Customer Reviews

Renaissance Presents: Alive 2 - Utilities

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is really the only officially released Zabiela album worthy of review in my eyes, so I'll gladly take a stab at it since he is one of my all-time favorite up and coming DJs.

The first time I heard Zabiela, it was blasting through my friend's excessively large headphones as we walked down the main road of our campus. When I asked who it was and the name 'James Zabiela' entered my musical vocabulary, personal history was made. Of course, back then I thought he must be an older, dignified pro to have created the sounds that he did; later on I found out he's fairly new, and considered Sasha's protege. I never understood this label - Sasha may have taken him under his wing and got him signed after Lee Burridge passed one of JZ's mix tapes onto him, but the styles diverge so utterly, so completely that there really is no comparison - other than musical ingenuity. And perhaps mixing skills.

This album from Renaissance is a unique one, not only because of the choice DJ showcased within this double-disc set, but also due to the collision of two worlds. Respect the names of each CD ('Computerized' and 'Recorded', respectively): they are entirely indicative of the content within.

'Computerized' is the largest deviation from mainstream dance, trance and house music that I have ever heard - more along the lines of a breakbeat Digweed Fabric20 - and took me the longest to get into. Now I can't put it down. The term 'Robot Funk' has been mentioned above, and I will reiterate that heartily. Computerized starts out weakly; the first four tracks don't excite me, and the fifth track I only listen to because it builds nicely into the sixth track - the point at which the album really picks up. Tracks 6,7 (This Is Sick, EyeAmComputer) are fantastic, and EyeAmComputer is one of two tracks of Zabiela's own devising. Following these are two successive mixes of Lee Coombs' "Outta My Mind". Tracks like James Zabiela's second original, "Robophobia (JZ Childhood Edit)", "Future Love" and "Snabein" show indications that Zabiela has finally hit his stride as far as Computerized is concerned.

James did an interesting thing ending Computerized with "Through You (Outro) and beginning Recorded with "Through You". Within this album there is a clash between technology and man - a clash seemingly easy to demonstrate. What makes the Outro of Computerized and the first track of Recorded significant is the attempt to -connect- the two divergent worlds, producing a package of cerebral assault beats utilizing computer technology like Ableton Live (Mix 1) and the more traditional CDJ1000's/sampler/FX units (Mix 2). I think James tried to make this clash of technologies obvious; on the inside insert on the CD booklet there is a photo of Zabiela surrounded by toy robots; but the one he holds up, the robot from "Futurama", sports an apron which says "Kill All Humans." A scary thought, but I found it humorous.

'Recorded', as mentioned above, is mixed and simply created more traditionally, but it is the better of the two mixes as many below me have stated. 'Through You', the mix's 10+ minute lead-in, crashes into 'The Escape', and then the insanity of 'Rykketid' and 'One Flew Over the Cucoo's Nest" follow closely at the heels. This mix never lets the listener take a significant breather, and the beats are nothing short of SICK. This is definitely breakbeat-infused raving progressive trance music at its finest; the track selection on Recorded is one of my favorite line-ups in any mix CD I own. 'Feelin Electro' and 'At the Rave' echo this sentiment - not just in name only! Zabiela adds some absolutely WACKY and wholly unorthodox samples and effects into these tracks, as my buddy would say, "...simply because he can."

Overall, this album is a must for anyone who enjoys Zabiela's style, in any capacity. Compared to his live sets (which are nothing short of ecstasy and adrenaline) this album pales; I see this as an indication of his true ability. It's easy to create a damn good studio album with the right talent - but when one is known better for performing live... well, James has this going for him. But as a studio album, for the prospective buyer and anyone looking to get into Zabiela, "Utilities" is a truly fine set of insanity that I believe will lead most anybody to watch out for this guy. It is truly a set of fantastic recordings and genius that will see itself paving the way for electronic music in the future.

~Lex

james is taking house music to the next level with this mix. a lot of electro loops for your listening pleasure. first CD is totally computerized, "this is sick" "robophobia" "snabeln" deffinately stand out. 2nd CD stats of with sick beats and percussion, great tech house with an electro twist which never stops throughout the second CD. worth listening to :)

Young golden-boy James Zabiela has been smashing club floors with his talented energy and tech-house mixes since before the turn of the century, his deceptively delerious style drawing the attention of other house icons like Sasha (who signed up the Southampton DJ under Excession) and Nic Fanciulli (whom Zabiela has joined up with for a tour of collaborative appearances across the globe). This two-disc set offers a dense dose of Zabiela's distinctively digital dubbing, showcasing all of the cleverness and ingenuity that have steadily amped the fellow's reputation in Breakbeat circles and Tech-houses worldwide.

The first disc, entitled "Computed," was mixed and mastered via the much-lauded Ableton technology, and it throbs with a heavily mechanized feel. Zabiela takes urgently wicked tracks (Aphex Twin's "Windowlicker" and The Consumer's "Your Soul For Access," to name just a few) and applies, one at a time, steadily progressive tweaks and loops. The overall effect is one of a patiently crafted musical mobile, something both simple and complex, a chorus of elements that orbit perfectly without becoming entangled or overwhelming. Songs like "Atlantic View" with its robotic raindrop effects, or "On/Off" with its wiry back-scratching, or the trance cyclone of "Theme From Silvertone" make one want to keep turning the volume knob further to the right. And Zabiela's original pieces -- "EyeAMComputer" and "Robophobia" -- are absolutely stunning bits of hydraulic house, the kind of gut-punching tech-tracks that shake plaster off the walls and cause arrhythmia. This is the kind of pneumatic noise that makes tech-house so much fun, and Zabiela knows exactly how to whip it out.

The second disc -- "Recorded" -- was mixed live and plays like an hour long snapshot of a deep club's aural aura. (For those over-the-top house heads, Zabiela's liner notes include an in-depth analysis of the second disc's mechanics, providing -- literally -- a second-by-second explanation of the methods used with his samplers and mixing units.) It starts with a careful deep house (almost trancey) lift-off via Samawi and Rodgers' "Through You," but by the time the third track pulls into the deck with Trentemøller's "Rykketid," Zabiela has blasted off into stratospheric realms. The rest of the record is a dip-n-dive poeticism through vinyl-n-velour. Zabiela's loops are shaped like race tracks, his break-beats are as shattered as stained glass, his mixes are as thorough as H and two O's. By the time he eases the throttle down through Allien's sun-struck "Sehnsucht," it's obvious to any listener that Zabiela has made something honey-sweet and downy-dark, a perfect addendum to any house collection, and a pleasant reminder that the cavernous expanses of electronica still have skilled explorers to enlighten their furthest edges.

Im not saying the mix sucks for it is damn good, but this mix is not 'Alive'. His last installment alive was by far his real sound a must have if you like Zabiela's true mixes.

Disc One: One thing about this disc that everyone needs to know is that he did this on Ableton live, which means this one of those new live computer mixes every top dj is going for now. This would be why it is robot funky house. Each Dj is expirmenting right now so expect some off sounding mixes from the top djs right now. This is a really good mix though but it is way to house for the likes of Zabiela.

Disc Two: Now this is with pioneer's EFX-1000 at his his side,which pioneer has sposored him to show it off. The man has class when it comes to using that effects processor. If you compare it to the Ableton set, which is easier to get effects you want for they are programmed in the software, he does a really good job. The difference between this disc and disc one is he didnt go nuts with the effects. This mix is really good too but still not up to What i expected of Zabiela.

I gave this mix five stars because it is incredible and im not going to say 1 because it didnt live to the zabiela i know. I loved this mix, but he went way to progressive for me.

James Zabiela is the definition of progressive, his incredible tech house vibes and unmatched rendering skills ( so much looping, added effex, scratching etc and sampling) flow together seamlessly. Hes taking the tech/prog level to one that may not be reached by many others. this cd is worth the buy cause you will be bangin it for a while trying to figure out how the hell this is happenin. top three picks =
-Soundex - On/Off
-Hugg & Pepp - Snabeln
-Sawami & Rodgers - Through You

Listening to this made me think of the first time I listened to Coldcut's Journey's by DJ mix. Like 'hello, what the f**ks going on here?'. I enjoyed JZ's first renaissance (4*) but this - my god. To be honest not every track does it for me but it's the mixing skill that would trap me on the dancefloor from start to finish. And just when you think it can't get any better, the tracks by The Carbon Community and Ellen Allien were sent from Tech Heaven. Ouch. Oh yeah, I agree with another reviewer in so much that the Hisham Samawi/Dennis Rodgers track is gorgeous, and if you like that then check out Hisham Samawi (Spirals) on the first Renaissance mix.

This CD is proof that James Zabiela is not Human, and that only an Android could produce a solid mix as good as this... lol... Personaly I think it's better than Alive... BUY IT!!!

Disc 1 contains quality material and I find it interesting and enjoyable, very solid work. Disc 2 is where things really heat up, Zabiela is as serious as a heart attack, he's insane... :-)) ...he throws the whole deal into overdrive, Disc 2 could make a corpse leap out of a coffin and dance...continuous, soul-moving grooves, pure audio nirvana, VERY impressive, definitely check this out!!!!

Can't say how much I love this album. Side 1 with its robophobia theme and campy vocals from 50s sci fi films is awesome. James show us that you don't have to do a 5 minute progression from one song to the next - just jam em together if they fit! Side two kicks it up a nothch with At the Rave and thre or four high intensity groovy funky tracks then tapers of to a nice gentle ending. This is accesible yet out there/perfect balance.

This album is funky, progressive, daring, theme oriented, and never boring. Renaissance once again shows why it leads the field with quality releases that show us the path to the future without forgetting where we came from.

This album is just plain campy groovy fun! "fom childhood he was raised by only robots" I love it1

Brian, when I first listened to these CDs I was not impressed but I didn't give up. I put it on every week or so and it just kept getting better and better. I know I don't have the right to tell anyone else how to listen to music but sometimes you need to play it over and over to get the full effects. You could have also just have fond memories of your live experience or your mind was just not right when you gave a listen. James has computed the first CD and recorded the other. I liked ALIVE but UTILITIES is a much stronger work. Breakbeats galore. I used to pick out tracks but now I just think of what an experience the entire package entails and I must say this one is up there with one of the best CDs of the year. Please give it a few more listens because I really feel you are selling yourself short on this one.