• Music

  • Most Enduring Commercial Mix Comps

List ’em up. Given this a lot of thought, so my list is essentially the only correct set of answers, but that doesn’t mean you all shouldn’t be able to post positive comments about it. Seriously tho, most all commercial mixes became dated bc they were more of a snapshot in time than anything else, so don’t come in here with any “013” shit, or the like, bc this isn’t supposed to be about your favorite mixes.

5. Nick Warren: Back To Mine - This one has come back around, imo. The breaks remind me of the stuff I hear from the Berlin Public Radio shows of PLOman, All Rest No People, and the rest of the Acting Press Crew, as well as the Pacific Rhythm label’s mixes.

4. Josh Wink: Profound Sounds Vol. 1 - The programming has aged perfectly, and the mix of house and techno sounds like something that could have come out tomorrow. Fresh as ever.

3. Richie Hawtin: DE9 Closer To The Edit - I could argue for this being my #1, but I think it comes with the caveat of being both partially an artist album as well extremely stylized. Due to the limitations of the time from whence it came (sampled from vinyl, edited using hardware ex..) the entire thing ends up sounding like it could have come from the Electron OctaTrack; a piece of kit which I would argue is the most important electronic instrument of the past 10 years. I think this mix sounds extremely current, which puts it at odds with literally everything Hawtin has done since. It’s honestly one of the last good things he’s done.

2. Coldcut: Journeys By A Dj - This has aged spectacularly. This is the only mix, that I am aware of, to completely nail the smorgasbord approach to a mix; it melds multiple styles and bpms flawlessly. Several of the artists included in the TL are more relevant to day than they were back in ’95. Just listened to this the other day, and it’s insane how well executed it is.

1. Richie Hawtin: Mixmag Live! - The undisputed heavy weight champion. The mix of tunes sounds more like Ben Klock in 2020 than it does Richie Hawtin. The chain of stomp boxes that Richie used on each of the turntables went on to impact the work that both he and his dad did with Allen and Heath and PLAYdifferently. Most any dj mixer you buy today was in some way impacted by this mix. The mix of tunes with the jacking acid and house samples have made this mix endure like no other.

  • Amps replied to this.

    Zackster, these are not commercial mix CDs.

    Big shout out to this, a warm-up for my nights out in 1999, probably the first year I was properly out clubbing every week (pretty much)…

    I always have a hard time deciding if I think something has an enduring quality because it actually does, or because I enjoyed it so much in the past that the nostalgia is the one thinking it still sounds fresh.

    • Amps replied to this.

      Introspective of House series, the Retrospective of House series, House Collection Volume Two and Perfecto Fluoro for me

        Listened to the James Lavelle Fabric recently.

        Still great.

        LTJ Bukem and MC Conrad - Progression Sessions Vol 1. Spectacularly brilliant, and Conrad makes it better. I think I’m on my fourth copy, and no longer lend people CDs. “You’re locked into this mystic vibe…”.

          zackster pff step to me when I’ve got my dawgs Rhouses and Ed backing me up.

          Two heavy hitters.

          Quite literally in Rhouses’ case.

            K and D have a new mix due out btw

            Means a lot to me this. Was at the night it was recorded and loved the club to bits in my early 20s. Gallery, Trade, Heavenly Jukebox etc

            The Mark Jones and Sister Bliss ones still stand up. With the Tall Paul one, you had to be there in 98 when he was the uberlord of Trade and Gallery

            Smallman1 Tall Paul in the booth with his brother Danny on lights and lasers. I have rarely if ever experienced an atmosphere like the live at the Essential Mix night in 99 with PVD, Tall Paul and Pete Tong

                alistair

                Saw Tall Paul at somewhere in Birmingham around 1998/99. He was excellent. Cracking night. I’m sure the music hasn’t aged too well but it was fun at the time.

                    zackster I won’t deny my past. In some ways, it was a lot better than the present 😉

                      zackster

                      You should see the state of my “London ideas” thread. Submarined into a roasting of our man Smalls.

                          jonattonyeah He could be fairly eclectic when he was in the mood too. I remember a particularly good Gallery set of his back in the day when he threw out Xpander, Odyssey to Anyoona, Circus Bells and Bells of New York. He was far better at Turnmills as resident than if you saw him at say Cream.

                            jonattonyeah You should see the state of my “London ideas” thread. Submarined into a roasting of our man Smalls.

                            The green eyes were properly out in that thread, I get so much stick for livin la vida it’s ridic!

                              This thread was always about one thing: me feuding with Dave. Fuck you all for ruining it.

                              Kells77 or because I enjoyed it so much in the past

                              Do you still listen to them now?

                                  zackster Warren’s Back to Mine is proper boss, one of the best laid back mixes ever.