This is an absolutely increadible CD and as far as being a benchmark electronic music album, I'd go as far as to say that it should be as ubiquitous as Leftfield's Leftism was in the 90's. It is more focused on house than Sasha's first foray, 'Airdrawndagger' (with it's breakbeat chilled out numbers) and more varied in feel than 'Involver' (in which all the tracks were remixed by Sasha had a similar feel). The track selection is genius, which whilst rarely leaving the 4/4 house format, explores the widest range of sub-genres.
For example, Holden Thompson's 'Come To Me' is totally chilled out trancey house, Closer Musik's 'One, Two, Three' is a more laid back groove, Epsilon's 'Innocent Thoughts' is an uplifting dancefloor stonker. Sasha nails two things on this album - innovative mixing (done from his home-made Ableton Live controller, enabling him to drop loops in and out, change track arrangements, and twist sounds loops with effects, all on the fly), which makes the first half of the album a challenging and innovative piece. The second thing that he has done, is play an increadibly eclectic mix of tracks (within the house genre), and the strength of this selection is what makes the second half of the CD so good, as the pace picks up and goes the way of the dancefloor.
This mix CD is more uplifting and tuneful than Sasha's Avalon - Los Angelese mix, but more appropriate for the dancefloor than Airdrawndagger Involver. (which are also phenominal albums). It is one of those rare albums that I still listen to all the time, after a year of buying it.
This is an absolutely increadible CD and as far as being a benchmark electronic music album, I'd go as far as to say that it should be as ubiquitous as Leftfield's Leftism was in the 90's.
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