One of today’s biggest progressive techno totems, Timo Maas, takes on the revered Balance series. Here's our opinion on this long awaited instalment...
Timo Maas presents his trademarked sound on Balance 017 featuring tracks by Deetron, Henrik Schwarz, Kenny Larkin and Timo's own Mutant Clan moniker. Full review after the jump.
After killer editions by Joris Voorn, Will Saul and SOS and James Holden amongst others it is clear thay the stakes have been set high for any DJ who gets chosen for a Balance mix. However, Timo’s undisputed skills and years and years of experience have left their footprints on this two-disc compilation, which from beginning to end is a sparkling tour through house, disco, techno and a handful of experimental jams on the side. The first disc sees Timo serving up a variety of highly diverse tunage from the start. The mix starts with Maas’ own ambient-esque A Day After George after which the mix gently flows into Nicolas Jaar’s laidback electro-bluesy Time For us, and eventually engages into clubby disco-styled tunes such as Solvent ‘s Loss For Words (Vector Lovers Remix) and the lovely Sing by Deetron. Throughout the mix, Timo switches from straight-forward techno bangers to funkier but more stripped-down house, then back again while also throwing in some electro-fueled cuts in between. A very colorful mix that switches from moody to uplifting with constant energy pulses that keep the mix rocking.
Disc Two does not differ that much from the first in terms of sound. It’s basically another hot blend of floor rocking gems, although it must be said that especially the first half is characterized by much darker and twisted tunes. Cuts such as Alex Niggemann - Take Control (Matthias Tanzmann Remix), and The Mole - Nervous Disid definitely add a moody vibe to this package while this pure, filthy club groove keeps the mix rumbling. Standout tunes here are Timo Maas - Kick 1 Kick 3 and follow up track Arcadia by Mutant Clan. Another great mix with very little flaws or dull moments.
Balance 017 has become a worthy addition to the already superb Balance mix series catalog. The choice of record is excellent, the mixing's great, and the effecting here and there definitely adds value to the package as a whole. All in all a very diverse and impressive mix oozing with techno roars and proggy house mania.
Rating: 8.0/10 Label: Balance Music Release date: October 18th, 2010
Balance 017 tracklist CD1 01 Timo Maas - Morning Beauty 02 Timo Maas - A Day After George 03 Nicolas Jaar - Time For Us (Original Mix) 04 Dana Bergquist & Peder G - Acapulco (Sasse Remix) 05 Solvent - Loss For Words (Vector Lovers Remix) 06 Random House Project - The One For Ever (Toby Tobias Dub Mix) 07 Phattivan - Man From Ternopil 08 Deetron - Sing 09 Mathias Kaden – Kawaba (DJ Koze's Kosi-San Remix) W/ DJ Koze - Blume Der Nacht 10 Henrik Schwarz & Kuniyuki - Once Again (Kuniyuki Version) 11 Giorgio Roma - Across The East Side * W/ Timo Maas - Spacemooger Experience 12 Alex Flitsch meets Mutant Clan - Imanah (Patrick Chardronnet Deep Mix) 13 Mathias Schaffhäuser - The 1st Thing 14 Danny Tenaglia - Elements (The Dtour) 15 Santè & Adam Port - Solano 16 The Crystal Ark - The City Never Sleeps (Instrumental) 17 Florian Hollerith - Fluxus 18 Carl Craig - At Les 19 William Orbit, Elgar - Nimrod (Timo Maas & Santos Remix)
CD2 01 Timo Maas - Latenza 02 Marc Romboy & Stephan Bodzin – Luna (Mutant Clan Laser Gun Remix) 03 Kenny Larkin - Glob (Kenny Larkin Mix) 04 Alex Niggemann - Take Control (Matthias Tanzmann Remix) 05 Alex Dolby & Santos - To Be Large 06 The Mole - Nervous Disid 07 Mutant Clan - Totally Wet (Santè & Adam Port Remix) 08 We Fell To Earth - Lights Out (Timo Maas Remix) 09 Timo Maas - Kick 1 Kick 3 10 Mutant Clan - Arcadia 11 Santè & Adam Port - Faire Des Siennes (Mutant Clan Caraibic Remix) 12 Santos - Matinèe 13 Rockets & Ponies - Chinese Massage (Alex Dolby: Porno Dolby Remix) 14 Timo Maas - Clouds 15 Lost Veteranos - It's Wronger 16 Emmanuel Top - Somewhere 17 Hardfloor - Acperience 1 18 Placebo - Ashtray Heart (Timo Maas Unreleased Remix)
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