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21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Epitome of Trance, December 14, 2000
This review is from: Global Underground: San Francisco (Audio CD)
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!!
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The man like..., April 16, 2001
This review is from: Global Underground: San Francisco (Audio CD)
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.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sasha is God!, January 28, 2000
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.
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