Renaissance: The Mix Collection - Gui Boratto

Brazil’s most exciting house DJ export, Gui Boratto makes his eagerly anticipated compilation debut as he joins the ranks of the Renaissance Mix Collection series…

2009 has been a great year for Gui Boratto; he released his second artist album; brilliantly remixed the likes of Moby, Simian Mobile Disco, Sam Taylor-Wood & The Pet Shop Boys and Bomb The Bass; created one of the years best Essential Mixes, then perfectly capped it all by entering the DJmag Top 100.

And it’s with his fast-rising DJ status he continues to focus as he kick-starts 2010 with his first mix album for Renaissance. Gui’s diverse, melodic style is a natural fit with the compilation genre, which he perfectly presents across 2 discs, highlighting some of the scenes most exciting producers such as Tricky, Josh Wink, Martin Buttrich, Lusine, Jonh Tejada, Mathew Jonson, Christian Smith and many more… Dance fans will take further delight in the fact Gui’s also featured 8 of his own tracks and remixes; 4 of these are brand new productions, including an exciting co-production with Bomb The Bass called ‘The Infinites’ and a forthcoming Renaissance single, ‘Trills’.

“I really enjoyed mixing my Renaissance Mix Collection,” says Gui Boratto, “I tried to find the perfect blend of my favourite producers and tracks; exclusives from friends and peers, plus my own material, be it original or remixes.”

And Gui hasn’t actually stopped there as he’s provided further production and edits throughout both mixes, ensuring the stage is well and truly set for one of the most exciting comps of 2010… and it’s only February!

Renaissance: The Mix Collection – Gui Boratto – is out 8th February 2010

Renaissance: The Masters Series - Dave Seaman

Renaissance: The Masters Series – Dave Seaman

Dave Seaman returns once again to Renaissance with a sublime 32 track double CD DJ mix.

DJ Dave Seaman is one of the best when it comes to smooth mixing of a wide spectrum of music.  His incredible depth of experience, remaining as meticulous as ever in his track selection, incredible ear for harmonic mixing and natural feel for programming.

Renaissance: The Masters Series Part 14 finds Seaman in a rich vein of form as he draws upon the scenes best talent.

Disc One treads along a more eclectic path taking in Four Tet, Ben Watt, Moby and Spooky before culminating in Dave’s own twist on Ewan Pearson’s lauded re-work of Jon Hopkins blissful anthem ‘Light Through The Veins’.

Disc Two intros with UNKLE’s Hold My Hand (Innervisions Orchestra Dub Mix) and takes more of a peak-time high road, picking-up hitchhikers in the form of Guy J, Agoria, Radio Slave and Nic Fanciulli before bundling them all out to make way for the heavy hitting finale of Gui Boratto’s Adam Freeland remix.

As ever, the unique bag of editing, additional production and sampler effects has been expertly woven throughout the mix.

Dave Seaman explains “There’s so much additional production and ‘nipping and tucking’ editing going on it’s difficult to highlight it all! We’ve credited certain parts where the results are obvious (the UNKLE acapella over a heavily chopped-up Andre Winter track and the additional drums, bass and female vocal on Jon Hopkins for example), but the whole album almost became like one long track to be honest, such was the care and attention that went into it. I hope it shines through…”

Dave Seaman – Renaissance: The Masters Series Part 14 is yet another musical chapter that will define and stand the test of time – an essential listen to brighten up your Autumn days as the dark nights draw in.

Renaissance: The Masters Series – Dave Seaman is now available via Renaissance Records.

Renaissance: The Masters Series – Dave Seaman CD1

1. Four Tet – Swimmer
2. Ben Watt – Guinea Pig (DJ Koze’s Vocal Variation Remix)
3. Culoe De Song – The Bright Forest
4. Butch Feat. Julie – Soultan
5. Extrawelt – Mit Liese Der Auf Wiese
6. Andre Winter – Trauma c/w UNKLE – Heaven (King Unique Acapella Remix) [Seaman's Group Therapy Meeting]
7. Will Saul & Tam Cooper – Through The Smoke
8. Ian Pooley – Compact
9. Sahar Z & Audio Junkies – Beyond Detroit
10. Quivver – Sludge
11. Djuma Soundsystem – Bi Polar
12. Moby – Pale Horses (Gui Boratto’s Last Window Remix)
13. Triangle Feat. Joel Xavier – Three
14. Spooky – Outernebula
15. The Youngsters – The Phoenix
16. Fiol Lasse – Svedala
17. Jon Hopkins – Light Through The Veins (Ewan Pearson’s Downtown Lights         Remix) [Seaman's Intravenous Remodel]

Renaissance: The Masters Series – Dave Seaman CD2

1. UNKLE – Hold My Hand (Innervisions Orchestra Dub Mix) c/w Moderat – Les Grandes Marches
2. Guy J – Esperanza
3. Dave Seaman – Gobbledygook (Erphun Remix)
4. Agoria – Baboul Hair Cuttin (Radio Slave Remix)
5. Infusion – So Soon (King Unique Remix)
6. Jay Lumen – Morning Call
7. Nic Fanciulli & Steve Mac – 10%
8. Delphic – Counterpoint (Paul Woolford Remix)
9. Popof – Shades
10. Nick Muir – Fu Man Chew
11. Niko Fantin – Fire Games (Venue 44 Edit)
12. 16 Bit Lolita’s – Gig On The Moon
13. Gregor Tresher – The Life Wire
14. Freeland – Mancry (Gui Boratto Remix)
15. Darko Esser – Teardrops

Christian Smith Platform DJ Mix CD

Christian Smith – Platform (Renaissance)

With DJ mixes coming out of our office ears and being two-a-penny for the last two decades, any new DJ mix that drops on our doormat needs to instantly grab us or it may not be given a second chance; and when two heavyweights like Renaissance and Christian Smith collaborate the expectation is all the greater.

Christian Smith Platform delivers a superb Detroit techno inspired mix that will have your neck muscles pumping in no time!

Having made his name as a true heavyweight of the techno scene with a string of seminal productions to his name, Christian Smith is undoubtedly one of the best-respected names in the genre. Often collaborating with his long-time studio partner, John Selway, Christian’s work has set the benchmark for quality techno; as his releases with Josh Wink’s Ovum imprint, John Digweed’s Bedrock, Steve Lawler’s ever-innovative Viva Music and of course, Renaissance, are a true testament to that.

“I wanted to do something special… that stands the test of time, but that has not been done for Renaissance before” Christian Smith suggested when asked about this new DJ mix for the Renaissance label.

To achieve this he has given each mix of this two-disc package a different flavour. Devoting the first CD to Detroit techno he has selected tracks produced by European artists that are heavily inspired by the early Detroit sound. He mixes up the hypnotic groove of Radio Slave’s remix of the Humate classic Love Stimulation with standout tracks from Stimming, Nic Fanciulli & Steve Mac.

Smith also adds a generous helping of his own unreleased original production to create a shimmering soundscape, that is as beautifully crafted, as it is compelling.

The second disc represents Christian Smith the DJ in a more peaktime, club environment – big records that convey the energy that he always brings to the dancefloor. Incorporating tracks from such production luminaries as Timo Maas, Cirez D and Guy J (as well as a further sprinkling of previously unheard material from his own studio).

Christian Smith comments on the second CD mix:
“At the end of that day it’s all about a good party and this is exactly what this second cd is to me.”

Christian Smith Platform is released on Monday 7th September on Renaissance.

Christian Smith Platform: CD One
1.Taho – Atlantess
2.Subotic – The Seed
3.Humate – Love Stimulation (Radio Slave Mix)
4.Stimming – The Kiss (Ripperton Mix)
5.Technasia – Crosswalk
6.Christian Smith & John Selway – Daytona
7.Secret Cinema – Kurzweil
8.DJ Yellow feat. Rucyl – In My Heart
9.Quince featuring Paris The Black Fu – My Life’s Rhythm
10.Nic Fanciulli & Steve Mac – 10%
11. Psycatron – Tipping Point

Christian Smith Platform: CD Two
1.Christian Smith & John Selway – Manfreak (Athos Mix)
2.Samuel L. Sessions – Can You Relate (Slam Remix)
3.Wehbba – The Hiss
4.Alex Under – FI (Tobias Remix)
5.Christian Smith & John Selway – Mistral (Pietee Mix)
6.Karotte – All She Wants Is
7.Christian Smith & Reset Robot – Elixir (Gary Beck Remix)
8.Guy J – Bianca
9.Pan-Pot – Confronted
10.Florian Meindl – Here Today Gone Tomorrow
11.Christian Smith – Indecent Exposure
12.Timo Maas – Jetstream
13.Carlo Dall Anese & Diego Logic – Brigadeiro Demais Engorda
14.Psycatron – Directions
15.Cirez-D – On Off

Tom Middleton - One More Tune released on Renaissance

Tom Middleton – One More Tune released on Renaissance

Tom Middleton is a pioneering electronic producer and DJ who needs little introduction. Renowned worldwide for his visionary projects as Global Communication, Jedi Knights, Cosmos, AMBA and others, he’s been responsible for landmark productions, compilations and Essential Mixes.

Tom Middleton has dj’d and remixed such varied artists as Aphex Twin, Duran Duran, Mark Ronson and Faithless. In 2009 alone, he has remixed Razorlight, The Verve and The Presets.

Kicking off with an incredible remix of the seminal Last Rhythm, superstar DJ Tom Middleton’s latest album is a 15 track upbeat mix. One More Tune has a fresh-faced 1990’s house flavour that makes me smile…and I’m loving it.

One More Tune is a celebration of new and undiscovered end of night anthems blended with some well known classics. Crucially, nearly all have been remixed (or as we’re calling them, remodeled) and digitally re-edited, then mixed in key groups at 128bpm.

Tom Middleton say, “I’ve had 20 years of spinning and dancing to those classic finales. Dropping everything from the original Motown Don’t Leave Me This Way to the universally classic Balearic You Got The Love, or a techno sub-bass whopper like Diabla to a shouty Brit Pop guitar rockout like Song Two, or perhaps a Drum n Bass rewind killer like Adam F’s Circles. You go with your instinct, and either select a stone cold classic or drop in a total curve ball. I love to spin people out with a monstrous, all singing and pogoing anthem, such as The Prodigy’s Out Of Space complete with corny fader rides in the chorus and then bolt on the very last bar of the Grange Hill Theme, afterall it is home time!”

Middleton went on to explain his remixing style for the album. “My remix style [for One More Tune] seems to be a fusion of deep house and melodic techno with a clear nod to the early 90’s. For some reason I just can’t help but build those hands in the air moments into each track!”

Tom Middleton – One More Tune tracklist

Disc One – Mixed

1.         Tom Middleton – One More Tune (Intro Acapella)
2.         Last Rhythm – Last Rhythm (Tom Middleton Remodel)
3.         Tom Middleton – One More Tune (‘91 Mix)
4.         Budai & Vic – All Night Long
5.         Humate – Love Stimulation (Tom Middleton Remodel)
6.         Mustafa Feat. Elisangela – Bom Demais (Audiowhores Remix)
7.         Agora Rhythm – Circles (Tom Middleton Edit)
8.         Blu Mar Ten Feat. Ernesto – All Over Again (Tom Middleton Remix)
9.         Little Big Bee – K.G.O. (Tom Middleton Remodel)
10.       Akabu – Phuturebound (Shur-i-kan Remix)
11.       The Orange Lights – A Few Good Days (Tom Middleton Deep Dub)
12.       Derrick May – Strings Of Life (Tom Middleton Remodel)
13.       Tom Middleton – One More Tune (Encore Acapella)
14.       The Horn – Villager (Tom Middleton Promised Land Remodel)
15.       Joe Smooth – Promised Land (Tom Middleton Edit)

Disc Two – Unmixed

1.         Last Rhythm – Last Rhythm (Tom Middleton Remodel)
2.         Tom Middleton – One More Tune (‘91 Mix)
3.         Humate – Love Stimulation (Tom Middleton Remodel)
4.         Agora Rhythm – Circles (Tom Middleton Edit)
5.         Blu Mar Ten Feat. Ernesto – All Over Again (Tom Middleton Remix)
6.         Little Big Bee – K.G.O. (Tom Middleton Remodel)
7.         The Orange Lights – A Few Good Days (Tom Middleton Deep Dub)
8.         Derrick May – Strings Of Life (Tom Middleton Remodel)
9.        The Horn – Villager (Tom Middleton Promised Land Remodel)

Renaissance: The Masters Series - James Zabiela

Renaissance – The Masters Series
DJ mix by James Zabiela

The latest Renaissance – Masters Series release come courtesy of James Zabiela.

A 2 CD release James Zabiela takes up through a mix of darker, moodier shapes and minimal sounds on CD1 entitled Down, including a fantastic lead into my favourite Trentemoller track, Always Something Better.

James Zabiela’s Down mix is something special for those with a discerning taste, including the likes of Plaid & Boards of Canada.

Down is what James Zabiela describes as an ‘audio travelogue’, an intricately produced collage of beautiful electronica over-laid with his own ‘field recordings’, a suite of ambient sounds and spoken word that represent both his journeys on the road and in the air, and time and thoughts between gigs.

As DJ mixes go, this is more challenging, like the pitcher throwing a curve ball.  I found myself immersed in a great mix from the very intro. Though towards the end somehow Zabiela managed to spoil it for me with a real glossy pop track – Chasing A Feeling by Quivver.  This didn’t work for me at all.

With CD2 Up, James Zabiela is back in the more conventional surroundings of a club environment where he builds it up with minimal but pumping tracks. Zabiela includes two new original productions, his own Darkness 2, a version of 2008’s Dark By Design and a brand new Luke Dzierzek remix of James Zabiela’s Perseverance.

James Zabiela’s use of a more eclectic tracklist featuring the likes of Trentemoller, Modeselektor, Boards Of Canada, Plaid, Apparat and Extrawelt help to make this a very interesting and absorbing DJ mix. The mood of the Down & Up mixes are different but compliment each other perfectly.

Another great release from the Renaissance Maters Series.

Renaissance: The Masters Series – James Zabiela is due for release on 23rd February in the UK and 31st March 2009 in North America.

Satoshi Tomiie - Renaissance: The Masters Series

Satoshi Tomiie – Renaissance: The Masters Series (2 CD DJ Mix) – album review

New York based Japanese DJ and electronic music artist Satoshi Tomiie releases another exceptional mix for Renaissance.

Satoshi Tomiie is Japan’s most successful international DJ and house music producer and comes with a distinguished career as an artist aswell as a record producer and remixer.

He has remixed and worked with the likes of Photek, Kosheen, Simply Red, David Bowie, U2 and Mariah Carey; and in 2001, Satoshi Tomiie launched his own SAW.Recordings record label as a showcase for more experimental ideas and artists.

Satoshi Tomiie – Renaissance: The Masters Series spans two CDs and plays for over 2 hours and is a superb and intelligent blend of progressive house music.  Subtle mixing gives this release a beautiful texture and quality that pulls you in with gentle waves of inspiration.

Be sure that Satoshi Tomiie hasn’t just slipped this recording into his busy schedule without a thought or considered time, that’s not like Tomiie.  The whole experience is brought together with Tomiie’s additional keyboard samples, loops and effects that are weaved carefully into the mix.

Furthermore, CD2 kicks off with Satoshi Tomiie’s current single, Madrugada, under the pseudonym of Mes.

Along with Matthew Dear’s Body Language 7, this is the most inspiration DJ mix CD release I have heard this year.

In a time where DJ mix CD’s are two-a-penny, this is one you really don’t want to miss. It’s cold outside, so why not invite your friends around this weekend & play Satoshi Tomiie – Renaissance: The Masters Series all night long.

Satoshi Tomiie – Renaissance: The Masters Series Tracklist
CD 1
01. Shur-i-kan – Letting You Down
02. Toby Tobias – Eleven
03. Marc Romboy – Elif (Jimpster Remix)
04. Lee Jones – Weisses Kanninchen
05. Federleicht – On the Streets (Kollektiv Turmstrasse Let Freedom Ring Remix)
06. Dave Brennan – Drink Deep 2008 (Adultnapper Remix)
07. Luciano Pizzella – Rubber Man (Pizza Mix)
08. Bitter:Sweet – Moving Forward (Atjazz Remix)
09. H.O.S.H. – Steppenwolf (Jerome Sydenham Mix)
10. Layo & Bushwacka! – Djembe
11. Franck Roger – Don’t Leave Me
12. Lars Behrenroth – Ice on the Sun
13. Mlle Caro & Franck Garcia – Dead Souls (Radio Slave Long Distance Kiss Mix)

CD 2
01. Mes – Madrugada
02. Gold Fish – This Is How It Goes (Nacho Marco Remix)
03. DJ Yellow – Une Vie à t’attendre
04. Jimpster – Dangly Panther (Audiomontage Remix)
05. Motorcitysoul Feat. Ovasoul 7 – Change You (Shur-i-kan Remix)
06. Nathan Drew Larsen – Touch Me (King Roc Remix)
07. Martin Beume – Nexus
08. Tomoki & Nono – Lark
09. Jeff Bennett – Plumes (Dave Basek of Smoke Version)
10. Adultnapper – Apropills (Andomat 3000 Remix)
11. Sylar – Mellow (Original Mix)
12. James Kronier – Bladnoch (Sebastian Roya Remix)
13. Wareika – Impulse

Renaissance: The Masters Series – Satoshi Tomiie is now available