Search - DJ John Kelley :: DJ John Kelley Presents: Knee Deep

Forward-looking breakbeat and trance expertly mixed

Scott Swanson | Albuquerque, nm United States | 08/06/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the third of five releases DJ John Kelley has put out with Moonshine music to date. If you are familiar with the FunkyDesertBreaks series or the High Desert Sound System CDs you may notice the mix is a little different. If you haven't experienced Kelley's sound this may not be the best way to start out as it does not represent the sounds of any of his other recorded releases except maybe towards the end.This said, Knee Deep is an incredible journey of very forward-looking electronic dance music. There are a few things that are very consistent about Kelley's mixes, even this one. They are all hard and edgy; acid house, nu school breakbeat, and techno might be the best descriptive terms. They are all less danceable than most trance or house music mixes you might find. And, all his mixes are extremely well constructed and mixed.Knee Deep is really a mix in three parts. The first five tracks are a seamless mix of a sort of minimalist trance that build slowly into whirlwind of heavy beats and swirling electronic sounds. Jan Driver's "Filter" and X-Cab's "Engage" are the climax of these sounds. These first five tracks are so well overlapped that you might be minutes into a new song before you notice things have changed. Then the words "the freaks" start to echo in the background. It is the start of the second section of the mix.Here is where Kelley gets off track a little. The next three songs hold the typical funky Kelley sound, but they seem repetitive and uninteresting. But, "Fly Mutha Beatz" by Brownie kicks in and all is right in the world again. It's a sample laden song with deep bass and a woman bellowing "Whoa! Yes!" throughout that adds a human element to the music. The transition to "Drum Tumbler" begins and things explode. It is this moment of the CD that Kelley really shines. It is a climactic moment that has few equals. Kelley's ability to use the transitions between songs to strengthen each piece is prominent throughout all his mixes, but here might be the best example.There is a sharp change as Urban D.K.'s "Soul Survivor" begins. The remainder of the CD is a little more typical of Kelley's sound in the newer High Desert Soundsystem mixes: funky, but a little lighter urban sound with lots of breakbeats, samples, and vocals. Again, typical of Kelley's mixes the landing is a soft one as the final two tracks are more gentle than the rest of the mix and even somewhat soothing.John Kelley's skills as DJ are highlighted at their peak on this CD even though it may not be his best track selection. A sense of beginning and end, amazing transitions, and the use of songs to build into peak moments are things he does like few other DJs can. Check this one out..."

John Kelley strips it down

Scott Swanson | 01/03/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"John Kelley's latest release, KNEE DEEP is an absolute must have for your collection. while on the more minimalist side compared to his FUNKYDESERTBREAKS 1 and 2 discs, there is no shortage of good material here. having seen John spin on many a full-moonlit night in the desert landscape, I can attest to both his fluid seamless mixing and his artistry and cartography. John is without a doubt, a creative genius and with not only his vinyl collection but the original tracks he himself is now creating. all of John's titles are essentials for anyone with a taste for the pure energy of beats and breaks. Thank You John!"

Very nice

BjA | usa | 03/24/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"GREAT breaks. VERY good for parties.Not that deep, though."