- See all the Ratings
- Add my Rating now
What is it about this mix series that brings out the best in its chosen selectors? Maybe it’s the Carte Blanche music policy that the label gives the DJ, or maybe it’s the exceptionally high standard set by truly classic sets from Phil K and James Holden? Whatever the recipe is, it is proving truly magical because the Balance series remains somewhat of a last bastion for the mix CD format, each volume standing tall and defiant against the impending tidal wave of digital downloads. After the expansive and authoritative 3 disc installment from progressive giant Jimmy Van M, the series returns to the younger hands of a rising star, Canadian DJ Luke Fair. Fair has been touted as the next big thing for a while now, but has rarely had the opportunity (apart his criminally overlooked Bedrock_OS mix two years ago) to be truly expressive on an album. You get the impression that Fair has relished the opportunity for ‘Balance 011’, as it’s a sublime wide screen mix that delicately touches the cornerstones of timeless deep house, classic progressive and emotive techno.
Just from the track list of the first disc you know Fair is a true scholar of his craft. It reads like the back catalogue from some lost deep house staple like Airtight or Nite Grooves. He opens with Voom Voom’s beautiful, synth laden ‘Vampire Songs’, its mournful vocoder voices guide sweeping strings and tinkering percussion into a heady soundscape of haunted chants, shuffling drums and humming basslines. By the time he unleashes the liquid groove of Wamdue Project’s ‘Home Dance’ you are four tracks in and totally under his spell. Fair motors things along expertly with gentle explosions of glorious melancholy; the warm trippy disco of Mitsu’s ‘Serene’ makes the eyes flicker and Charles Webster’s sultry Balearic rework of Delugi’s ‘Highlight’ is drenched with a thousand Ibiza sunsets. Fair urgently whips some Detroit melodics into the fray courtesy of Tiger Stripes (a genuine talent to watch) before the Ruhig Brauner mix of ‘KTB’ sends the mix wiggling with vintage acid house vocals and bubbling old school funk. ‘Getaway’ by Nightriders is a trade mark Fair tune; tripped out disco tech with restless percussion and murky saxophones building and collapsing over each other trying to keep up with Tom Novy’s sharp, sparkling dub techno cut ‘Unexpected’.
After a flawless first disc of classic deep house and techno, you are fascinated to see what Fair does when the lights go down and the dance floor gets dirty. He sets off on an unexpected path with Kowalski and Voorns euphoric vocal number ‘She’s Worth It’, but when he eases in the amazing ‘Time and Space’ by Francois K (a veteran making better music now than ever before) you know Fair’s agenda; he wants to avoid bludgeoning you with anthems, get you wide eyed about unknown gems and future classics. Ian Pooley’s hair raising remix of the Timewriters’ sexually charged ‘The Booty Song’ is exhilarating, ‘Lay Here’ by Elektrochemie LK pumps classic, liquid trance and 16 Bit Lolita’s raise heads to the heavens with the sparkling ‘Difficult If Not Impossible’. Fair lifts the mood brilliantly with Jamie Andersons draw dropping Latino-tech mix of Marnix’s ‘Fire’ and the spellbinding ‘A Beat Like This’ by forgotten disco heroes Subtech, before he turns the lights up bold and bright with Bukake’s Hacienda piano stormer ‘Curious’ leaving you grinning and glistening.
There is something lovingly familiar about Fair’s style and you can’t help but compare this set to classic mixes by Deep Dish or Sasha & Digweed. Like those mavericks, Fair looks past the immediacy of the dance floor and dares to dream of longevity by presenting dance music with genuine emotional scope. ‘Balance 011’ is an astoundingly mature example of a house DJ ready to shine and also one of this year’s best mixes.
graphite says...
word! .... Top mix up there in there with the best of the balance series! See you all on Friday night @ Sweetchilli