Search - James Zabiela :: Renaissance Presents ALiVE

Sorry...but mmmm no.

bcauseisaidso | Miami, FL USA | 10/01/2004

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I can't believe the ratings that people are giving this. There are a total of 2...yes 2 solid tracks on the entire double album. Maybe it's because Zabiela's style just isn't to my liking...or maybe my tastes in electronica have evolved into something different but after 5 minutes of listening to whacked out samples and non-congruent sounds I had to turn it off. Take a look at my other reviews. If you like any of my recommendations then please don't buy this album. Save yourself the money cause it definatly isn't worth it."

Dance music is ALIVE again!

Ryan | USA | 08/14/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Now this is a mix album. James has really upped the anty from his previous outing "Sound in Motion". This latest mix really showcases what the Zabiela sound is all about. Seemlessly weaving breaks, prog and tech. house through 2 discs, James has crafted a new standard for which the next generation of DJ's should follow. James has an ear for a "tune" but never overplays his hand. He keeps the listener intrigued as he changes his styles up constantly over the two discs. Both discs are excellent and his mixing is lightyears ahead of some of these so called "A-list" DJ's. While dance music has teetered on the brink of pure self-indulgence over the last few years, "Alive" brings back the love and energy to the genre. The scene needs more innovators like James...bravo mate!"

Original and exciting, but not for everyone

Steven Nicolaou | Boston, MA | 01/09/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"You are probably not helped in knowing by now that this CD is either worshipped or scorned, so I'll try to address both perspectives here, to help you decide which side you're likely to take. I've followed James's music since 2002. I always had a sense that his programming had a sharp edge, but it felt like he hadn't established a stylistic identity yet.



Driven by a need to find his identity by distancing his sound from the mainstream, he embraced progressive breaks when progressive house was beginning to sound stale, but although well executed, the mixes were forgettable. As breaks too became more mainstream, he escaped it by shifting into a warm, minimal, micro-house vibe that I thought was beautiful. Tight mixing, sustained rhythm and insidious programming that took its time creeping under your skin, this is when I first caught onto his ability to reward the patient listener. Alas, minimal house is no way to explode on the dance scene, so he shifted to this new retro robot, ZX Spectrum disco, press stop and turn cassette to side B tech-house sound, bringing us to ALiVE.



He's certainly carved a unique identity alright. Photo shoots with Daleks, vocal samples from Doctor Who (or approximations thereof), crisp, metallic beats, and even a track with reference to the TARDIS have all secured him his very own tonal real estate. ALiVE brings together his love for retro sci-fi, acid house, breaks, and superb mixing and effect skills to a tech-house compilation with a baseline that refuses to be the doormat.



If you're looking for something fresh, the landscape is certainly unique and exciting. In true Zabiela fashion, it can take time to grow on you, and when it does, you can't shake it off. I had the first half of CD2 playing in my head for weeks after hearing "Funky Odd Box". ALiVE is even more exciting if you're a DJ for several reasons. James tears a hole in the EFX 500 as he mangles tracks beyond recognition, and makes extensive use of the CDJ-1000's hot cues and loops. But the true gem is in the sleeve. James was nice enough to fill 4 pages of it with a detailed chronological description of his every move: his signature effect-based transitions, EQ flips, warps and custom sounds. This alone is worth the price of the CD. The first 10 seconds on CD1 alone are given no fewer than 2 paragraphs!



If you're not a DJ however, or remain uninterested in the technical wizardry, I do agree somewhat that this mix can be a victim of its own ambition and its need to be different. In his push for a certain direction, James occasionally paves the way with some rather forgettable tracks, which remind me of his earlier breaks era. The astute listener will catch on their purpose a few tracks down the road, but to the listener in the moment, they sound like filler that you can do without. There are some tracks that I'll even admit to wanting to fast forward badly, but for my self-discipline and assurance of delayed gratification. Frankly though, not every listener can be expected to force themselves through a track, no matter how sweet the reward that follows.



James also has a tendency (here and in most other mixes of his) to end a solid string of tracks with abrupt changes, which I find wasteful of good momentum. Lastly, his tempo can range widely. Though executed brilliantly (I could never imagine how "Aduro" could slide down to BT's "Childhood "Montage" in two steps), it sacrifices consistency for originality.



Ultimately this CD is a landmark, because it debuts a brilliant DJ and effect wizard in his strongest identity yet. If you're eager for something really fresh and solid, if you're drooling to find out what knobs he turned and what buttons he pushed in "Nine" at 03:11, how he used the paper label of a vinyl record in one of his effects, or how he constructs a motorbike sound purely out of the CDJ-1000 live, then this CD was made for you. Buy it right now. You will endure the filler tracks, because the reward for your patience is sweet, the endings cathartic, and all will be forgiven.



If you're simply here with a preset idea of what you like, this is probably not it. You will eject the breaks for breaks' sake pieces and few of us would blame you. At best you may fast forward to the good bits, and perhaps learn to deal with the lack of warmth. That's ok. James Zabiela isn't for everyone, but if you're still intrigued, you should probably give it a shot."