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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Polished, with suprises, another Nu Breed must-have, April 22, 2001
There's something exhilarating about a Nu Breed release. It's not just the quality or breaking vinyl-exclusives, standards for all the Global Underground releases. It's the feeling that these Nu Breed spinners are trying a bit harder to carve out their niche, exploring the boundaries of house music with their judicious selections. Previously, Anthony Pappa peered into a cloud of driving, tripped-out trance, Steve Lawler delved the tribal rhythms, and here Sander Kleinenberg effortlessly shifts through the house beat in all its conventions.Asian inflections fused to bass flow smoothly and slowly for openers, a luxury of having over two hours to work with. He proudly defies pigeonholes, from the crisp tech crackle of Purple `Money Shot,' to the needle-grinding Banco De Gaia standout `Obsidian' (think `That Zipper Track' with soaring vocal). Plenty of buffed-clean house and inventive percussion (Gintare's `Trancenavigation') prepare listeners for a plunge into heavier progressive numbers that close both discs. And of course the feat wouldn't be complete without one of Kleinenberg's own pieces, `Hidden Agenda,' showcasing the production skills that brought his name to attention in 1999. The set never really peaks (to be expected of Global releases these days), but balances the pacing quite well throughout; no disc one warm-up plate here. Polished and hiding surprises, Kleinenberg produces a must-have for this series' followers, and another welcome discovery to the new crop of DJs.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Promising, even riveting set, September 29, 2001
Say what you will about the overall quality of the GU nuBreed series, but it goes without saying that Sander Kleinenberg's Nu Breed release sounds like and even challenges the ranks of the most revered GU DJ's. As the rift between clubby trance anthems and dark, deep, progressive house widens, Kleinenberg somehow manages to achieve a relative balance and create something altogether wonderful. The mix is all about exploring and toying with the fine line between entertainment and art, between ear smashing trance and dark progressivism. He'll give you a taste of Digweed's deep, bass-laden progressive style yet somehow manages to mix in enough hooks and hard hitting beats to keep things danceable and up tempo. Just when he nearly lulls you into a hypnotic trance, he brings in a few subtle hooks, and before you know you it, the entire nature of the song has changed. What also sets Kleinenberg apart from some of the Nu Breed and even GU artists is his superior mixing ability. His mixing is so fluent and his transitions so good that it's possible to go through several tracks without a real idea of what number you're on. And perhaps that's why Kleinenberg is so awe-inspiring...as we see some of today's top DJ's become complacent with sub-par mixing ability (Oakenfold) and style (Emerson, Seb Fontaine), Kleinenberg looks to innovate. He most certainly belongs among the ranks of the best of the GU DJs.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Refreshing, groovy and wild percussion! This gem stands out, December 17, 2001
Producer Sander Kleinenberg's debut DJ album was an apt inclusion under the Nu Breed series. I wouldn't say it's so much genre defying, as it is genre defining. Sander spins in a league of his own that doesn't blur the lines between genres, but instead creates a new one miles away from the others. Upon hearing it the first time it was one of those CD's that had me scratching my head in search for a word to describe it. For those of you who own Lee Burridge's Nu Breed, you'll know what I mean. I wouldn't say it's progressive trance or progressive house because I don't think it's progressive at all. It's a mix of groovy trance and creative percussion that blends into a fast and solid compilation. What impresses me most with Kleinenberg's track selection is the impressive and wild percussion (eg Onyx1 & Trance Navigation). Contrary to the long and complex buildups seen with other DJ's, Kleinenberg's sound is more spirited, with little patience for slow buildups and more interest in wild spins and full-throttle mixing. Those of you who are used to the occasional treat of hushed undertones, fluid landscapes, etheral strings and haunting melodies are in for a confusing surprise. This is why it's hard to appreciate the first time and takes a while for it to grow on you. The razor sharp, sterilised, industrial beats control a swift succession of groovy sounds and dispassionate vocals into a refreshingly unique compilation that may not be the best to dance to, but is certainly worth rocking your house with. If you can appreciate the quality and variety in the rest of the Global Underground series, such as Danny Tenaglia's GU017, Darren Emerson's GU020, Deep Dish's GU021 and John Digweed's GU019, then this album will make a unique gem in your collection. If you're looking for another anthemic floor filler, look elsewhere.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
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5.0 out of 5 stars
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Tasty, mysterious, lovely and funk-tified!From the haunting start, reminiscent of Sasha/Digweed's, "Northern Exposure," series, to the gradual rise in deep-funk, jungle rhythms,...
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Published on February 14, 2003 by L. JAMES
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