Yebo [Brancaccio and Aisher's a to the K Dub] - DJ Taylor, Allen, Mark
Transmission - DJ Taylor, Romero, Beny
Kaleidoscope - DJ Taylor, Federman, Eyal
Stolen [Selway Remix] - DJ Taylor, Johnson, Justin [1]
Distant Mellow - DJ Taylor, O'Brien, M.
Obsidian [the Light Vs. PFN Remix] - DJ Taylor, Folker, J.
Manhattan High - DJ Taylor, Gaston, Louis
Beautiful Strange [Moonface Mix] - DJ Taylor, Digweed, John
Luna - DJ Taylor, Brogden, P.
Track Listings (10) - Disc #2
A Day in the Life of an Eastern Assasin - DJ Taylor, Martin, P.
Tazer - DJ Taylor, Ives, Holmes D.
I Get a Rush [Moogwai's Trauma Mix] - DJ Taylor, Fisher, Paul [Produ
Luminous - DJ Taylor, Ives, Holmes D.
Lacuna [Rebound Remix] - DJ Taylor, Slater, Matt
Blast - DJ Taylor, Auerbach, Marc
Firewyre - DJ Taylor, Jamieson, B.
Digitalemotion - DJ Taylor, Selway, John
Rock Music [Brancaccio and Aisher's Suicide Sports Dub] - DJ Taylor, Curtis, Arron
Today - DJ Taylor, Brogden, P.
At night, Los Angeles shimmers and sparkles like a carpet of fairies. With "Synesthesia," it appears that L.A. native Taylor has created THE trance-tastic soundscape to go along with this glittery town, a shiny double-disc... more » set with no hard edges, only smooth, rounded curves. Moving like a West Coast Digweed-meets-Nick Warren, Taylor has made sure his mix is a timeless collection of favorites instead of just another comatose regurgitation of the latest dance-floor hits. The journey is smooth and fluid, as Pole Folder & CP's "Nightdriver" eases into Quirk's "Yebo" before the pace steps up with the punchy likes of Eyal's "Kaleidoscope" and the slightly psychedelic trance of POB & Boyd's "Luna". The peaks occur on the second disc; first Oko Tek's minimalist "Luminous" drives the beat up, and later John Selway's crazy sci-fi trance-techno "Digital Emotion" will leave heads spinning. Taylor himself concludes the affair; he and POB offer a reflective late-night drive around L.A.'s deserted downtown freeways with "Today." Trance lovers, Digweed-heads, Warrenites, and those partial to a bit of Northern Exposure will find Synesthesia to their immense liking. --Steffan Chirazi« less
At night, Los Angeles shimmers and sparkles like a carpet of fairies. With "Synesthesia," it appears that L.A. native Taylor has created THE trance-tastic soundscape to go along with this glittery town, a shiny double-disc set with no hard edges, only smooth, rounded curves. Moving like a West Coast Digweed-meets-Nick Warren, Taylor has made sure his mix is a timeless collection of favorites instead of just another comatose regurgitation of the latest dance-floor hits. The journey is smooth and fluid, as Pole Folder & CP's "Nightdriver" eases into Quirk's "Yebo" before the pace steps up with the punchy likes of Eyal's "Kaleidoscope" and the slightly psychedelic trance of POB & Boyd's "Luna". The peaks occur on the second disc; first Oko Tek's minimalist "Luminous" drives the beat up, and later John Selway's crazy sci-fi trance-techno "Digital Emotion" will leave heads spinning. Taylor himself concludes the affair; he and POB offer a reflective late-night drive around L.A.'s deserted downtown freeways with "Today." Trance lovers, Digweed-heads, Warrenites, and those partial to a bit of Northern Exposure will find Synesthesia to their immense liking. --Steffan Chirazi
CD Reviews
Satisfying from start to finish, and a must for prog fans
Richard Diaz | 08/12/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A homegrown DJ handed two and a half hours to strut his stuff is always a good thing. Goopy PR backstory aside (courtesy of the CD notes) Taylor's been spinning for some time, with a handful of releases already under wing. The Mixer set (recently repackaged as part of the Rewind series) dished up uplifting, progressive trance, while last year's collaborative work on Trance Nation America veered pleasantly mainstream, if ultimately overshadowed next to Jimmy Van M.Never mind all that, Synesthesia nails his claim as a member of the Nu Breed, deftly balancing varying sides of dance over two discs. One swings for funky prog house, heavy emphasis on the beats and bass. Quirk's "Yebo (Brancaccio & Aisher dub)" chucks in every imaginable trick time permits before revealing needle shaker "Transmission" from Drumscape and persistent deep-end grubber "Stolen" by Secret Society. Knowing great basslines make monster tunes, Taylor peaks perfectly with Banco de Gaia's soaring "Obsidian."Disc Two rides the edge of insistent, dark trance, sexier (thanks to Fisher Project's "I Get a Rush") and more energetic, blast off work served by John Selway on "Digital Emotion." The infamous mid-track breakdown even sees some credibility restored with Tocharian's stereo-panning little marvel "Lacuna."2001 will probably be remembered is the year tribal became trend and freaky the new funky. Synesthesia balances those in-fashion flavors with esoteric speaker fare and just the right amount of accessible tunes. One of the few sets this year satisfying from start to finish, and a certain must have."
For Your Progressive Pleasure...
sammie ryan | Austin Texas | 06/04/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When Taylor named his newest work Synsthesia, I believe he really knew what he was doing; the tracks in this mix are so well put together and thought out that it touches every sence, inducing the listener in a wonderful aura of progressive music. I love both cds, and quite frankly this is the best studio mix i have ever heard from any dj/producer in any genre ever.
CD 1 is very organic, it flows increadibly well from the first track to the last. Taylor opens with a gorgeous track from pole Folder, named NightDriver. It sweeps you away, and sets the tone for whats to come. Tracks to look for are number 4 (Kalidiscope by eyal) and track number 7 (Obsidion by Banco de Gaia). The acid bass line in this track is one of the best ou there right now. Closing out this cd he has chosen Luna by Pob/Boyd...the haunting vocal effects leave you feeling mystified....
CD 2 is high energy, the entire length of the cd will keep you on your feet. Its very reminisent of every time i have seen him live. Again, hes chosen an increadible song to open with, aa day in the life of an eastern assasin by Jade, a mellow but deep groove that paves the way for the rest of the mix. Next is what I believe is the hightlight of the entire cd...oko tek's Tazer and the transition (mix) into Fisher Project's I get a rush. These tracks are so increadibly sexy, i assure you youll want to crawl out of your skin when you hear them. And they way he mixes them together is supurb. Finally, he ends the cd with a work of his own that he co produced with POB (his partner in crime from a few years back on the PLatipus label). The song's name is Today, and to try and tell you how it goes would be practically futile, in my opinion its emotion as a song. After hearing I felt as though i could take on the world...but thats what Taylor has always been known for, his deep and uplifting trance. This second cd showcases deep dark and dirty wicked basslines that I adore.
If you are reading this review and are thinking about getting this mic..DO IT, you will not be dissapointed. Taylor is at his finest here. The mixing is amazing on a technical level, but all too often you see amazing technical djs that lack the skill of not just throwing down a few records, but feeling every song and making it your own. He ranks right up there with the likes of Sashaand Jimmy Van M, true pioneers of the progressive sound. Props to Taylor...I cant wait to see what else he has in store for us. :)"
Great stuff
rayvinazn | Okinawa, Japan | 02/23/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Perfect, everything a Progressive compilation should be. It's deep, it's dark, it's moody, yet at the same time, intriguing. It draws you in, and doesn't let you go until the last note fades away, at which point you're compelled to throw in the other disc...it's a scary cycle. Overall, one of the best-mixed compilations I have heard to date, and one of the few that actually does his livesets justice. Nobody tampered with this tracklisting, it came straight from the heart."
It doesn't get better
rayvinazn | 05/04/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"After listening to both cd's I am left in awe and amazement. Taylor has re-affirmed my faith in progressive music. These are by far the best mix cd's I have ever heard...favorite highlights are the opening track on cd 1, (pole folder never ceases to impress me), and the last song on cd 2, which I understand is Taylor's newest single as well. I couldnt be more thrilled if i tried. :)"
The question is where do I get more of perfect Taylor???
A. McKerrell | Valrico, FL United States | 10/21/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've been searching for this type of music for years--and I worked with music for 10 years and breathe the stuff--and I finally found a perfect CD. And by the way, is this the same Taylor as "dj Taylor & Flow"?(I already have Ministry of Sound's Trance Nation, so I'm looking for other CDs or website)"
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1