Customer Reviews

Transitions Vol. 2

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

A bit over the top? Well quite frankly, NO! This is the kind of record that haunts you in the shower or when you are in the sack with your girl/boy/mother/whatever works for you. As far as searching for that compilation that Digweed has been trying to visualize his entire two and a half decades look no further. If you are new or not all that familiar with Digweed please allow me to try to give a humble sketch.

John Digweed is a DJ from the UK with a most unusual and not at all popular niche. In a nutshell, what he does is use his uncanny ear for music to create jaw-dropping mixes with tracks you'd never think of listening to. Look in whichever country, club, bedroom, or dorm but you won't find anyone who has such a steady grip over this formula like Digweed. This is a tough formula mind you. Sasha tried it using a Holden approach with Fundacion NYC but this trial failed miserably. It failed for a lot of reasons but an interesting and an allegorical one is that he literally put his ego before the music. Digweed does the exact opposite. Indeed at first glance you think there is little mixing going on but that is classic Digweed for you; you don't seem him but he sure as hell is there, crafting a mix that should be boring and repetitive into a sort of solo by Miles Davis.

Indeed a good description of the Digweedian style of mixing would be elusive, confusing, cerebrally hypnotic and perpetually innovative. It was Diggie who introduced the rest of us to Adam Spears' track Crayons. He has always utilized, and championed the genius if Holden. If you send him a demo this evening, there is a 90% chance that he'll give it a go before the end of the month. The man is a rare breed indeed... But there is no denying his brilliance and it is his experience and his uncanny ear of music that makes this minimalist monster of a compilation shine.

Now, I must say I am a bit, weird when it comes to music. This mix is not for everybody. I mean a friend of mine and a fan of Digweed has mixed feelings about Digweed and asked me to sample it and was interested in my opinion. His was four stars out of five. Four stars!!?? For this jaw-cracker? But.. to each to his own.

The mix starts out with some teaser tracks. The track names themselves explain what they are meant to do to you; disorient you, discard whatever preconceptions you had about this mix. The tracks also serve as nasty tension builders and indeed you wonder where he is going with all this. It is sometime when you are having these thoughts that he chooses to drop Guy Gerber's remix of the Chaim EP track Dana. I have given it a lot of thought and I have come to a decision; This is one of the most emotional, awe-inspiring tracks I have ever heard. If you think this review is long and meandering fine. Ignore it. That is fine too. Just add, "Listen to Digweed mix Dana into Camino De Sol" to that things to do before I die. For those still with me, the mix gets even better. The inhuman breakdown that Digweed illuminates around 4 or so minutes into this Joakim remix demon? Words cannot describe. The mix transitions nicely (bad pun I know) into the shivering, a nice ominous, experimental track. He basically hits you with syncopated, minimalistic tech gems until you can't help but grin stupidly (if this genre is your taste. I hope Tiesto lovers aren't misinterpreting). There are no highlights. Every track is brilliant in its own way. I love you is one of my personal favorites. I can't help but feel nostalgic when I listen to Guy Gerber's digital memories.

I can't help but feel he closes this mix weakly with that jack mate track. Its great but I guess I was expecting a slightly different approach to release the tension and discharge the momentum the mix has been building. But it works in its own way so no complaints. Other than this tiny flaw the mix is flawless, mature, classy, unselfish, and just plain brilliant. It is just as nasty and awe-inspiring as Nicky's Paris (more on that later I may need to write a book about that mix) but one a different plane on the infinite styles and worlds that make up electronica.

Highly recommended.
Disclaimer: This is not trance. And I am not a friend of Digweed.
Just a very satisfied customer.

Digweed's second volume in the 'Transitions' series is a sinewy mix of - you guessed it - seamlessly mixed minimal tech-house. I would venture to say that it picks up precisely where "Gebrunn Gebrunn" left off on Vol. 1, which makes for a great time if you want a large dose of minimal Digweed all at once because you can play the albums back to back and it feels like you're listening to a two-disc set.

I won't get carried away with comparisons, though, because Volume 2 is rather distinctive in its own right. Deeper and more involved than Vol. 1, something I notice is that this mix is much more accessible than Vol. 1 was for me - and if you read my review of Vol. 1, it took hours of play to come to love it like I do today. Alternatively, I loved Vol. 2 pretty much from the moment the beat dropped in Digweed's Cheeky Edit of Abyss' 'Mind Games', and the ride doesnt stop until the last track. I think it's really wonderful how Digger's can simply slide over the line between some upscale symphonic minimal house & almost soft tribal house: And, yes, I still contend the basslines are the spine of the album over which everything else is built, they always drop with a sick intention.

Some stand-out tracks include both Abyss' "Mind Games" & "The Dreamer" which drop some pretty nice beats early into the album, as well as Felix Houzer's "Mandolina". An extra treat is Guy Gerber's otherwise unreleased white label vinyl track, "Digital Memories", which is placed towards the end of the album and is a track that I consider myself fortunate to own. Jackmate's "Manray (Digweed Cheeky Edit)" is a fittingly cooler song, fizzling and simmering to end the album with the same blissful grace with which it began. Good things come 'round full circle. One or two tracks seem to lead nowhere by themselves, but because their placement makes use of them as perfect segues between the preceding and following tracks, they work beautifully. Only something Digweed might have a chance of commercially pulling off.

In terms of Digweed's last release and his minimalistic excursions on his 'Transitions' weekly radio show, this is probably one of his more solid performances. For a single-disc release this is a hefty album with an unexpected complexity for minimal house. All the subtle twists and grooves from Vol. 1 are present, only they aren't so subtle this time around - and for the Digweed newcomer & veteran alike, this lends the final Midas touch to this release.
*To quote Dave Seaman, "It's widely acknowledged that sequels are generally not as good as their predecessors. And having recently watched Ocean's 12, I can tell you it's an assumption not without foundation... we think the sequel is the equal of it's predecesssor, probably even superior." Though this references his Therapy Sessions 2, I can't help but feel he could be speaking of Didgweed's latest, and the words would remain exactly as they are. A great way for the electronica subculture to begin 2007.

~Lex

How can one possibly follow up an album like Transitions Volume One? That's the question I asked myself upon hearing about the release of the second volume, and I'll tell you what I've learned.
Transitions 2 is in every way, volume one's equal, and yet in every way it is also an incredible distinct mix. I can't believe that in less than a year's time Digweed can give us two such high caliber gems, while others out there take years to give us one mediocore CD.
I would also like to share a belief about the direction this beloved genre is headed in. I have been listening to this wonderful music for nearly ten years now, and I have watched as it went from underground, to trendy, to massive, and back into obscurity. I also take great pride in my music collection, which consists of everything from classic Sasha and Digweed,to discontinued Carl Cox to the always dependable Ritchie Hawtin, and of these CD's I must say few exhibit the progression of today's collections, whether it be these great Transitions mixes, the awesome things Balance is doing or the latest sound of the Renaissance albums.
I can only assume that since the trend-followers have fallen by the wayside, the modern DJ has found it unessecary to include the always present anthems and trance nonsense that pollutted the genre so many years ago, but instead give us tracks like David K "Boul de Nerf", which would have never appeared on a commercial mix CD ten or even five years ago. So as a loyal fan of everything electronic I say thank you and please give us some more.

DOES THIS GUY NOT KNOW HOW TO MISS??? well, fortunately for our sake, he doesnt...the album just came out today (in the US at least), and im actually listening to it as i write this for inspiration if u will. it starts with 2 back 2 back tracks by the fantastic Abyss. the first track is a beautiful mood setter that slips easily into the much darker, yet still relatively light, The Dreamer. the track sounds like something that was handed to him by the progressive gods. classic digweed material. it is then followed by Dana which provides the set with a very airy feel. some might think its a bit too light but as all digweed stuff goes, its not necessarily about one track but more about how the track relates to the before and after tracks and i think it fits very nicely. Antena's Camino del sol follows and for anyone who wasnt too impressed with what preceeded it, they'll be blown away. its one of my favorites on the album so far. the tweaks, synths, haunting vocals that creep in and out of it, followed by a continuing melody that threatens to destroy dancefloors everywhere. from here then on, the album sets off to an explosive ride that will only end when it does. next comes The Shevering..the title is very fitting to the track. alot of teasers, subtle melodies. Evil Hinko's Gedankenhochsprung, comes next with stellar production and complimenting melodies that prove to be very effective on dance floors. very funky, and pefect as a preceeding song to Digweed Cheeky edit to Gutter stylez Belong to me which is also very selflessly funky. the track hardly stops as its bassline continues and shifts from one style to the other bringing new meanings to older things. the next track has caused many to wonder if it were the best of choices but i think its great, simple melody with alot of nice tweaks and percussions. its a good transitional track for whats to come after which is a change in direction to a more dark and proggy sound that we all know digger to master as easily as tying his shoes. Mandolina eases its way into the mix with its driving dark melody backed by flawless production and wicked, wicked bassline. next comes the one track that ive known for quiet sometime (as im sure most of u do as well), Dirk technic's I love you comes in and just when i thought that it would be the same mix as every other Dj and their mothers uses, it surprises me with a whole new take on this track. the melody is still there. very dark, with an almost middle eastern feel to it but make no mistake; the melody is the only dark thing about this track. there's a whole new beat behind it; also a new melody to copliment the old one and a bassline that takes it to almost happy funky heights. very creative. digger then takes it down just a notch with Digital memories. still very nice but more of a filler track imo. Cant get enough follows so seemlessly that for a second there i thought digital memories was just a very long, but i was proven wrong as the driving bass thumps into it making it great for the clubs. it transitions flawlessly into one of the set's highlight tracks, and probably the hardest, Dose3 minds...all i can say is that this track will make u wanna dance like ur 18 again (thats if ur in ur mid 20 like myself). and finally, digweed ends it like only he knows how. explosively. Jackmate is a great way to end this almost perfect set. with class...
anyways, the album is way better than his first transitions installment of the series (that doesnt mean that the first album wasnt a classic in its own right). he does what he knows best better than anyone: progress.

FYI:
u should check out his website where u can listen to his weekly transitions show. he spins an hour followed by another hour from a guest dj. how he can go through a year without repeating a single track in his radio sets is mind boggling to say the least...enjoy....

I had to listen to this album over and over before I felt confident in giving it a fair rating. One of the more difficult albums to write a review on.

In the end, the tracks I really liked on the album and the tracks that I thought were mediocre didn't change a whole lot from my first impression. The set starts off with four good tracks. Track 3, Chaim EP's "Dana" (Guy Gerber Mix) is an excellent track, and my personal favorite on the album. Bonus points for Digweed getting his hands on that one and commercially premiering it on this compilation.

So what's my problem with this album? It starves for a little more groove and a lot less...creepiness! Too many tracks (i.e. track 10, Dirk Technic's "I Love You" (Smallboy Remix)) could easily be background music for some horror/sci-fi B-Movie that was filmed in the 70's or 80's. Yes, this makes the album a hell of lot more trippy, but it is so overly done throughout the entire set that it gets tiresome after awhile.

3.5/5 stars.

"Transitions, Vol. 2" is an excellent blend of unique tech and electro house tracks that is superbly mixed by Digweed. Even if you are not a huge fan of tech-house, just listening to the masterful mixing from Digweed is worth the price alone. Digweed has come a long way and has expieremented with several different sounds along the way. "Vol. 2" picks up where "Vol. 1" left off as far as sound- more electroncia than progressive, but sort of has a blend of everyting. "Mind Games" opens the set, very slowly, but after a minute, the album begins where "Vol. 1" ended. "Dana" and "Camino Del Sol" both flow very nicely and has sort of a downtempo, chilled feel to them. But on William's "Shivering" is where the album gets its momentum and edge. Once it begins on this track, the album doesn't slow down from this point. Digweeds mixes of "Belong to Me" and "Mandolina" belong in the set nicely as both are very well produced tracks. "I Love You" stands out as well, but with the combination and mixing of Guy Gerber's "Digital Memories" into G-Stylez "Can't Get Enough" is at the album's peak- very energetic and hypnotic. The Digweed finale of his mix of "Manray" is a good closing song for the album and after hearing the mix, it only leaves you wondering when "Vol. 3" is coming out. I strongly reccomend listening to this mix. In my opinion, this mix is better than "Vol. 1." I only gave the first volume four stars, not that it was bad, but it had about five good tracks and some that were forgetable after a listen. On "Vol. 2", just about every track stands out to some degree. You have to give credit to dj's who expierament with sound and evolve into other genres, and that is what Digweed shows to us on "Vol. 2."

I have been a fan of Diggers since the early Renaissance Days leading into the Northern Exposure series. The first Transitions cd was ok, however this one is far from ok.

Nothing really happens on this entire album. In an effort to sound different or cutting edge, he ended up with a mix that doesn't go anywhere.

If you're looking for good cutting-edge progressive or minimal, check out MANDY, Booka Shade, Hernan Cattaneo, Nick Warren, or Richie Hawtin.

This mix is waaaaaaaaaaaaaay cool!!!! At first listen I didnt really like it that much but I still thought it was cool and different, I played it from the beginning a second time around and man was I completely wrong, every track is really something else, its dark but melodic, like happines but the kind of happines that doesnt need a smile or a laugh. Kind of reminds me of old school trance without the cheese, techy, housey, minimal, melody, dark, all that included in this mix. Can't wait for Transitions 3.

This CD was a disappointer for me. I understand that digweed is a sort of pioneer for music with progressive house with no real climax. I listened to the whole CD as soon I recieved it. The only thing that I can say that I liked about it was the transition between each song. That element is very smooth and enjoyable, however, the songs itself are horrible. There are a few songs in here that I probably wouldn't even consider music because their is no rhythm. It is more like a beat with obnoxious sounds playing with no smoothness. I actually couldn't listen to a few songs for the simple fact that it was very annoying. I had read good reviews so I decided to purchase, but only really liked 2 or 3 of the songs on this disc. If your a diehard fan of slow, continous music of this sort, you may like it. But if your not, you will be severely disappointed. The only way to enjoy this is if your on drugs, and if that's the case, it's not good music. I'm glad I bought it used.

It's like a 70 min (Or however long the cd) track which sounds the same all the way thru, and goes nowhere! I've heard a fan of his mix describe it as 'Icey' ... and that I agree!
I like mixes which take you on a journey (A Cliche I know!)and have a bit of variety. This does neither. None of the tracks on this album are a)dark b)deep c)warm d)funky e)original

I listened to this 3 times, so I gave it a chance.I am actually Digweed fan, just giving an honest opinion. 1 star.. because the mix is technically perfect and obviously considerable effort went into making this. Digweed plays much better in clubs, I felt his fabric mix was a better indication of the true 'Diggers' sound.