BnB Review: Balance 018 - Nick Warren

Written by Youri Jozee

The man who released no less than eight compilations on Global Underground, the legendary Nick Warren, helms the latest outing in the Balance series. Here’s the BnB judgment…






Nick Warren: DJ, Producer, Way Out West-member, A&R for Hope Recordings and one of the founding fathers of progressive house continues to be one of the most in demand artists in the electronic spectrum by constantly looking ahead whilst not shying away from the sound that has gained him followers across the globe. His trademarked deep, dynamic and pulsating warps of house and techno has been further explored by the use of new performance technology and a passion for new school techno composed by young , promising artists. His mix for Balance has become an organic journey that blends creative gear use to contemporary grooves, elegantly switching from melodic depths to full on club blows with an edgy feel. “This album treads a techier and deeper path while sticking to my template of sourcing music from every corner of the globe, once more finding some new and exciting producers” says Nick. “I jumped ship to Ableton and the APC40 Controller some time ago and really enjoy it. I can do edits and multiple mixes on the fly, which is great fun. But I also am using the CDJ2000s as well - they are fantastic.”

Julio Largente - Darkened Underpass @ Balance 018 - Nick Warren by Julio Largente

Spread across two CDs, Nick Warren’s Balance mix shows both his penchant for the deeper and dubbier side of the electronic genre as the more club devastating facet. The first CD opens with Ornatie’s Only, a glowing, stripped down piece of seashore progressive, after which things take a slightly more upbeat direction with tracks such as the hypnotizing Berlin by Underset, Paul Hazendonk´s gritty My Addiction and the stunning Terry Lee Brown Junior remix of Nick´s own Buenos Aires. Each tune is drenched in echoing elements and heavy synths and bass that, although the mix sound unmistakably melodic and vivid, give the overall a somewhat dark vibe. The mixing´s what you may expect from a veteran such as Nick: smooth and flowing with an unexpected twists here and there. The same goes for the second CD, although this one takes things to much more powerful and uncompromising dimensions. After a top notch kick-off in the form of Nick’s own mix of Tripswitch’s Collider, tunes such as the acid-fueled prog rocker Darked Underpass (by Julio Argente), and Lank’s roaring Ain’t No Problem further take us into the depths of brilliantly constructed grooves. There’s hardly a moment of relaxation, as Nick steadily sets sail towards mysterious territories, in which Solee’s melodramatic Aragorn (check out the synth programming on this one!), Steve Mill’s pulsating Someday and closing track Bread by Pablo Acenso form a combination of pure bliss.

Our verdict:
Nick Warren delivers again, there’s no other way of putting it. His latest mix is a more than worthy addition to the Balance catalogue on which Nick’s love for melodic progressive material is reshaped into two CDs that don’t show a single moment of weakness. In a way, it’s definitely a some sort of re-invention, sure, but above all it’s a five-star mix that’s on the forefront of where progressive music is at today.

Check back regularly for our interview with Nick Warren, online soon!

Rating: 9.0/10
Label: Balance Music
Release date: April 25th, 2011

CD1
1. Ormatie - Only
2. Spieltape feat. Shamil - Morning Paper
3. Underset - Berlin
4. Flord - The Tribe Has Spoken
5. Paul Hazendonk - My Addiction
6. Eelke Klein - Monkey Movin'
7. Jamie Anderson And Owain K - Without Sound
8. Nick Warren – Buenos Aires (Terry Lee Brown Jnr Mix)
9. Nomad in the Dark - Drones (Send me)
10. Franck Orff - Hibiscus
11. Giorgos Gatzigristos - Tickless

CD2
1. Tripswitch - Collider (Nick Warren Mix)
2. Julio Largente - Darkened Underpass
3. Beat Factory featuring Stamina – Let’s Take a Walk
4. Lank - Ain't No Problem
5. Yamil Colucci - Bristol Warm
6. Victoria R - Cosmos
7. Solee - Aragorn
8. Steve Mill - Someday
9. Steven Libby - 80D Test
10. Nick Warren - Flowers (Solee Remix)
11. Pablo Acenso - Bread

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