mix of 'Protect your Mind', the impossible to find anywhere else 'Resurrection' by Classified Project, and Slickmick's "my body is bouncing everywhere" 'Lecture'. The mix of 'Blue stream, Empress II, and the Incisions mix of 'Bulgarian' is especially amazing in that Empress II never plays by itself. The overlapping of the kick drums of Empress II and Bulgarian gives a rush that you will feel anywhere; home, backyard, car, anywhere.. The last section of Bulgarian is an actual production created by Sasha himself, where the Housey-ness explodes into a deep barren wasteland of watery distorted chants, deep dark synth, and a bassline giving a futuristic groove impossible to experience elsewhere. The next 2 tracks are mixed to lead one to believe the male and female vocal of each respective track are arguing with each other, trying to place the blame for who destroyed the world around them. The next song 'Im Free' is the rebuilt world, a little different then before, almost crazy with screaming vocals and the craziest (yet it brings a smile to my face) bridge of a song ever. The next mix into 'Anomaly' is purposely off key (nevertheless goes perfectly with each other) to ensure the 'Uh-Oh, its next' effect. At the time, this song was unreleased and had everyone crying for the beautiful synths and to die for vocal. But like I said, What else can you expect from BT but the best.

Anything by Sasha, whether it is a dj mix album, or original work is worth hearing over and over. This is the all time no exception.

I'll tell you straight off, this is probably my favourite CD of all time! Although now over a year old, this CD still sounds as fresh and exciting as the day I bought it. Virtually every tune on this album was unheard of before its release, but each one has slowly become a classic over the last year or so. Sasha not only displays his awe-inspiring mixing talents but also sets a precedent by which all mix compilations should be judged. He shows that a great track needn't be an obvious one and this way of thinking has really pioneered the deep trance sound which is going to dominate the next 12 months. The highlight for me has to be the track 'Hale Bopp' by Der Dritte Raum, closely followed by the mind-blowing mix into Stoneproof's 'Everything's Not You'. If you enjoy this, check out all other Global Underground compilations. They really are the world's greatest series of mix CDs. Other DJs to look out for include John Digweed, Lee Burridge and Danny Howells.

I will tell you this: if you have any patience and are willing to LISTEN to these CDs, then you can fully appreciate what Sasha is doing here. I've had this for a while and I've listened to many other mixes -- the only recent comparable mixes are Sasha's GU in Ibiza, Northern Exposure - East Coast, Funkydesertbreaks2, and Deeper Shades of Hooj 2 (CD2). I know everyone has their own tastes but I know this CD can appeal to anyone with an open mind. This CD is not for candy-ravers, ate-up POS because every track is not crushing your skull. Both of these CDs take you on an incredible sonic journey climaxing with Breeder's "The Chain" on CD2. An all around great CD for home, car, or party with your enlightened friends....have fun!

It should be mandatory that any DJ offering a mixed compilation should programme the tracks as would be expected in a club. That is, building the vibe so that those on the dancefloor can enjoy the peaks and troughs. This is something at which Sasha excels.

Sasha is a DJ who inspires people. Having seen him a number of times he's the one DJ who (trite as it sounds) truly brings people on a journey with his programming and mixing.

Sasha has the ability to mesmerise you with the simplest tune one moment and fire you into a frenzy when you become aware that the low, slow bassline that's been growing deep down in the mix is taking you up a level.

As with the best progressive dance music, you're going to know - instinctively - that the musical progression you anticipate is exactly how it's going to happen. For most, that's what makes dance music formulaic, repetitive and soulless. For those who have an appreciation of a DJ with that talent, it's inspired.

Just listen to the interaction of Joi Cardwell's 'Soul to Bare' with Stoneproof's 'Everything's Not You' if you need proof. Alongside Tilt's 'I Dream' (surely one of the greatest progressive trance tracks ever) and the dark urgency of the two Breeder tracks, Sasha's mix is going to take you to places you thought only existed with chemically enhanced perception.

This mix has been in my car for over a year and is the soundtrack to great memories. Driving to the West of Ireland in glorious sunshine with a gang of friends, parties at home or even driving on a grey Monday morning to a job you hate.

Sasha won't bang out the trance anthems, he won't filter the hell out of a track but he will take his time to promote an idea and then lift the roof off when he does drop one of his trademark BIG tunes.

If you like trance, house, Northern Exposure and the idea of a hybrid between UK and US dancefloors, then you'll probably find something here that will have you coming back for more.

I bought GU013: IBIZA by Sasha before I heard this San Francisco retrospective and believed wholeheartedly that nothing could approach the divine mixing and superb track selection of IBIZA. Boy was I wrong. Sasha's SAN FRANCISCO Global Underground retrospective is every bit as good as IBIZA, and it tends to reflect a live club performance better than the for-the-headphones design of IBIZA.

Opening with a sampled conversation with some half-insane street bums, the first disc moves into the quiet, sly groove that is stereotypical for the first CD of any GU release. Here, however, Sasha's mood-creation is so effective that I cannot pick out highlights, because he brings you into his world with his enchanting track selection.

Disc Two, however, is nothing short of explosive. Opening with another conversation with street bums, Sasha pounds the bass with Narcotik's "Blue" and lifts the listener to a new level of awareness with Illuminatus' "Hope." The highest point of the album is tracks 8-10, Paraglider's "Change Me" sandwiched between two Breeder tracks, the screaming "The Chain" and the epitome of trance "Twilo Thunder." When the bass suddenly falls away about 1/3 of the way through "Twilo Thunder" and there is nothing by spacey sounds in an immediate emotional blow, I'm always can appreciate why trance and progressive house form the best music on Earth. And why Sasha is without a doubt the best DJ on Earth.

GU009: SAN FRANCISCO. Sasha shines again. Get it now!

Sasha Global UnderGround: San Francisco

Now a days finding a DJ is a dime a dozen, we're everywhere. Most DJ strive to be a chameleon on the decks, to have the ability to glide the cross fader between venomous grooves, soothing hypnotic melodies, and phutre-funk. Some have to acquire the gift; others are born with it! One of the naturally gifted ones is a man named Alexander Coe, better know as...Sasha. Sasha has been around spinning his fierce acid trance for 10 years now, yet has jut blown up here in the states three years ago. With multiple residences across the world, his most famous sets are some that are done at the club formally known as Sound Factor, which is now called Twilo. This is where he and partner in-crime (John Digweed) spin their web of beautiful deep trance. This CD finds Sasha along way from his New York home club at Twilo, but across the country in San Francisco's own super club Spundae.

Disc 1 shows Sasha's calmer, gentler side (as if he really has one). There are no golden oldies, just some deep grooves that warm up to an explosion of sci-fi funk. His mix of "protect your mind" and "resurrection" will entice you to get up and shake your booty. When Sasha plays Funk function's "Empress" and splendidly mixed it to Travel's powerhouse anthem "Bulergian", you're probably already caught in his web. The track "Platform" will have you drifting in and out of consciousness, and by the time you realize, there's still one more disc to go; you'll already be worn out.

Yet, when disc 2 track "Blue" bust on, you know Sasha going to take you on another ride! This CD is full of energy; it's harder, faster, and extremely wild. Jack Progo's progressive break beat "Move Your System" will prove just that. The roller coaster on from the deadly venomous track "The Chain", still won't prepare you for what to come later in the disc. Paraglider's "Change Me" will provide the build up for the back draft found in the Breeder's "Twilo Thunder"; a pure classic that will make you lost your mind!

Sasha told MixMag's editor Dom Phillips: "I really wanted this CD to be a repretative of a live set" This CD does more than just that, it shows that when Sasha's in control of the decks; that we are merely puppets and he is pulling the strings...and that's just fine by me! CD is a must own!

DJ Dirty D.

i have to say, (as i was entering new preferences for my amazon account) i was looking through the recommendations that amazon pulled up for my friend sasha and the GU09 came up. it brings back such happy memories as this cd was a landmark and cornerstone all in one, as i am MANA (not the latin group, and i no longer produce under this name) and this comp. was a huge thing for me. i love the way sash has put each and every track together as a whole. i had seen him several times while he was working out the track listing in the clubs he played and when i heard the final edit i cried. i knew this was going to be a timeless classic, and almost 5 years later i still listen to this every now and again and it's like the first time i heard it, even if it must be the millionth time! i highly recommend this as a totally essential cd to get if you love any of the electronica genres, as this is how good music - no matter what its classed as - should sound like.

Dance music. Love it or hate it, its popularity steadily increases. It personifies music in it most experimental and cutting-edge form. DJs play an essential role in the promotion and proliferation of this genre in mixing live sets as well as remixing music for the masses. The era of the DJ as hero has arrived.

Global Underground and Thrive Records are labels well known for their tenacity in finding talented DJs who mix the newest, most modern music available. They follow these prophets of the new frontier, capturing the essence and energy of their mix sets in clubs all over the world. Thus, their world DJ series, simply known as Global Underground is by far the most popular and noteworthy.

The most sought after of the 15 volumes in this series is Global Underground 003: San Francisco. It is so popular in fact, that it is considered the definitive mix for this form of music and is considered a collector's item. As a DJ of 11 years, I would have to agree. I personally look for music that not only entertains my audience, but affects them in a positive way. This 2-CD boxed set effectively does both.

This compilation is mixed and compiled by Sasha. Sasha, along with his sometime-partner John Digweed, was one of the first British DJs to break into the American club scene. It has been magic ever since.

He has been voted by clubbers as the "World's #1 DJ," been interviewed on National Public Radio, and made 7 albums (3 with John Digweed). He has also remixed numerous songs from the likes of Chemical Brothers, Madonna, and Depeche Mode, to name a few.

This compilation, his first solo effort, has received a lot of recognition as well. It has been selected as Amazon.com's "Best of 1999" and "Essential Recording." In other words, it's good baby, it's very good.

The first disc opens with a rather strange montage of the different people Sasha met in his travels in and around San Francisco. The beats slowly emerge from the densely packed mesh of voices and sounds, filtering through until they overwhelm and supplant the chaos.

Sasha deftly weaves samples, beats, and melodies from one to the other. It becomes an acoustic journey. Rather than simply listening, one can almost see the changing soundscape as the melodies invade the senses. The entrancing and bouncing synth of Freaky Chakra's "Platform" usher us into Sasha's happy world. Soon after, the beat takes over the feet as exemplified by Medway's "Resurrection EP."

The mood is seamlessly shifted to a refreshingly energetic one with the introduction of Travels' "Bulgarian." The music progresses even further with the techno basslines and hardfloor beats of Morgan King's "I'm Free."

Finally, the journey ends with Taylor's "Anomaly" in an upbeat, progressive dance excursion, making one sad that the ride is over.

Thankfully, the second disc isn't far behind. As the hard-thumping beat of Narcotik's "Blue" hits the eardrums, it is apparent that this set is very different from the first. The floor is dropped out from under the listener as the minimalist anthem, Dave Kane's "Clarkness," gives way to the raucous assault on the hips by Eclipse 8's "Acoustic Principals."

Not to be left behind, both songs by The Breeder's ("Chain" and "Twilo Thunder") serve up a hefty portion of driving beats, riffs, and thumping bass of their own. The last track, Tilt's "I Dream" keeps up the pace, but supplies an entrancing melody as if to guarantee that everyone's body moves until the very end.

In summary, this is a great compilation. Do yourself a favor and pick it up. If you want to sample the music or just want more information, feel free to visit Global Underground's web site at www.cluboxed.co.uk or www.Amazon.com.

It's no wonder why Sasha has received all the attention he has, or why Global Underground's world DJ series has been so successful. It's good baby, it's very good.

Sasha is a wonderful sound I can definitely dig. Imagine a more funky, upbeat, playful version of the sonic progression of Digweed. This is a style unique in itself, being super fun and shooting out a stream of emotion while progressing through unparralelled mixing. Like other DJ mix albums, you must listen through a couple of tracks, if not the full album, to get the feel and vibe.

I still wonder why everyone likes Disk2 better than Disk1. Disk1 is one of the greatest mixes that I've ever heard, no doubt about it. Not to bring down Disc2 of course, but this mix is amazing. Freaky Chakra's "Platform" opens up an airy world, full of life and energy. Tracks 3 and 4 are so well mixed, I SERIOUSLY did think that it was one track! I love the female vocals and the upbeat feel, but it's still poignant and touching in a playful way. A sky-high screaming mood is set through the "Ressurection" tracks and these tracks alone are enough to make you feel like your high. Tracks 7 and 8 are super cool dance floor fillers with incredible vocal samples. Tracks 9 and 10 are super bubbly and upbeat funk trips! I espeicially loved the latter for its awesome vocal samples and funk vibe. Track 11 is a bit house-ier and features a little bit of female vocals. I didn't like the vocals, but it is the ideal setup for "Everything's Not You", which starts out kind of downbeat with male vocals that are awesome, and works itself up to a cool break into trance. Cool indeed. "I'm Free" sounds like a typical Sasha track (a.k.a brilliant), until it breaks into this choppy video game funk ride! It's a cross between charming and confusing, but I lean toward the former. "Anomaly-Calling Your Name" has been a big hit for awhile, but doesn't have that big-hit cheesy feel because of how it's placed and mixed. I liked this disk alot for its whole positive vibe and funky beats. Once again I would like to say that this is one of the greatest mixes ever. "My momma always said there's two kinds of DJ mixes -- the kind that use tracks for tools for progression and the kind that use tracks for individual value!" well, this disk does both! That's rare in a world where you either have ultra-mega-epic-cheesy "El Nino" crossfades or super smooth but overly repetitive moonman ecstasy recovery toons.

Disk2 introduces a different monster. I stood away from the "intro" on disk1, but I need to comment on "street bums". A lot of dudes are hanging around outside playing guitar and talking about senseless stuff, when this ultra-clean super cool sky-blue synth fades in and captivates you. This is "Blue" a literally cool song that makes you feel like you're in a cool San Fransisco breeze. You are pulled into an emotional vortex, like disk1, except this time they're aren't going to be as friendly. "melancholy rage" indeed. Track 3 is the beginning of something deep, with its humming synth lines and minimalist stylings. Track 4 is super encouraging, giving you, well, "Hope." The synth lines give you a sense of security and make you feel real cool. Track 5 is the beggining of this monster-sound, a rageful and crackling sound. The sickly-sounding synth on "Clarkness" make you feel uncomfortable, but by track 6, you figure out what Sasha's up to. It is a harder hitting feel with twists and turns into dangerous territory. The rest of the mix is much harder, more progressive trance. The piano on "Psionic" is really refreshing and its makes you feel more comfortable about the trip. Track 8-"The Chain" is Sasha's polite little way of saying "I'm gonna kick yo [behind], punk rat!" This is the track where the "peak-time" tracks begin, amazingly hard hitting and transcendental. Paraglider's brilliant "Change Me" mix with the next track for 3 minutes of my favourite trance tracks of all time, Breeder's "Twilo Thunder," a super charging piece with loads of acidic trance-ness. It runs up to "Movin Through Your System", and if you're not dancing or something, you are weird. That crazy vocal sample and shaky drum beat team up with the shy organ at a warehouse rave! Real cool. The friendly suggestiveness of "The Mission" is pretty fly and the song altogether is really good. I could complain about the closer, about how it's only 4 minutes long and you don't get a healthy exercise of the song's capablities, but I'm not going to because it's one of the bests songs on the disk! Tilt always brings cool trax. Wonder when their studio CD will be released??? This mix isn't one of my favorites. Actually I don't think it's that amazing. But it still does justice to Sasha and GU and is still alright to listen to.

The cool burning Disk1 is still the real treat here, being one of the best disks you can ever own, but Disk2 is definetly the mover and shaker of the two. This is one of the only CD's you can buy where you get 2 of the 3 sides of trance, funky/melodic and hard. To reach the other side, chill, be sure to pick up some of the groundbreaking Northern Exposure mixes that Sasha did with his partner John Digweed.