Customer Reviews

Timo Maas: Connected

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Timo Maas tracks are great. Timo Maas tracks are great in small doses. His blend of infectious, bouncing textures and harder beats have carried him to the top of DJ play lists, but when strung together his fuel-injected productions are often too much rush to appreciate. That's what made his last release Music for the Maases a whole not equal to its parts, lacking a counterbalance to offset the energy. Well, the chemistry comes correct here, on his first mainstream mix, with others' tunes picked to suitably complement his work.

A bunch of these cuts may be familiar to album obsessives (ahem, Stylus Trouble "Sputnik"), but when he digs deeper in the crates he comes up aces. Grayson Shipley's "Underwater" takes you on a crafty groove exploration, while the refreshing breakbeat of Sonic Infusion's "Reformatted" offers further proof of that genre being sorely undervalued in sets. Circulation serves up delicious drum rolls in "Purple," and the Maas numbers reliably deliver (under collaboration as Mad Dogs and alias as Orinoko), even though "Special K" spins more for an alternative dance floor.

The mixing is choppy, but a suitable alternative to filler tracks picked for blending well. Meanwhile, pairing "Love in Traffic" with "Innocente" unintentionally shows how easy "classy" progressive house remakes can be. Disc two careens about erratically in style. And yet, there's something to be said about just letting the bounce out, and Timo Maas knows how to deliver without descending into camp or obviousness. That will always be welcome. Disc 1: 4 stars Disc 2: 3 stars Overall: 3.5

I love Timo Mass' remix of Dooms Night and Star 69 that came out on singles. Both those remixes blew me away. I expected to hear more of TM's remixes on this album that would have the same energy as the two I mentioned. Unfortunately, my expectations weren't met. I do like the album. Disc 1 sounds very much like listening to Bedrock/Digweed album (quite repetitive, slow-paced and "dark"), but disc 2 picks up the tempo with more progressive house/ more danceable tracks. I really think Timo Maas is an amazing DJ, but, I feel "Connected" fell short of showing off his full potential. He doesn't stick enough to his signature style like you hear in Dooms Night or Star 69 remixes. DJ Icey's Essential Mix is a prime example of sticking to method/signature sound. Overall, I think it's a good album--TM picked out great tracks and the mix is good and well balanced. Digweed fans will love this.

Ever since I listened to 'Music for the Mass' last October, and listening to his live gig in Ten15, I have been waiting on this one. 'Connected' certainly impressed me the same way as his debut album, or actually I should say more impressed. In Disc 1, Timo demonstrates his progressive trance. Although progressive trance is not my favorite, I still think this is very impressive, like Travelogue, Can Dance, Love in Traffic, and the best one seems to be Sudden Journey by Mad Dogs. Then Timo shows us why he is one of the hottest DJ/Producer nowadays in Disc 2 with his trademark hard trance/hard house. Very Wet! I was listening to it when driving home, and I couldn't stop moving my body. It gives me more energy then drinking Red Bull. If you want me to rate this one, I would recommend all 10 Tracks in Disc 2 and give it a 6 stars! It starts up strong with Fatboy Slim's Star 69. Then, Stylus Trouble's Sputnik is certainly the climax of the trip, followed by another amazing tune, Placebo's Special K. And it ends up with OCB, the latest Timo Maas track, leaving you so disappointed that it finishes so soon... If there is only one cd I can listen to in my life, I will honestly tell you now that it is 'Connected', at least until Timo's next album. After you listen to it, you will know what I mean. You will get addicted!!

For a good trance set, this is the one. Disc 2 is the standout, but for sure disc 1 is a solid warmup, heating up quite nicely by its end. Maas's selection overall is superb, with darker, harder,and more infectious cuts than those found on van Dyk's Politics of Dancing (yes, Maas is the Teuton of choice). Although I generally dislike vocals in my trance, Maas's occasional vocal picks fit in well: I've found myself actually liking them, a testimony to Maas's skill perhaps. So to get feet moving (even those of the fussy)--or to just get interesting, intense background electronica that avoids monotony--pick this one up.

Timo Maas is definitley THE producer of the last two years. His tracks like Ubik, his Dooms Night remix, and plenty of others have become instant classics. His funky, hard, and dark style never fails to please. But, I think someone said before that he is not as good a dj as a producer and I have to agree. "Connected" is a great mix CD, don't get me wrong. Having Timo and Leon Alexander pick out tracks is great; I love the kind of records they play. But yes, the mixing does leave something to be desired: clean, but not as fun as when I have seen Timo live. Timo Maas live is another story; I love his live style. He REALLY knows how to get the crowd going; that's when he performs. He has a similar live vibe to Carl Cox; energetic and very fun. I've seen him live 3 times in LA and he has never dissappointed, not even for a second. So, yeah, the CD isn't as good as his live sets, but what ever is? We should just be happy we have someone like Timo and his crew to pump out the sound we have all yearned for after years of cheesy trance.

Readers, take this however you will. Timo Maas is a great talent, a great mixer, but not much of a DJ. I know. I know. I haven't seen one of his live sets so maybe if I had, I'd be dashing that statement on the rocks but this release strains to set the house afire, leaving us with only smoke billowing out the windows. Maybe it's simply the music he's selected for this two CD offering but the sum total pales in comparison to what roared off of last year's "Music for the Maases", a collection of his mixes and compositions. Disc one works worlds better than two, although the latter takes off with a bang with Timo's remix of Fatboy Slim's "Star 69". My main problem with it all is that the mix rumbles, shakes a bit, promises, but never gets up to speed and in the rare cases when it does, the overall mood is uneven and jerky. I like meat in my rhythm and tend to steer away from the signature trance sound of ever-expanding space and holiness. When you listen to a DJ like Sander Kleinenberg or Danny Howells or Anthony Pappa, even Digweed these days, there is a progressivism, a smartness on the trance take that is just plain missing here. And the pieces he's using in some instances go on way too long. A for instance is the Dark Path Remix of "Love In Traffic" by Satoshi Tomiie. Positioned at number five on Disc One, it is the first piece to really pick up the pace but it takes so long to develop and by the time it does, the tension is all gone. On Digweed's recent "Los Angeles" mix in the Global Underground series, he uses the same piece but the club version which has great whack and pulse. It emerges at just the right place and time and Digweed uses it to attack the dance floor, knowing the desire of the listener is to now move and move hard, starting and ending it with great sensitivity. Timo seems at times to be plagued with a certain doubt as to just how long a piece should run before moving on to the next, thus tension seldom develops and on the dance floor, that tightening, that binding feeling that ultimately releases the dancer to feel free inside and out is sorely missing. The "Connected" mix meanders, often holding the pieces themselves too dear, losing what's most necessary overall; the throb within and on the floor, the journey of the dancer. Individually, there's some outstanding stuff. Sonic Infusion's "Reformatted (General Midi Mix)" on Disc Two is of great note. I just want to be taken somewhere, away, away, transported to a new terrain via sound and rhythm when I buy a mix and all too often, while listening to "Connected" I found myself standing with my arms crossed, waiting for a ride that never showed up.

Timo Maas is a good DJ and as indicated by the cd's name has the connections to get the killer tracks to easily create a good mix. My favorite is Special K, it has a great beat and a strange vocal part that makes it a really fun sun. I recommend this to any house, trance, or any other upbeat techno fan.

Is that this was released so long before i knew it - Takes about to the second track to ramp up, and then it just won't let up... That's just disc 01.
No wonder other world-reknown artists sample him all the time.

For a good trance set, this is the one. Disc 2 is the standout, but for sure disc 1 is a solid warmup, heating up quite nicely by its end. Maas's selection overall is superb, with darker, harder,and more infectious cuts than those found on van Dyk's Politics of Dancing (yes, Maas is the Teuton of choice). Although I generally dislike vocals in my trance, Maas's occasional vocal picks fit in well: I've found myself actually liking them, a testimony to Maas's skill perhaps. So to get feet moving (even those of the fussy)--or to just get interesting, intense background electronica that avoids monotony--pick this one up.

Well......the real good songs in CD 1 is "love in traffic" and ""innoncente" which is awsome and the last track.....and the others are just okay and some are really boring.

Same thing with the second CD.......the 2nd track is kinda good and other tracks like "island" and "sputnik" but i did'nt really enjoy it!!

My point is that there are not real good tracks in the CD except fr a few of them but the ones which are good are real good like the ones mentioned above in CD 1