Customer Reviews

Kings of Techno

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

 

 

I don't typically feel inclined to leave reviews but after seeing the undeserved, painfully-low reviews this album has garnered, I felt the need to add 2cents.

No, this is not a typical mix CD. There are countless mix CDs by both artists if you want a traditional DJ mix to enlighten you to the mixing talents of these virtuosos. Carl Craig's 'Sessions' double mix CD released this year is a superb selection of tracks that he has blesssed with his production, either as an artist or in remix form. Garnier's 'Excess Luggage' is 3 CDs worth of superb mixing, including a Detroit exclusive mix.

This offering is something special, providing insight into the songs and styles that served as primary influences to their respectively unique sounds.

Carl Craig's side is basically a roller-skate-rink style mixtape, complete with shout-outs between tracks. The atmosphere is loose and relaxed, the selections superb. To the reviewer who complains that Craig is mixing politics into his music doesn't understand the inherent politics of Detroit techno in general, whether its spoken or conveyed in the energy of the songs. If you have ever listened to Derrick May or Underground Resistance you know that there is an underlying message within every 909 kick. That's not to say that this mix is a downer, on the contrary.. the new wave and ebm selections demonstrate early sounds adopted by this and the other Detroit masters.

Garnier's side is a journey through styles, as this French DJ is prone to deliver. It is a seamless mix (one track no less) through all of the styles the 313 has exported to the world, from the avant garde jazz of Alice Coltrane, to leftfield funk of J-Dilla and Funkadelic, to the pure energy of Iggy and Jeff Mills. Between tracks are street samples and interviews, bringing an overall coherence to the mix, and by the end of the trip you walk away with a brilliant perspective, albeit a European one, of the Detroit sound.

Don't sleep on this based on the previous reviews. Pick it up, but accompany it with the other DJ-mix albums mentioned above if you are unfamiliar with their work as DJs.

I bought this for my husband - and was surprised to find that Carl Craig talks all over every song in disc 1. It's unlistenable. The Laurent Garnier disc is fine (no talking), though.

WTF. First of all they switched it and had LG doing the Detroit mix and Carl "can't" Craig doing the Euro mix. Laurent Garnier is great. The mix, well, so so, but he did mix it all up from disco to hip and trip hop, to techno. But Mr. Craig. Please shut up! He spoke over every track and the blends could of been done better by a seeing eye dog. Detroit is awesome, but I think Derrick May should pimp slap Craig and take over as the ruling Techno King of the 8 mile. 2 thumbs and big toes DOWN!

It gets 1 star since there is no ZERO star. To be playing 'Kano - It's a war' and saying "this goes out to those that hate war" and a bit later "no more bush", I think he crossed the line mixing politics into the music I love. In fact, he talks through the whole mix. If he had shut up and focused on mixing, the mix could have perhaps come out better, but instead his mixing was poor, messy...awful. The music selection is really awesome, but Carl Craig's mixing trainwrecks plus his stupid Mcing just ruined it for me. I wished I had saved my money on this one.