Customer Reviews

E.S.-B

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

 

 

Satoshi Tomiie is known for his impeccably produced progressive house, but here he presents a DJ mix of deeper, more relaxed house ("ES" stands for "Electronic Soul"). The first 22 minutes are three tracks of excruciatingly funkless deep house, the kind of elevator music you might hear on the Weather Channel. Things pick up considerably afterwards, as the mix goes funky, then deep, then quirky, then funky again. The mixing is strictly track-to-track, as is typical with CD compilations that are designed to showcase songs. However, more blending would have been nice, as tracks sometimes get drawn-out and repetitious. This is not an essential mix, but it has some nice moments on it.

I dont mean to insult anybody, cause im obviously joking, but Satoshi Tomiie has cooked up a nice funky dish. Satoshi caught my attention with NuBreed 6, with a completely different sound that at the time seemed like it was coming from outer space (specially cd 2), but after Integration and ES I was completely let down. Well, this cd, although nothing like NuBreed, has made me interested in him once again. The music in this cd is also very different to what we have been hearing lately from the top DJ's, so I guess thats why I really like it. Its new, fresh, and funky!

This series of the so called new sound emerging here ("electronic soul") illustrates what the frontier between moveable and the edgier could resemble.
Satoshi who apparently thrives to maintain some sort of openness in his choices (this is quite different from the Renaissance series and the GU Nubreed), shifts constantly here between a clear disco like influence ("Sweet things" with its dreamy piano touching the earlier years of Italian dance -remember "I Like Chopin"?-), space funk a la Daft Punk ("Proton Candy", "Concept", Make Me High" where beats are more pulsated supported by harder textures), upbeat and happy house with moog like keys ("Designated"), deep bass club ("ManMachine") as it gears towards the deeper end of electro-house ("Chorgs", "Bar a Thym" with its steady cow bell and distorted/rough waves ). Some tunes are vocal (the sweet and agreeable, airy "Closer to me" and its soft spoken female chorus, "Death Cab..." which follows and perfectly mixed offering a mid-trip break with a more "organic" touch). The electro funk ending has that almost cheesy electro sampling and wavelengths which vibrate through the piece with repetitive key tunes and insisting electro bass.
In all it has that discreet "Tomiie-Touch": subdued, pleasant, not overwhelming. It will fit your needs when you wish for a consistent, gently paced but amusing ensemble flirting with electro sounds carved to the audible and shakeable.

I have listened to this entire mix for many plays now and it really never grabs me except for song 8 (Chab-Closer to me), which is a really smooth mix of a good song. That one song is definately for my playlist but unfortunately I never really connected with anything else. I usually really enjoy his work especially his original music.

Listen to this carefully before deciding to keep. I returned it. My tastes run more toward Stan Richardson, and a smoother, more calmly predictable sound. So, forewarned, you may purchase.