Customer Reviews

Music for the Maases

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I don't care if Maas is a producer trying to DJ his own tracks. He doesn't have the skill of Sasha with the transitions or track placement, but WHO DOES? This 2 CD set is worth buying based on the quality of the tracks alone. Maas has a talent of taking spacey, plain-vanilla trance and f&*!ing it up with SICK synth loops and tripped out samples. Both discs have been messing up my head for a week solid. VERY danceable.

While Timo Maas has been criticized for creating DJ mix CDs that aren't on the same level as the best in the business, he still manages to create soundscapes that get your head bobbing, toes tapping, and body moving. By the time you get to Timo Maas's own "Schieber 1" on disc 2, if you're not moving, you're either sleeping or dead. I've heard the same things said from multiple reviewers about Paul Van Dyk and Paul Oakenfold (great producers, bad DJs), but there's very little denying that PvD's "Vorsprung Dyk Technik" (disc 1) or Oakenfold's "Resident" have set off that all-important dance response in people that hear them. And if there's anyone who have been lucky enough to hear PvD's live mixes at Homelands or Berlin (or LA for New Years Eve 2000), they know what "producer" guys like this are capable of.

Getting back to Timo Maas, however, there are some transitions that will make you go, "Huh?" (one of them occurs between tracks 5 and 6 on disc 2, which simply don't want to blend with each other at all), but for the most part, this is a solid showcase for Maas' own work, his remixes, and other assorted vinyl that he likes to spin. Solid.

That's how Timo Maas describes his music(and how he's been quoted in just about every single interview he's done lately.) Wet and Hard. Not trance, house or techno. Well, no matter what it is, Timo Maas' sound is definitely unique. Full of filthy, synthetic noises, it just builds and adds layer upon layer of filthiness but just sounds so right.

CD1 is wicked, starting off with some cool breakbeats and then getting into the more percussive funky material. Definitely worth the money, and is bound to become a sound that is going to be more and more prevalent in clubs and parties all over.

Tracks of note(ignoring the urge to list them all): Timo Maas-Eclipse, Der Schieber I and II, and of course Green Velvet's Flash (Timo Maas mix)

The Artist >
Wow! Would you expect anything less from Timo Maas? He is nominated for the best remixer and the best newcomer for the Muzik Awards and this album portrays his work with unbelievable production and style. A pioneer in Electronic/Dance Music, the sound of Timo Maas is spread wide into many different Genres and Elements that somehow come together into something totally new and inventive.

The Album >
The tracks on this CD are amazing. Of the twenty tracks on the album, only four don't have his name on them (as creator / remixer). Whether it's hard pumpin' house, tribal bass beats or rolling snare drums, this album will suck you in and won't let you out. My personal favorite is Flash (song 10 > CD 1), amazing on good system. Check out O - The fifteenth Letter of the Alphabet as well.

The Summary >
If you haven't heard the name Timo Maas, you will. If his future projects are anything like the tracks on this album, he is destined to be a legend in electronic music. Pick it up! Introduce yourself to a new and exciting sound. The sound of Timo Maas.

John August
johnaugust@thedjlist.com
...

They should be ashamed of themselves. This is a collection of rhythm tracks. No particular sense of melody, no development, nothing but repetitive tone generators. I sent my copy to the garbage dump.

Nothing ever like this has pleased my feelings in such a way. This two disc set lists all of everything that you need to fuffill any of your music desires. That, is of course, if you like DJ music. This CD mix takes you on a journey through Drum & Bass, Jungle, Groove, Trance, House, Techno, and anything else you could think of. I recommend this CD 100%!!

The Artist >
Wow! Would you expect anything less from Timo Maas? He is nominated for the best remixer and the best newcomer for the Muzik Awards and this album portrays his work with unbelievable production and style. A pioneer in Electronic/Dance Music, the sound of Timo Maas is spread wide into many different Genres and Elements that somehow come together into something totally new and inventive.

The Album >
The tracks on this CD are amazing. Of the twenty tracks on the album, only four don't have his name on them (as creator / remixer). Whether it's hard pumpin' house, tribal bass beats or rolling snare drums, this album will suck you in and won't let you out. My personal favorite is Flash (song 10 > CD 1), amazing on good system or at a club. Check out O - The fifteenth Letter of the Alphabet as well.

The Summary >
If you haven't heard the name Timo Maas, you will. If his future projects are anything like the tracks on this album, he is destined to be a legend in electronic music. Pick it up! Introduce yourself to the new sound. The sound of Timo Maas.

I was very excited about this release; to my dismay it was... unfullfilling. The CDs would have been better off being tracks NOT mixed into one another, such as many PVDs and the recent Hybrid. Timo Maas have now proven internationally that he is not a good DJ; he is a great producer. Maas' tracks and remixes should only be found throughout other compilations and sets by fellow artists, not his own "DJ Mix" CD.

There is no sense to the order of tracks that were selected. It starts off with "Dooms Night" (his remix of course) good track but for an opening track? not as track01, maybe during a live set when you are following another DJ. Onto to more remixes and produced works. "Jan Driver" is good. And of course "Der Schieber" will be thrown in there (it was one his bigger tracks as a producer) Disc01 goes from track to track in no real order, it comes across sloppy and then ends abrubtly with "Flash". Once again, a good track, but as a closing to a CD? WTF? Disc02 is slightly better - track wise, with a new "Lustral" (vocals this time around) "Annihilate", & "Supertransonic". To end the CD, there are two versions of "Mama Konda" so track09 ends as if the CD was; and then track10 comes in and out alone.

As said before, the track selection has no sense. Timo Maas does hold the talent, skill and know how to produce great works. But when a CD is created to this poor caliber when it comes to mixing skills, track order, and altogether style to replicate a "set" it comes across as an obvious money maker without much effort than putting tracks out that have been tagged Timo Maas produced/remixed. You are better off buying what you normally do, Maas singles/records and so on will found on there. Mixed in and selected in a better order, timing and such for a better set equivalent by experienced skilled DJs. As far as i am concerned..... this 2xCD is TOO much Maas and not enough "DJ".

Like the Editorial Review above says, Timo is definitely the man of the moment. It is almost impossible to pick up a hard trance DJ mix CD without at least one of his tracks on it. Listen to this CD and you will find out why DJs love the guy. If you like hard, dirty trance, BUY THIS CD - you will not be disappointed. Disc One is by far the better disc, although I start it at the second song, the first track is pretty annoying. The Muse and Mad Dogs tracks have some funky breakbeats goin' on, and then the Jan Driver track gets things really going in the hard trance style Timo has perfected over recent years. The disc ends with his remix of Green Velvet's "Flash" which is an absolutley slammin' track with hilarious vocal samples (e.g. "There's little Johnny and Miss Sue, smokin' on a joint, now this is not the thing to do . . ."). Judging by the other reviews posted before mine, I am not alone in thinking this is the best track.

The second disc isn't quite as good, but still better than a lot of stuff out there. The last few tracks show some diversity, though, and have more of a downtempo vibe. Overall, this is a stellar compilation of (mostly) Timo's work - the few tracks on here that aren't wither produced or remixed by Timo obviously reflect his aesthetic. If he would have put "Ubik" on here instead of the first track, I'd give it six stars. As the title says "Vol. One," I can only hope there's more to come.

Yet another example of a two disc DJ album where disc 1 leaves you hanging and disc 2 attempts to kiss and make up with you to make the save. Disc 1 moved too quickly from sound to sound. It lacked the smooth transition through sounds that make the greats. There's no feeling in most of disc 1. It brings somewhat of a tacky sound at times. Discs 2 comes back strong to take you for the ride. Yet, not enough to totally rebound from the poor opening act. Peace