Customer Reviews

Renaissance Presents Transitions

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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

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.

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.

I'll have to admit, I'm not a fan of John's past work. A friend of mine gave me the cd and said I'd like it. It sat around my house for 3 days and I finally put it on this weekend and I was blown away!! Not what I expected at all... File under funky minimal tech
NOT trance or Prog-House. This is a CD for people who don't think they like John Digweed. You will become an instant fan.

At the time of writing this review, I'd have to say that the first installment of John Digweed's Transitions series edges out as my favorite (although I've yet to hear Vol. 4).

Transitions Vol. 1 features some of the finest mixing and editing on any commercial set I've listened to, and this is the album's strongest element in my opinion. The tracks themselves are pretty good but there are a few ho-hum selections scattered throughout the set and the album can sound a tad monotoneous on the first couple of run-throughs.

I found that the true complexity and experimentation of the mix and each of the individual tracks could only appreciated while using a good pair of high quality headphones. There are just too many suttle sounds and swift programming which can't be fully experienced without headphone isolation.

Transitions is a situational album to me. As mentioned, it is the kind of set that is most enjoyable with a set of headphones, but also requires your undivided attention. It is a wonderful album to listen to while kicking back on a comfortable chair, sofa, or bed without any distractions.

4/5 stars

In 2006, after hosting the radio programme "Transitions" for a few years, DJ John Digweed began to release single-disc mixes twice a year representative of what he was playing over the airwaves. This TRANSITIONS disc was the first installment. Unfortunately, it is the first Digweed mix CD that has disappointed me.

I have to admit, I should have seen it coming. I've never found the "Transitions" radio program particularly compelling. It exists mostly to let Digweed experiment, and the goal is more to provide a background listening experience for the guy at home or work than a clubland aural journey. And these days Digweed is spinning a style that many are calling minimalist, slower and with even less development than his controversial 2000 Mayan Theatre sets represented on the Global Underground: Los Angeles retrospective. His sets also continue the trend of one track following another, with minimal computer editing. When Sasha released his Fundacion NYC mix in 2005, that should have pointed the way forward for a more rich and cerebral experience, with elements from multiple tracks pulled into the mix at once.

After the rousing beginning of Partial Arts' "Cruising" mixed into Every's "Feelin'", we proceed through half of disc of complete emptiness. Eventually Rocco's "Roots 4 Acid" and the following "Easy (Niekisch and Hermann Dub)" by Trick & Kubic ft. Valeska bring some excitement in. From there, howver, things stumble on without building up as much as they should in a single-disc mix. "Warung Beach", here represented in the Lützenkirchen Remix, is the first Bedrock track I've even heard that hasn't been stunning.

If you've not heard the solo work of John Digweed before, the Global Underground: Hong Kong retrospective is probably the most generally accessible starting point, although I favour the LA set.

This is John Digweed's best work to date in my opinion and is my favorite mix of the year. He has perfected Ableton Live. I am addicted in a good kind of way. Thank you, John.

It's been a while since I paid out cash for a mix CD since there are too many mediocre CDS out there. I listened to this CD in the record store here in Taiwan on three or four different occasions before coming to the conclusion that it is one of the cleanest, freshest and just plain awesome mix CDs that I have heard in a long time. I just love it the way the mixes are done deep into the outgoing and incoming tracks -- good stuff! Some awesome tracks here, such as the Rocco track and the Knights of Columbus track. It's mixes like this that made DJing and progressive house such a huge phenomenon in the United Kingdom and, later, elsewhere around the world. Brilliant stuff John Digweed and I love the long-hair look!

I will admit that I have never been a huge fan of Digweed. Even back in his Sasha/Digweed Northern Exposure era, he just didn't do much for me. Not until now. I am very impressed by this new fresh realease that shows how he has evolved into what is hot today. It's the progressive, techy, house that people are looking for now..and Digweed delivers!

The disc sets off with the usual slower..progressing to a fater BPM at the end. The beginning is good...but this disc gets SICK during the last several tracks. Track #15 is worth the price of the CD by itself...not to mention the tracks leading up to that dramatic conclusion.

Check this out.

In a world full of biting DJS, Digweed is peerless. A true creative force. I love this CD.