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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
You have 5 minutes to surrender..., 15 Aug 2005
I can honestly say that I have JZ to thank for getting me back into dance music - lured to Turnmills by a couple of friends to see a DJ who they insisted was amazing, it all started to make sense again. Frenzied buying of Sound in Motion and ALiVE followed, and then this aural treat. I was a tad disappointed to learn that the first disc had been done on computer, having been very impressed by the live recordings of his other releases. However, the content and quality of the first disc soon assuaged any apprehension; it's seriously good stuff. The previously unreleased version of 'windowlicker' is a bit of a treat, and JZ flows this breaksy track into the altogether deeper house tune 'This Is Sick' with panache. Utilities features two of JZ's own works - 'EyeAMComputer' and 'Robophobia', and whereas the first is a bit tooooooo progressive - or just wierd - for my tastes, 'Robophobia' is a highlight of the first disc with a memorabely funky bass line and some pretty cool vocals. The preceeding track, 'Mbira' deserves to have everyone miming playing a keyboard when the synths kick in, and is a decent tune in its own right. The first disc ends with a brief outro of the second disc's first track, 'Through You'. This is a nice touch which JZ explains is meant to highlight how the first 'computed' disc can flow into the second 'recorded' (live) disc - a metaphor for the wider DJ context. 'Through You' is a slow starter which develops into a brilliant deep(ish) house number and heralds a different musical emphasis for the second disc. 'Rykketid' is another highlight of the early tracks, however if the first disc is at its strongest in the middle then disc two is best at the beginning and end. 'Simon Says' stands out as a fantastic tune but it's the final track, 'Sehnsucht', that really drives this disc home. Fiercely distinct, JZ really missed a trick by not looping it back at the end as with another breakdown and climax it would be devastating. Going from having not heard of him to acting like a tw@ and shouting 'we love you Jaaaaames' when I see him live, this and his other compliations have been real musical milestones. Highly recommended not only for the tunes but also as an illustration of DJing and technical wizardry. Anyway enough of all this typing, I'm off to stick 'Sehnsucht' on repeat for an hour or so :)
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~ James Zabiela
~ Various Artists
~ James Zabiela
~ Satoshi Tomiie
See all 16 tracks on this disc
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