The SOS collective, the epic combination of DJs Demi, Desyn Masiello and Omid 16B, tackle the thirteenth release in the increasingly impressive Balance compilation series. Their work spans three discs, fifty-six tracks and three hours, fifty-one minutes and eighteen seconds – but two years after their smash three-hour Essential Mix for Radio 1, does SOS live up to its reputation?
The first mix’s blend of modern and vintage EDM moves easily and lingers sweetly. And judging by the ominously thunderous (literally) intro “Seagull,” it is fair to say that this mix is the ultimate ‘calm before the storm.’ SOS weave a spectacularly diverse yet calming tapestry for the ears, blending one truly sublime track after another together. From “Gliding (Hypnotherapy)” to “Slow River” and past “Starstrings (Instrumental),” the whole sequence feels like a dream – a dream which, to my ears, comes to a head with a massive eight-track sequence - one of the best I’ve heard on any album of 2008 - beginning with Imagination’s “Just An Illusion (Lindstrom Dub) (SOS Edit)” and ending, properly, with The Cure’s “Lullaby.” In this case to hear is to believe, though – and, at any rate, the SOS Edit of Bryan Ferry’s “Don’t Stop The Dance (12” Remix)” is… brilliant! The first mix of Balance 013 proves to be one of 2008’s best.
Apparently, there is limit to the scope SOS is willing to encompass with Balance 013. And I suppose if Demi, Omid and Desyn can use one blinding track to close one fantastic mix disc, why not edit the track to open the following mix? The Cure’s “Lullaby” serves precisely this function. It works so well, but it takes Dusty Kid’s “Luna” to truly propel the second disc’s bubbly springtime buds into full blossom. I’m convinced this is progressive house music done right. The second mix has a lot of tracks that can be described as wild, enthusiastic representations of what was thrown down at SOS’ album launch parties in Miami during WMC. I’ll never fail to remember blue skies and gentle water when I hear this mix – But SOS proves its ability to pace a mix collection of this magnitude/length. The DJs even manage to inject minimal tech-house with Ink & Needle’s “Six” > Middleman’s “Dum Dum” before swinging back into “Big Fun (Edit)” and Joeski’s superb “Caribe Elektrico (Outer Limits Mix)” – both revive the boat party atmosphere. The second mix, however fun and diverse, makes no attempt to cast a shadow over the other two discs. Instead, it is a rather bright and bouncy steppingstone between the first and third mixes, with flavor from each mixed together in perfect proportion and gently closing with “Logos.”
You heard it here first – disc three is off the HOOK! In my mind, Balance 013’s third mix embodies the concept surrounding the formation of a collective like SOS. Desyn, Demi and Omid drop sick beats, sleazy house, twisted funk and explosive rhythms! The live, anthemic qualities of “Salome” indicate great things to come but are hardly capable of capturing the whole image. The first nine or ten tracks resemble Desyn Masiello’s previous Balance discs; the sequence is bright and funky… and thus, a great segue into the latter half of disc 3 from the previous mix’s less intense attitude. Genre-bending madness ensues, beginning with Loco Dice’s “City Lights (Martin Buttrich Remix)” > Michael Ho’s “Kiss The Wasp.” SOS subject us to a bit of ‘Miami Vice’-style house courtesy of Kingpin Cartel and the Alessi Brothers, but also manage to infuse some familiar tunes that touch on the trancier side of dance music – including an SOS Edit of “Shadow Movement” and Bastian’s “Game Over.” After free-floating at the dizzying heights that “Savin’ The Day (SOS Edit)” and “Luna (Johnny and Peps Remix)” sustain, “Think Twice” blooms from out of nowhere with a burst of trumpet, saxophone and jazz guitar – ultimately, very Chicago-House. All of this activity is really quite overwhelming and it is odd how quickly Omid’s comforting closer, “Full of E_mpty,” can quiet the mind.
This is likely the best compilation to be released so far this year, and certainly the best progressive house compilation of 2008. Not only that, Balance 013 very firmly cements EQ’s credentials in the ceaseless world of big-label compilation competition. SOS creates music that manages the difficult task of capturing the unique essences of each DJ. At the same time, the three combined talents (just like the three discs) join forces to create a unified spectrum of dance music that surpasses anything of its kind in recent memory. Demi, Desyn Masiello and Omid 16B’s work here is absolutely unprecedented!
Disc 1:
1. Omid 16b - Seagull
2. AN-2 - Wide Open
3. Modern Heads feat Pig & Dan - Gliding (Hypnotherapy)
4. Omid 16b - The Final Choice
5. Christian Smith & John Selway - Slow River
6. LFO - Nurture (Surgeon Remix)
7. Speedy J - De-Orbit
8. Jody Wisternoff - Starstrings (Instrumental)
9. Aeroplane - Caramellas
10. Chymera - Umbrella (Beatless Mix)
11. Imagination - Just An Illusion (Lindstr�m Dub) (SOS Edit)
12. DJ Frtizo - Pimms By The Pool (SOS Remix)
13. Bryan Ferry - Don’t Stop The Dance (12″ Remix) (SOS Edit)
14. Jan Driver - Kardamoon
15. MC Sultan - Der Bauch
16. Brandy - The Ritual (Chateau Flight Remix)
17. Cocteau Twins - Cherry Coloured Funk (Seefeel Remix)
18. The Cure - Lullaby
Disc 2:
1. The Cure - Lullabye (SOS Edit)
2. Dusty Kid - Luna
3. Josel - Digiboy (DJ Tarkan & V-Sag Remix)
4. Nima Gorji - Whatever
5. Spirit Catcher - Brain Candy
6. Kollektiv Turmstrasse - Wagnis
7. Marsmobil - Mangia Amore (Makossa & Megablast Remake) (Lucas Abadi Edit)
8. The Blacklight Society - 2028
9. Whizz Kidzz - Fly High (SOS Edit)
10. Aeroplane / Corporation of One - Aeroplane (Dub) / The Real Life (SOS Edit)
11. Sugar Caine Pres. Bionik Phunk - Once In A Lifetime (Dub) (SOS Edit)
12. Marc Romboy vs Stephan Bodzin - Atlas
13. Slytek - Spin Out (Neon Skin Mix)
14. Ink & Needle - Six
15. Middleman - Dum Dum
16. Inner City - Big Fun (Edit)
17. Joeski - Caribe Elektrico (Outter Limits Mix)
18. Henrik B - Logos
Disc 3:
1. Speedy J - Fill 17
2. Joash - Salome
3. Aeroplane - Pacific Air Race (Dub)
4. Paul Keeley - A Sort Of Homecoming (SOS Edit)
5. DJ Pippi & David Penn - Do U Feel It (The Piano Mix) (SOS Edit)
6. AFX - VBS.Redlof.B
7. Dimitri - Here She Comes (Elektrokid Remix)
8. Kid Massive - Release (Raoul Dub)
9. Levan - Miau
10. Ozze - Bend The Rules
11. Loco Dice - City Lights (Martin Buttrich Remix)
12. Michael Ho - Kiss The Wasp
13. Ytre Rymden Dansskola - Kjappfot
14. Kingpin Cartel - Moogie Nights (SOS Edit)
15. Michael Cassette - Shadow’s Movement (SOS Edit)
16. Bastian - Game Over
17. Alessi Brothers - Savin’ The Day (SOS Edit)
18. Stereo Brains - Luna (Jhonny and Peps Remix)
19. The Detroit Experiment - Think Twice
20. Omid 16b - Full Of E_mty
- James Woodruff
