Customer Reviews

Global Underground: Amsterdam

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The folks at Boxed surely love Nick Warren, as this is his fourth Global Underground set (that's more than any other dj can claim). Each of the three previous Warren efforts has been distinctive in style, so it's not surprising that GU018 Amsterdam is startlingly different from GU011 Budapest, his previous set. Budapest was intense, uptempo, squelch-laden, trancey, and unrelentingly banging (but no, it was not "cheesy," people). This time around, Warren has moved more in a more eclectic direction, including tracks that span trance, techno-trance, tribal-ish house, and even some touches of funk. What unites many of these selections is a tendency to establish a particular rhythmic/musical groove and then to stay there for long periods of time. In other words, some of the tracks may seem "monotonous" to people not previously steeped in the world of (relatively) noncommercial electronic dance music. Personally, I think the results are satisfactory (especially if the music is played LOUD), but the set is just uneven enough to add a tinge of disappointment to my overall reaction.

The first cd starts out outstandingly, with two lovely, textured trance tracks, including the phenomenally beautiful "Eternity" by Ariane. The groove then turns toward housey-tribal material that while certainly excellent overall, does tend toward the repetitive, and this style may not please everyone. The subtle progressions of Warren's own Way Out West track, "Intensify," have grown on me with repeated listenings, and Main Element's "Hedfuk" is outstandingly intense and hypnotic. Mumps' "Mechanisms E-H" veritably exudes infectious energy. On the down side, however, Hipp-E and Tony Presents Soul Interactive's "Riddem Control" seems to spin its percussive wheels endlessly, and a glitzy, pounding track like Fluke's "Bullet (Cannonball)" (those grunting-style male vocals!) simply seems to me not to fit well within the mood and flow of the mix overall. James Niche's "Isolated" has a bouncy, infectious trancey quality that make it a winner (it would have fit in well on "Budapest"), but the final track on the first mix, Soul Driver's "States of Mind," is musically undistinguished while employing Middle Eastern-style vocals that seem more jarring than trance-inducing.

The second cd includes a series of tracks that explore rhythmic textures of different types, and this makes for pleasant listening, but does not leave one with the impression that the music overall is memorable. Inserted within this generally techno-trancey style is a single track that incorporates a truly infectious hook, Revolt's "Dive Into the Deep." Personally, I love this record, but its role within the quite different flow of the set overall seems a bit problematic.

Also: in GU018, Warren has selected three tracks that prominently feature sampled spoken vocals (unlike Paul Oakenfold's unfortunate experiment in "Perfecto Presents Another World," however, these are intrinsically parts of the records he plays, rather than something added on in gimmicky fashion). Clearly some listeners find such samples (about music, about drugs, about Mr. Peterbilt's sexual avocation) to be "cool," but I think that such samples are more effective within the context of a live set (a one-time event) than in a cd set which listeners are expected to play repeatedly. In other words, the interruption to the flow of the music and the gimmicky quality of the samples can cause them to become tiresome relatively quickly.

There are a few flaws, but this set by Warren has sufficient musical intensity and overall quality to make it well worth the money. Despite the claims of some would-be experts on the craft of beatmixing, Warren knows what he is doing in this regard and is certainly a first-rate technician on the turntables. This is not the best GU set ever (even for Warren), but for fans of electronic dance music it's still likely a welcome addition to a cd collection.

This is Nick Warren of Way Out West's fourth release in the Global Underground series, eclipsing the amount any other DJ has in the series by two (until Digweed's LA GU is released. I can't wait!). In my opinion this is Warren's best work to date and perhaps, the riskiest GU since Hong Kong. His earlier GU releases in Brazil, Prague, and Budapest and Back to Mine set all favor hard, driving trance with little progression in terms of buildup and breakdown. Amsterdam completely deserts this style for a sound of deep, progressive house with some minimal trance touches on the outside. Not to mention the sexy vocals of Way Out West's own "Intensify" and "I'll Call You" (one of the best tracks I've heard in '01 thus far). Thrown into this electronic potluck are some very sleek tribal beats like on "Riddem Control" and "Swarm". What I like the most about this GU is that it touches more genres of electronica in one set than Emerson's Uruguay or Oakenfold's NY or Resident Cream releases while maintaining a certain tone throughout the mix.

CD1 is the better of the two, setting the GU's tone of a dreamy landscape narrated by progressive rhythmic house and sexy vocals and tribal beats. From the first track "Word" I felt like I was in a trance dream, as opposed to his Budapest or Back to Mine releases where I felt like I was at the late-night club. CD2 picks up where CD1 left off, only increasing the pace a little, but nevertheless maintaining this very subdued, minimal sound that has made Sasha and Digweed trance gods. Notable tracks such as "Play" and "Dive into the Deep" are cornerstones of CD2 worthy of individual play time.

I don't know why Warren's style has changed so suddenly. I would have liked to hear him live in between Summer 99 and Fall 00 when this was released to see how his style was changing. But GU:Amsterdam makes it clear that progressive house with minimal trance touches is emerging as both Warren's and the fat lads' preferred sound. I was a little disappointed with the latest GU's from London and Cape Town, but Amsterdam has revived my faith in just how original and cutting-edge the Global Underground sound is. Before I close, I would like to address one issue of complaint by many reviewers and people I've talked to about this GU: the mixing. The mixing is much more aggressive and quick on this GU because Warren is doing it LIVE! He is not allowing a computer or synthesizers to do it for him. This is really Warren's mixing, which doesn't compare to other GU's artificial mxing solely because it is done manually without the aid of cutting-edge technology. Warren's efforts with Amsterdam, despite how much people detract from it because of the mixing, still ranks up there with San Fran and Hong Kong as my favorite GU's. Pick this one up now.

When someone buys Nick Warren, they want something out of the ordinary. This is not so with most other DJs; with Oakenfold and PVD you're set for banging trance, and with Sasha and Diggers you're set for melodic trance. With Nick Warren, every set is a new experience, but they are all kept together with that subtly percussive, uplifting and musical sound that is his signature. The pure creativity of this mix got me, it fit perfect for a wierd but wonderful experience. The same thing with Renaissance Revelation, people don't understand that it is meant to be a totally new experience. Don't let techno junkies and cynical trainspotters get in your way of the enjoyment of this mix!

I don't know how I got around to buying this. I'm not really a dance music fan. And I'm at least two generations clear of the whole house/trance scene. Anyway, I'm glad I did. The Global Underground concept is, as I understand it, to provide high-quality seamless progressive house mixes - by the world's top DJs - that are great for either dancing to or listening to at home. If European dance music had been this good in the 80s, New Order would have never stood a chance. The sound is magnificent, the grooves infectious and tasteful, and the transitions between songs silky smooth. I've got the Sasha Ibiza record too, which seems to be the most popular GU, but Nick Warren's Amsterdam is EVERY bit as good. Trance/house can get a bit Euro-cheese sometimes (which teenagers like, apparently) and in fact the GU sampler, `Arrivals' has quite a lot of it for some strange reason. Nick Warren seems to be more, shall we say, "adult-oriented" in that respect. The Steely Dan of dance. The CD 1 starts mellow and builds up to a chugging groove. CD 2 starts out pedal-to-the-metal and keeps going sending you to beat heaven. I've never quite mastered the difference between 'trance' and 'house' (if someone could explian that to me I would be grateful) but whichever it is that Nick Warren does, it works for me.
It's all instrumental too which I like, except for the odd spoken sample.
This is a great buy. Highly recommended.

The latest Global Underground compilation is the fourth set mixed by Nick Warren. His previous sets (Prague, Brazil and Budapest) were high energy sets and this one is more subdued and deep. The thing I like about the Global Underground series is that the track selection is always fresh. The DJs stay away from the standard Ibiza hits that appear everywhere else and give us songs that have an uncanny way of becoming dance floor hits over the following months. Many times I have pulled out an older GU disc to play it and more of the tracks will be familiar to me than when the disc was first released. This newest disc is no exception.

The first disc simmers and builds almost the entire length of the set. Opening tracks `The Word' and `Eternity' by Ariane tease us but get us hooked. This demonstrates Warren's talent with both song selection and mixing. He takes us on a satisfying journey yet we want more. The third track `I'll Call You' by Soul Mekanik turns the mix deeper and picks up the beats. When Way Out West's `Intensify' begins, Warren has seamless moved from trance to deep house and with a touch of breakbeat.

The energy is turned up on Main Elements `Hedfuk' and Main Element's `Mechanisms E-H' and just as it's about to peak Warren mixes into house anthem `Bullet' by Fluke. Warren closes the first disc on a lighter note with the upbeat funk of James Niche's `Isolated', PMT's `Gyromancer' and `States Of Mind' by Soul Driver.

Disc Two kicks off with the funky energy of H-Bomb's `Groove Attack'. Highlights of this disc are Futureshock's `Sparc' and Nick Hook's `Enhanced'. Make sure to crank the bass on Neil Himmons 'Play' to feel the heavy basslines. The intensity level drops a bit for Sonic Infusion's `Reformatted' and winds towards its conclusion with several techno trance tunes.

In recent months I've noticed that world class trance DJs (Paul Oakenfold, Dave Seaman, Sasha, etc..) are all to one degree or another going through a shift in style from trance to progressive styles. This disc illustrates this shift. The first disc is mellow with ambient touches, while the second disc is a mix of techno, trip hop, and deep, progressive house. Global Underground's discs are consistently excellent in that each one continues to grow on the listener as you continue to play it.

Nick Warren - dj extraordinaire. This is his fourth mix for Global Underground, and he shows no signs of slowing down. His past mixes have been progressive trance, but this cd wanders into new territory with a much deeper, much house-ier feel. He has picked the right tracks, but doesn't always execute them properly. He all too often misplaces songs, bringing them in too early or placing them after completely different tracks (i.e. the goofy, ravey "Mechanisms E-H" coming after the poignant "Hedfuk"). His mixing is very simple, often just crossfading to another record as the other begins to lead out. But if it's good tracks you're looking for, this is the place to look.

Disk1 is the better of the two. It opens with the absolutely brilliant "The Word", very deep without unnecessary repetition. The mix moves on towards the hazy, hedonistic "Eternity" and the 3AM underground feel of "I'll Call U" (EXCELLENT track). The pulsating percussion and phasing female vocals of Way Out West's "Intensify", and the vibe gets much funkier and faster on "Riddem Control". The vibe hits a high energy level on the synth-y poignant "Hedfuk" and the breaky, playful "Mechanisms E-H". From there, the disk slows down and finishes off with the exceptional "Soul Driver". This disk is a mix suitable for the dark lounge or coffee bar and works incredibly well.

Disk2 is where I began to get disappointed. It has one of the worst openers of the whole GU series, "Groove Attack". It's not a very good track anyways, much less a proper opener. It eventually goes on towards Futureshock's awesome "Sparc" and Neil Himmon's wonderous "Play". It reaches the highest level of apathy on Zenith's "Swarm", and then hits with "Reformatted" (which worked MUCH better on Max Graham's Transport 4). "Dive Into The Deep" is the synth heavy progressive pulser of the disk, and does a fine job standing alone. "Ultra Vixens" features one weird vocal sample... it sounds like it's from one of those 40's "move to suburbia" commercials, but I soon realised it could not have been ...Good for a laugh. It ends with the very well recieved "Future" and an ambient substructure from Ariane. This mix is nothing to die for, but there's a couple tracks that made me smile and some beats that made me move.

Disk1 is one of GU's better mixes, while disk2 is a tad disappointing. A nice package, however, and much different from other Warren.

This is definitely one of the better Global Underground compilations. This CD based on Nick Warren's set in Amsterdam has a quiet addiction to it. His mixing isn't very complex, but is always right on the mark. The first couple of tracks on CD1 start the beat with an housey flowing groove, utilizing complex tribal drum overlays. As the set progresses, he drops into an edgier trancey sound. Most of the tracks have a minimal feel to them, but don't let go. CD2 starts out different. Nick starts with a very straight forward tech-house feel. Further into the disc it settles into a funkier dutch house vibe, but he never gives up that dark european edge. This CD set deserves major props. Great track original track selection. All around a great addition to the Boxed collection. Highly recommended buy.

I was very disappointed after getting Warren's Budapest because he seemed to be playing cheesy, banging stuff rather than the more interesting styles he explored on his awesome Brazil. This set is a welcome return to form. Very interesting music, not at all a "hands-in-the-air" collection. It is very deep and progressive but still maintains interest through small melodic fragments. The second disc is particularly impressive. The moment when the synth melody appears two and a half minutes into the Revolt track is fantastic. This CD is my current favorite along with Danny Howells' first Nocturnal disk. I recommend it highly, it's right up there with Sasha's Ibiza.

Truly a great cd from a DJ who never fails. Tons of good tracks, lots of the expected prog house/trance and even some Mr C. style tech-house. Not the dramatic psy-trance of "Budapest," but still rocking (especially if played loud!). For all the reviewers whining about the mixing, you need to check the liner notes. Unlike almost all the GU discs (including Sasha's)this one was not mixed with the help of computer software i.e. ProTools. There is no mention of "Cheeky" Paul, the normal computer guru who makes everyone sound better than they are. This is what DJs sound like, as opposed to compters. Is it the best live mixing ever? No, but it could be MUCH worse (listen to Oakenfold's Essential CD). Personally I like an honest sounding mix as opposed to all too clean programming. If the GU serties is about hearing big name DJs as they sound in reality, then this is as good as it gets.

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For those long-time Nick Warren fans, it doesn't come as much of a shock. For those who compare this with his earlier GU releases, it is like comparing night and day. While listening to this album, one may ask, "What the f*ck happened?"

Disc one starts with the ephemeral notes of "The Word" and "Eternity". Soul Mekanik's "I'll Call U" is a great track that will get your body moving -- just a bit. The rhythm speeds up a notch from that point with WoW's low-key remix of "Intensify" and Soul Interactive's "Riddem Control". "Hedfuk" is great, and Fluke's "Bullet" is a bitchin' track from the past.

Disc two starts off at a rapid clip. "Ajuna", "Sparc" and "Play" are three outstanding tracks. "Ajuna" primes you for the driving and addicting beats on "Sparc", transitioning into "Play", which seems to have been drawn straight out of GU's Brasil compilation, also spun by Warren. The Stripped Mix of Ariane's "Eternity" is a great close for this ecclectic collection.

Nick Warren has shown a different face with this album. It is by no means a head-banging trancer. It is much more subdued, requiring one to listen to it in earnest in order to appreciate what Warren is delivering. No raw drum beats, no abrasive synths. No sharp peaks or dips. Only refined, funky, driving melodies that carry the listener from start to finish. If you're looking for something with explosive energy, try Warren's GU005-Budapest or GU008-Brasil compilations.
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