Digweed’s second volume in the ‘Transitions’ series is a sinewy mix of – you guessed it – seamlessly mixed minimal tech-house. I would venture to say that it picks up precisely where “Gebrunn Gebrunn” left off on Vol. 1, which makes for a great time if you want a large dose of minimal Digweed all at once because you can play the albums back to back and it feels like you’re listening to a two-disc set.
I won’t get carried away with comparisons, though, because Volume 2 is rather distinctive in its own right. Deeper and more involved than Vol. 1, something I notice is that this mix is much more accessible than Vol. 1 was for me – and if you read my review of Vol. 1, it took hours of play to come to love it like I do today. Alternatively, I loved Vol. 2 pretty much from the moment the beat dropped in Digweed’s Cheeky Edit of Abyss’ ‘Mind Games’, and the ride doesnt stop until the last track. I think it’s really wonderful how Digger’s can simply slide over the line between some upscale symphonic minimal house & almost soft tribal house: And, yes, I still contend the basslines are the spine of the album over which everything else is built, they always drop with a sick intention.
Some stand-out tracks include both Abyss’ “Mind Games” & “The Dreamer” which drop some pretty nice beats early into the album, as well as Felix Houzer’s “Mandolina”. An extra treat is Guy Gerber’s otherwise unreleased white label vinyl track, “Digital Memories”, which is placed towards the end of the album and is a track that I consider myself fortunate to own. Jackmate’s “Manray (Digweed Cheeky Edit)” is a fittingly cooler song, fizzling and simmering to end the album with the same blissful grace with which it began. Good things come ’round full circle. One or two tracks seem to lead nowhere by themselves, but because their placement makes use of them as perfect segues between the preceding and following tracks, they work beautifully. Only something Digweed might have a chance of commercially pulling off.
In terms of Digweed’s last release and his minimalistic excursions on his ‘Transitions’ weekly radio show, this is probably one of his more solid performances. For a single-disc release this is a hefty album with an unexpected complexity for minimal house. All the subtle twists and grooves from Vol. 1 are present, only they aren’t so subtle this time around – and for the Digweed newcomer & veteran alike, this lends the final Midas touch to this release.
To quote Dave Seaman, “It’s widely acknowledged that sequels are generally not as good as their predecessors. And having recently watched Ocean’s 12, I can tell you it’s an assumption not without foundation… we think the sequel is the equal of it’s predecesssor, probably even superior.” Though this references his Therapy Sessions 2, I can’t help but feel he could be speaking of Didgweed’s latest, and the words would remain exactly as they are. A great way for the electronica subculture to begin 2007.
Words: JW aka LexAffection
