Nick Warren - Balance 018

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  • Over the course of his 20-plus year career, Nick Warren has helmed an impressive total of 12 commercial mix compilations—with no less than eight of those being globe-trotting sets for the renowned Global Underground label. His frequency on the GU roster is understandable; Warren is their best-selling DJ, and the pair's long-standing history is so interchangeable that it's almost impossible not to think of one without the other. Which kind of makes you wonder—with the plethora of choices out there—why EQ Recordings landed on a veteran DJ so synonymous with another label to mix the latest Balance. A tactical move perhaps? After all, with podcasts suggesting an uncertain future for the mix CD, Nick Warren is a safe bet with a proven market base. For those familiar with his back catalogue, however, a more important matter is where Warren has decided to go on Balance 018. In the past, some of the "progressive DJ" entries into the series have used the opportunity to prove there's more to them than that imposed tag; Anthony Pappa showed off his love of breaks, Chris Fortier threw a curveball of minimal tech and electro and James Holden's infamous and eclectic mix was a springboard for his new direction. But while some of Nick Warren's best mixes have been the ones that have entailed a more downtempo/experimental flavour (GU #24: Reykjavik is arguably one of his finest moments), Balance 018 sees him play up to his reputation. For the prog-heads, this means everything they could hope for in a mix—namely a genre-specific, key-mixed approach of driving and dominating basslines, funky percussion and trancey melodies. For others, it means the same predictably pumping, big room sound akin to progressive house at the turn of the century, albeit with a more deep and polished tech-sheen. Warren more than knows his way around a mix, and the word "journey" is definitely applicable over both discs. If there's anything to fault here, it's the abrupt or awkward transitions that sometimes disrupt the flow of the mix, which is something easily noticeable in a genre so fixated on linearity. Sometimes it's difficult to envisage Nick Warren once spinning dub and indie back in the day as a tour DJ for Massive Attack. That's the kind of example of a past love that could've been tapped into to celebrate his first mix with a different series in over a decade. On the other hand, his passion for the progressive style that made his name and his endearing refusal to jump on any bandwagons are what make him such a well-respected DJ. In that sense, Balance 018 is Nick Warren just being himself. And you can't blame him for that.
  • Tracklist
      CD1 01. Ormatie - Only 02. Spieltape feat. Shamil - Morning Paper 03. Underset - Berlin 04. Flord - The Tribe Has Spoken 05. Paul Hazendonk - My Addiction 06. Eelke Kliejn - Monkey Movin' 07. Jamie Anderson And Owain K - Without Sound 08. Nick Warren - Buenos Aires (Terry Lee Brown Jnr Mix) 09. Nomad in the Dark - Drones (Send me) 10. Franck Orff - Hibiscus 11. Giorgos Gatzigristos - Tickless CD2 01. Tripswitch - Collider (Nick Warren Mix) 02. Julio Largente - Darkened Underpass 03. Beat Factory featuring Stamina - Let's Take a Walk 04. Lank - Ain't No Problem 05. Yamil Colucci - Bristol Warm 06. Victoria R - Cosmos 07. Solee - Aragorn 08. Steve Mill - Someday 09. Steven Libby - 80D Test 10. Nick Warren - Flowers (Solee Remix) 11. Pablo Acenso - Bread
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