Customer Reviews

Paris (Long)

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

 

 

People will inevitably wish to compare this GU release to Nick's superb GU Shanghai release, all of his other mixes, and for that matter to just about every commercial DJ album spanning all genres of electronic dance music. In fact, that is frequently what occurs with snapshot reviews such as those posted on amazon and other sites. For example, you frequently read reviews from disappointed consumers when they realize that an album they thought was going to sound like carl cox sounds more like morcheeba. OK, I am exagerrating a bit, but you get the point. EDM fans, and EDM releases, are so diverse even within the "dance music" genre that unless you are somewhat familiar with what you are purchasing, there will inevitably be some disappointment.

In that sense, you can only really fairly compare Nick's Paris release to similar mixes. If you are exclusively a fan of 4:00 AM beat-you-over-the head-into-submission techno beats, this release is not for you. If you are exclusively a fan of modern sasha-style long, drawn out 12 minute slight build-ups with no true climax, this is not for you (that is not a knock, I'm enjoying sasha's post-modern period). Even if you are a fan of traditional, text-book 4/4 progressive house, the Paris release has its moments, but that style does not carry the day. In that sense, it is dissimilar from Shanghai, at least from Shanghai disc 1.

So, what is this mix? The first disc is extremely similar to Nick's Reyjavik CD 1. It is what it is- downtempo, atmospheric, diverse, melodic, chilled. It is moving and seemingly appeals to a much wider audience than traditional house-heads. It does not "peak" and is not for the dance floor. If you enjoy that kind of stuff, it is a masterpiece, including in all the technical mixing aspects. If you don't, well, don't waste your money. CD2 is more uptempo and is most comparable to Hernan Cattaneo's recent live mixes you can hear on Hernan's weekly London radio show. Being a big Hernan fan, if I did not know better I would think Paris CD2 is a current Hernan live mix. If I had to classify it, it is progressive house-oriented with interludes of breakbeats and yet other interludes where Nick shifts it downtempo a bit. What Nick and Hernan also seem to be frequently doing these days is choosing tracks which have the uplifting, spiritual, epic melody in the background (the kind of thing that on a grander scale I suppose is the backbone of tiesto glow-stick trance), but is done in a much more understated and tasteful manner, more as a backdrop (and of course without the 100 million BPM snaredrum crazy buildups). On Nick and Hernan's current releases this kind of backdrop is more comparable to a moving dramatic-movie soundtrack classical piece, with layers of slower 4/4 and breakbeats on top.

As much as it seemingly depresses me to state this, my clubbing days are receding further into the rearview mirror, and I guess as a function of my age (31) I no longer need the dance floor high energy craziness which I used to crave, but I still have a passion for being moved by quality EDM of varying types. Obviously its only one person's opinion, but that is where the appeal of GU Paris lies for me. Perhaps if you can identify with that, this album is for you.

Nick Warren is a DJ who is been in the game for a long time. His maturity shows here and, once again, he comes at the listener with something totally different than his previous mixes. If any comparison can be made it would be closer to the opening of Disc 2 of his Reykjavik mix or the very end of his Shanghai mix. Though it's similar, it goes beyond these comparisons.

Disc 1 is, without a doubt, the most amazing downtempo, chilled-out, ambient, blissed out, dubbed out - whatever label you want to tag on it - mix I have ever heard. This isn't the coming down after a night of raving kind of chill out. This is something altogether different. It has a symphonic sound to it, big sounds, headphone friendly. It's mesmerizing, hypnotic, beautiful.

Disc 2 is a bit more uptempo but it too is mesmerizing. Don't expect trance or high BPMs to get you pumped up. This one is much more cerebral and, like Disc 1, the mixing is flawless. It took me some time to warm up to it as I had different expectations but I finally caught on and found myself carried away with the mix.

Most mixes nowadays are derivative, uninteresting, formulaic, sounding more like something from a movie soundtrack or television show theme song. The whole electronic scene has become awash in the cult of celebrity, fame and imitation that makes up so much of the popular entertainment industry. Yet every so often, an artist shines, one with genuine talent and innovation, one who kicks it up a notch and makes something memorable. Nick Warren succeeds on this CD.

Where does he find these tracks?!

Once again, Nick Warren does not disappoint.

Nick has served us a very tasty dish with this release. I have every GU album to date and this one is truly outstanding. The quality of the tracks he's selected is just top notch. Mix em all together flawlessly in the right order and you've got a recipe for some gourmet electronica. A real gem.

What more can be said about Nick Warren as a DJ? Brilliant, master, or genius? I'm sure that every known title has been used at some time or another to describe this guy. However there is a single word in the english language that I feel describes him best. Ineffable (i.e. you can't describe him with words!). Global Underground 030: Paris is yet another testament to his ineffability.

I had to stop my MP3 player 15 minutes into listening to this album for the first time. Why? Well, I had accidently started disc 2 and was a little off my norm at the time! It was too much...too good...too powerful...too...well you get my point. So...a few days later with my full attention span intact, I gave it another go. I don't think I have ever felt so much euphoria while listening to music since disc 2 of Global Underground 24:7 by Danny Howells. Sorry to sound so melodramatic but I'm being honest.

Again, I started with disc 2. The set is so incredible. Tracks loaded with overlapping and intricate sounds, melodies and harmonies...but also simple and minimalistic in essence. There are so many subtle peaks on a background that never truly dips too low. No buildups or crescendos are clearly discernable after "I Miss" and "Sweep" (tracks 1&2). By "Cosmopolitan Drink" (track 3) your feet will no longer touch the ground until the end of the disc.

This may seem a little boring to a lot of progressive house and trance fans. Especially those who solely live for the much loved crescendo-decrecedos heard on many live and commercial electronica sets.

A quick warning to those listeners that consider GU008:Brazil to be Warren's best Global Underground release. This album hits the other end of the electronica spectrum for Warren. Sorry, but those days are predominantly gone for him. Since 2003, and the timely release of GU024:Reykjavic, Warren embraced the art of being a DJ...no longer did he concentrate on putting out thumping compilations and hard techo driven sets to please to chemically driven dancers on his dancefloors. No, since 2003 he has become a fourth dimension bus driver and is more than happy to bring anyone with an open mind along for the ride. Hop on for this one.

Disc 1 was listened to immediately after disc 2. I'm actually glad that I ended up listening to the discs in this sequence. I needed my emotions to mellow out a bit. I needed to be brought back from Warren's bus trip! Disc 1 was exactly what I needed. It has this eerie, calming affect. Much needed after listening to disc 2. The track selection on disc 1 is by no means dull and uninspiring...just gentle, soulful, and of course...brilliant!

I continully need to justify why I listen to and love electronica to the majority of my friends. I'm also defending the true DJ frequently. No, they are not just guys and girls who play records and CDs. At least not the true masters who clearly separate themselves from the amateurs. The true masters of electronica should include the (highly underpraised) creators of the music itself, and those few DJ's that can string together multiple (and carefully) selected tracks into a seamless set. The overall goal of these DJ's is not to mix a bunch of different tracks into one big and lengthly supertrack. Their goal is to create an unique experience or journey for the listener to embark on. These DJ's are very rare...Nick Warren is one...without a doubt. GU030:Paris is his opus.

Both discs easily score 5/5 stars from this reviewer.

It is truely a shame that this production is going to be his last for the Global Underground label. His last three GU releases have been truly special.

I figured at first I would hold off on the Limted Edition of Nick Warren only to find a video going off of Nick's tour in Paris at globalunderground.co.uk. On the video, I heard some of his songs. This last minute clip got me curious about Paris. Sure enough, playing the 2CD set reminded me of how Reykjavik was laid out.

The layout of course is similiar and Nick does yet another good job at it. The first disc starts off with break beats to relax to. However, they are different than his Reyjavik disc. It does remind me a little bit of what was on the video clip of Nick in Paris as it plays some of the songs. Even though there is no beat, the mood of every track keeps on changing and building up toward the end.

Disc 2 has maybe one song than Nick immediately changes gears going from breakbeats to funky regular beats. I really enjoyed the tracks from Habersham as an example. The difference from this album from Reykjavik is that you hear more progressive house.

Overall, I would say the selection was good. This is similiar to some of John Digweed's releases because you have atmospheric breaks. "Layered Sounds 2" by John Digweed is an example of this. It may not be the greatest disc, but good enough to pick up, even for the breakbeats!!

I have a few Nick Warren GU cd's this one was ok....CD #1 was pretty good reminds me of Deep Dish but a little more spacey..which is cool. I like mellow GU as well...
CD #2 I really was disappointed it's supposed to be more clubby and up beat, but I only liked 2 tracks Buenos Aires and 550..this rest is supposed to be dance ?? W.T.F. ??
wow I would be standing and drinking on the dance floor to this..
would not purchase again...

thus my review...