Search - Moonface :: Between Worlds

Great music to mix by

Scott Swanson | Albuquerque, nm United States | 10/24/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"With the neverending flow of DJ mixed CDs its nice to see that Bedrock is daring enough to release a few unmixed compilations. Modern electronic dance music, though, is structured almost exclusively for the mix with long intros and outtros. The meat of the track only lasts a few minutes.The 6 tracks offered my Moonface here are no different. Upon first listen the tracks will likely feel a little sparce and uninteresting. "U get so give" might be the best example. A rather slow beginning, then the vocals kick in and run repeatedly until the track finally ends. Not a bad piece, but it is obviously created for the mix.If you are a DJ and are fond of the Moonface/Bedrock style, the CD might be a must buy. In the mix these tracks take on a new life and add great energy to other tracks. On their own, though, they are probably a little too sparce for the average listener. Unfortunately it demonstrates the the single-minded nature of modern house and trance, and creates a great understanding of what a good DJ can do. Two of the right tracks mixed together can create a beautiful moment in a mix, but on their own dance tracks just don't hold up.3 stars if you can't mix the CD. 5 stars if you've got a mixer and a few DJ CD players."

Excellent progressive house/trance debut that's a bit short

Richard Diaz | 05/13/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Many music fans first heard of Moonface (Phil Thompson) as the artist behind `Futurised Fears,' the eerie yet funky standout on DJ John Digweed's Global Underground Hong Kong mixed set. Yet this Bedrock resident (and car window tinting company owner) has been crafting his particular brand of progressive head music for years. With the notable Bedrock label in tow, Thompson's launches their first of a series of artist albums, culling his tunes from the past to now.Early pieces lean towards minimal, dub-influenced techno (`U Get', `Spirals') and happen to be his oldest material (5 years old). Better, moodier pieces in the Bedrock vein follow; the spacious, rich textures of `Synchronized Knowledge' and the ominous synth of `Roton,' teasing for nearly four minutes before reeling you in. `Children of the Sun' also rises to the occasion with dabs of sitar.And then, well, that's it. A bit of a disappointment, only six tracks lasting fifty-ish minutes and two of those previously available on high profile DJ mixes. What you get is certainly the bees knees, but an additional piece or remix would have put this over the top."