Renaissance Presents Transitions

John Digweed | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 27, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Thrive
• ASIN: B000FP2ZP8
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #156,434 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Partial Arts – Cruising

2. Every – Feelin’

3. Popnonname – On The Run

4. Margot meets The Melody Maker – Torch (Extrawelt Remix)

5. Tigerskin – Neontrance

6. Catwash (DJ Wild & Chris Carrier) – Plastic Rubberband

7. David K – Beautiful Dead

8. Dringer – Flake Escape

9. Rocco – Roots 4 Acid

10. Trick & Kubic ft. Valeska – Easy (Niekisch and Hermann Dub)

11. On Spec – Knights Of Columbus

12. John Digweed – Warung Beach (Lützenkirchen Remix)

13. Michael de Hey – Jetchi

14. Dana Bergquist – McEnroe

15. Paul Kalkbrenner – Gebrünn Gebrün

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

John Digweed has kept busy in recent years, with everything from remix records (like last year's Fabric 20 release) and Podcasts to collaborative projects with his Bedrock partner Nick Muir. Transitions is taken from his globally syndicated radio show of the same name, and is just the first in a promised series of discs. Digger's expansive approach to dance music has led him down both light (the Northern Exposure collaborations with Sasha) and dark (Global Underground: Los Angeles) paths, and while Transitions can be sparse, it’s mostly an up trip. The beats are exceedingly solid when they kick in, scattered with the DJ’s usual patience and dance floor sense. A welcome melodicism floats in and out of the mix, as Popnonname's "On The Run" winds around a kind hook while Rocco’s "Roots 4 Acid" goes for theatrics. There’s an airy feel to the record, mostly in the texture and tinges of electro on tracks like On Spec's "Knights of Columbus" with its wiry little bassline grabber. It could use a bit more variation; the thing ends just when the vibe really starts to settle in. A 2-cd set may have worked better, but that's more quibble than criticism. Enjoy. – Matthew Cooke

Product Description

John Digweed, along with DJ partner Sasha, made dance music history with the 1995 release of Mix Collection on the Renaissance label. This album is widely considered to be the first DJ mix album ever commercially released, and it set the standard for every DJ mix album that was to follow. 10 years later, John Digweed now returns to Renaissance with the release of Transitions. With the title taken from his globally syndicated radio show, the single disc project will be released as two volumes each year, a showcase of John’s inimitable sound and flawless mixing which has established him as one of the world’s most innovative DJs, firmly lodged amongst the upper echelons of the A-list. The album features the exclusive new Digweed track "Warung Beach."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE Definition of "Give It a Chance"-ness, December 30, 2006

By 

LexAffection (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Renaissance Presents Transitions (Audio CD)

I bought this album having heard only one track, Rocco's 'Roots 4 Acid', which I was very impressed by. I popped it in, and after a little while checked the track number. 'Track FOUR??!' I thought to myself. 'Nothing has happened here. I just wasted fifteen dollars. What happened, Diggs?'
I had little else to listen to at the time, and began spinning this one on a constant basis on the mundane trips I had to make, daily, in my car. Before long, I found myself actually HEARING the album... and I have to say it is my most-played Digweed album that I own out of probably eight, including several of his GU sets. GU:Sydney is the only set of his I play more often than this mix CD.

The original problem was expectations not being met. I really had not thrown myself into this 'minimalist techy-dub-house' thing yet, and was expecting one of those wildly dark, haunting and progressive rides Digweed indefatiguably provides his listeners, and what I got was something that required - *gasp* - patience. But the real beauty of this album lies WITHIN its minimalism, and I believe only an artist as truly talented as Digweed could make sense of this quandary. He did, with flying colors.

Cruising, Feelin', On The Run and Torch are fine tracks, plain and simple. They've get terribly subtle grooves, neat turntablist tricks and infections basslines. But if the first four tracks are infectious, the REAL epidemic breaks out with the fifth track, Tigerskin's 'Neontrance' which masterfully mixes into Catwash's 'Plastic Rubberband' which is my favorite song on the entire CD along with Knights of Columbus, Warung Beach and Gebrunn Gebrunn. The keys to this album's brilliance are the GREAT(!) basslines and the transitional subtleties [perhaps the reason behind the Series' title]: They are SO masterfully crafted that the reason I initially disliked this album is because I simply MISSED them entirely!

I often liken the best of progressive trance to electronic classic music; music with so many variabilities, different themes coinciding and playing against one another. The oddity about this album is that I can liken it to classical music, but due to the LACK of such thickly lain-on musical soundscapes. It is wholly pleasurable, funky and eclectic music that only someone who really stands the test of giving an album a chance will appreciate. Trust me, they will thank their personal Gods for granting them said patience - I know I have.

They say the bad thing about first impressions is that you only get one. Fine; my first impression of this gem was terrible. After putting some aural effort into this mix, however, I cannot put it down.
*I am verrrry eagerly awaiting Transitions - Vol. 2 which will be released in the U.S. in 27 days. I have a bootlegged version of the entire CD already, and will say this: it is on par with Transitions, Vol. 1. I will be supporting this superbly odd Mix series by purchasing the upcoming album retail.

~Lex

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Silky smooth..., October 12, 2006

By 

A. Ort "aorto" (Youngstown, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Renaissance Presents Transitions (Audio CD)

The great thing about John Digweed as that as he matures so too does his music. He stays on top of his game introducing us to new artists and new styles of music mixed with his own touch of magic. Like all truly great mixes this one bears repeat plays to unfold its subtleties, the rumbling bass grooves and the airy, almost symphonic, atmosphere.

It's got an electronic, tech-y feel but what is remarkable about the whole affair is how moving it is, perhaps not so much dance floor movement but the kind of movement that stirs you awake. There is a reason that Digweed's name stands out in the field of electronica and this mix is a perfect example of that. He knows what moves people and how to deliver and he succeeds here. The whole mix is fluid. Though there are some lulls it's the kind that leaves the listener waiting for him to drop the bomb.

I haven't been this excited about a mix since Nick Warren's "Shanghai" or Hernan Cattaneo's "Sequential" (both stellar in their own right). A new sound, a different direction and current. Don't miss out.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What A Mix!, August 22, 2006

By 

P.T. (Pennsylvania, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Renaissance Presents Transitions (Audio CD)

Is there anything Diggers cant do? He has given us Hong Kong (deep prog house), Legendary Bedrock, the equally if not more legendary Northern Exposures with Sasha, MMII (more melodic and softer edged Digweed), Fabric (electro and prog mixed like it should be) among others, now we have Mr. Diggers going all out on Techy House, Minimalist, whatever you want to call it. There are aspects of Digweed I recognize from all of his previous work in this set. Sounds that remind me of the hard hitting Hong Kong, melodies like in MMII and Northern Exposure, some newer electro stuff like in Fabric (though not much) and on and on, its like he has combined everything he ever did added something fresh and made a set from it. The CD starts off techy and minimalist then converges into something well, that is a little of everything. And it works incredibly well.

As always, the mixing is well, its Digweed. Or in another word -Smooooooth. This guy mixes like no other, there will always be comparisons and thats exactly the point - he is the standard when it comes to mixing, as flawless as always. In fact, Transitions could be some of the best mixing ive ever heard. The CD starts out techy and minimal, after about a half our, it picks up, after another 10-15 minutes, it starts to peak and what a peak it is and continues beautifully until the last second of the set, never letting you go. Digweed, is the master of DJ's, no question about it, he proves himself mix after mix, no matter what he does. The Digweed touches are all there, the soundscapes, the melody, the energy, the smoothness, the buildups, the breakdowns, the basslines, the little (and big) sounds that pop out at you and the little sounds that dont really pop out at you so obviously, the subtelty, the track selection and oh my god the mixing. Digweed has always been the Mixmaster, but this set is arguably his best mixing in my opinion. It really is flawless. Ive listened to this album many times now and I still cant tell where one track ends and the other begins for many of the tracks. The album is not as hard hitting as some of Diggers older sets but it is beautiful to listen to from start to finish. While it seems Sasha is going off lately trying to be creative in some excessive and unique way - he is losing track and becoming - dare I say - unimpressive, Digweed is diversifying more subtely but more importantly - better and without losing focus. I wont even talk about specific tracks, no need to, the track selection makes so much sense and, again, I really cant say anything more about the mixing. Digweed is a genius, this guy can mix like no other and he is the standard when it comes to it - simple as that. Its not prog house - dont expect Bedrock - do expect greatness, do expect a new sound, a new approach, and the touch of genius that Digweed brings no matter what. I sincerely hope this to be the start of a path for the future of electronic music and mixing. The Master leads the way for those a little confused lately.