Israeli producer/live act Guy J is set to release his new album, the 3-CD spanning 1000 Words, on John Digweed’s Bedrock label later this month. Worth the purchase? Let’s find out…
Lauded releases such as Lamur, Heliscope and Esperanza EPs have positioned Guy J at the forefront of modern day house and progressive hybrids, in which shimmering synths, glowing strings and thriving, hypnotizing beats are fused into emotive compositions. In that sense, it is hardly a surprise why the young producer has found shelter at JD’s Bedrock label, one of the richest sources in nu-school house and techno with a long history of epic releases. 1000 Words follows up Guy J’s debut album Esperanza (2008), and is by all means a deeper exploration of Guy J’s broad musical vision. The first disc showcases Guy’s classical composition skills in the form of a continuously warm, luscious and mesmerizing blend of tracks starring pulsating synth warps, mellow bass play and laidback rhythms. To describe each individual track would do the mix no good. In fact, they are mere jigsaws in what seems an endless play of warmth and emotion, and therefore this mix is best enjoyed when listened to in one take.
CD 2 takes us back to Guy’s signature club outings in the form of 13 tracks that switch from vivid, playful material to dark, bass-fueled stompers. Built around both mid-tempo as upbeat tunage, this side of the album effectively showcases the clubbier facets of Guy’s output with tunes such as the massive Easy As Can Be, Teva and, of course, the still brilliant Heliscope. Perhaps the strongest points of the track, apart from the impressive integration of musical parts, is the way each track takes the time to build up to epic heights without using over-the-top climaxes.
The third and final disc rounds things of with a mix featuring the full length club mixes of the tracks, in which progressive house, ambient-esque structures and Detroit-flavored cuts come together in a powerful alloy of dense sounds and melodies. A great closure of what has become a very respectable second album.
Our verdict: The biggest risk one could stumble across when releasing an album that spans 3 discs is an overkill of tunes and studio leftovers. But not on Guy J’s watch. The producer shows to know his way around more classical inspired compositions as roaring big room cuts by presenting a collection of his best work till date. The third disc is a very welcome extra and a must-have for nu-school prog-house fanatics. 1000 Words is a fingerlickin’ strong package that will cater to all of you with a soft spot for emotive, forward-thinking electronic music.
Rating: 8.0/10 Label: Bedrock Release date: April 25th, 2011
Tracklisting: CD1 - Mixed 1.Intro 2.Moderate 3.Guy J & Miriam Vaga - You 4.Fall Star (Rising Mix) 5.The Right Place 6.My Organ Friend 7.Spica 8.Electric Tale 9.Lamur 10.I Lost My Head (AM Mix) 11.Stay Cow 12.Guy J & Miriam Vaga - Fly
CD2 - Mixed 1.Intro 2.Doves 3.Limbo 4.Easy As Can Be 5.My Thought Of You 6.Sahara 7.Teva 8.Guy J & Miriam Vaga - No Under But You 9.Heliscope 10.Personal Haze 11.Azimuth 12.I Lost My Head (PM Mix) 13.Whirlpool
CD3 - Unmixed - Full-Length Club Mixes 1.Doves 2.Limbo 3.Easy As Can Be 4.My Thought Of You 5.Sahara 6.Teva 7.Guy J & Miriam Vaga - No Under But You 8.Heliscope 9.Personal Haze 10. I Lost My Head 11.Azimuth
Progressive - 
