Customer Reviews

Sessions, Vol. 1(Afterhours)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Although it contains a couple of tracks by The Human League and Depeche Mode most of the artists on this two CD set are obscure, at least to this U.S. listener. They may be familiar to some U.K. or German listeners or to the real hardcore Trance/electronic aficionados.

The collection of tunes are slow, dark and mysterious. They don't pound you the way some Hard House does but contain lots of power nonetheless, especially in the lower ranges. I've done searches on many of the artists and come up with very little, unfortunately. After listening to single tracks by Froyd, Momu or Vogon I'd buy anything I could find by these artists.

Although I didn't see it listed, it comes with a video enhanced CD. I had to download quicktime player to view it. I haven't tried it in my home DVD player yet. The tune by Pendulos started playing and some very weird but cool video started. The same genre as Eraserhead maybe? Extremely cool video.

The only thing that might resemble this CD that could be considered mainstream might be Jimmy Van M or perhaps Taylor's Synesthesia CD, Although this may be a little less intense and a little more flowing, it is every bit as interesting. Some of the finest electronic/esoteric material that will blow away any party. An important addition to my collection. If I have 300 electronic/trance CD's this is in the top 5, easily.

Some where between too old to rave, and too young to buy a house in the burbs exists the world of Afterhours. Right after the club closes the real night begins. All the ametures go home and the proper party starts. This is the sound-track for that moment. This is not a comedown, chill out exercise. I thought it might be, so I stayed away for almost a year. Its a true mix for the middle of the night, maybe early morning. Sounds dark murky with this almost eery energy. One of GU's best efforts to date, overshadowing the 24:7, Taronto and lights out releases.

Ps. to an earlier reviewer, Some of GU's artist have mixed their own effort including Sander, James Leville and Sasha. However they are all "mastered" by cheeky paul whom I think mixed this one. Most all mixes have been "enhanched" using protools. I do remember reading how Danny Howells spent hours getting his nubreed mix right in the GU studio at the computer after he sent them the initial tapes. Altough I think this takes away a bit of the human componant, it makes for better listening at home and in the car. In the end though, if you want to praise an artits live mixing skills, go see them live. Mix CD's just show off programming skills, the far more difficult but less sexy side of DJ'ing.

Just bought this today, and I agree with the first review posted - this is a great set. Not much like it out there.... I am in love with Layo & Bushwhacka's NightWorks CD, and have been searching for similar sets for quite some time. Unsuccessful until today.

Highly recommended.

I have never heard anything quite like this. Though I did the rave thing for a while and understand the downtime thing, I never got that vibe from this mix.

It's simply a mix that removes you from your surroundings for a while. With songs by such artists as Human League and Depeche Mode you'd think it would be pretty cheesy. However, these actually help to make the mix. Both discs start slowly and you suddenly realize what an amazing thing you are experiencing.

There's an overall moodiness and ominous feel to the mix with some hypnotic beats and samples the likes of DeNiro's ranting in "Taxi Driver" that are reworked to stunning effect. It's definitely downtempo but not in a narcotic way.

So it's truly an afterhours mix but it works anytime to really set the mood, especially if you are looking to chill. There is not a bad song in the mix.

Although it contains a couple of tracks by The Human League and Depeche Mode most of the artists on this two CD set are obscure, at least to this U.S. listener. They may be familiar to some U.K. or German listeners or to the real hardcore Trance/electronic aficionados.

The collection of tunes are slow, dark and mysterious. They don't pound you the way some Hard House does but contain lots of power nonetheless, especially in the lower ranges. I've done searches on many of the artists and come up with very little, unfortunately. After listening to single tracks by Froyd, Momu or Vogon I'd buy anything I could find by these artists.

Although I didn't see it listed, it comes with a video enhanced CD. I had to download quicktime player to view it. I haven't tried it in my home DVD player yet. The tune by Balago, "Pendulos" started playing and some very weird but cool video started. The same genre as Eraserhead maybe? Extremely cool video.

The only thing that might resemble this CD that could be considered mainstream might be Jimmy Van M or perhaps Taylor's Synesthesia CD, Although this may be a little less intense and a little more flowing, it is every bit as interesting. Some of the finest electronic/esoteric material that will blow away any party. An important addition to my collection. If I have 300 electronic/trance CD's this is in the top 5, easily.

I don't know what's going on with Amazon but the tracks listed on the album page are ALL wrong - as well as, of course the sound samples.
This is an AWESOME two CD collection.
You can zoom in on the second album picture to see the actual tracks and artists.

I do lots of clubbing in San Francisco and see may of the worlds best house DJ's and, this music captures what a lot of the DJ's are spinning these days. This is a very good disc, with some of the great names in house production today - Roy Davis Jr., Rick Garcia, Studio Nova, etc. Songs, 01 and 03 are probably my favs. Hook it up and ride the vibe.

Picture yourself at 10am, driving home from the club, most likely a high energy night. You want to keep the vibe going but you've had enough of the hard hitting trance and in-your-face breaks for one majestic night. What to do? The AfterHours series was created for this reason, and they did a damn good job. So, before ingesting yet another capsule make sure to pop in your AfterHours CD (no pun intendend). BTW: If you're sober now, this CD brings you back to those majestic nights.

I sick of reading Global Underground reviews exclaiming how "flawless" the mixes are. Of course they are. I hate to burst your bubble, but all of the global underground CD's are mixed by the same guy, in a studio, on a computer. The artist picks the tracklisting, and is the face on the cover of the cd...Thats it. These albums are NOT mixed live, and G.U. has never claimed them to be. But, besides that fact, they are great albums.

...cd 1 ok. cd 2 awsome. I'll include cd 2 in my play list.

peace...
~Tony
;o{}~