Search - Various Artists :: Afterhours 3: Mixed CD

A mixed bag...

A. Ort | Youngstown, Ohio | 02/10/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The first two Afterhours compilations were phenomenal, taking music ranging over twenty years and weaving them into a moody, brooding, often ominous, affair. These two comps have stayed in heavy rotation since they were released. So I was really pumped for this one.



After listening to Disc 1 it seemed as if this was going to be another trippy groove. It has a similar feel, starting out on the darker side and slowly easing into a funky feel with Kraak & Smaak's "Keep On Searching" peaking with Outlines' "Listen to the Drums." Upbeat but not too much but it still lacks the often creepy sound of the first two mixes. It's got more of a funky, retro kind of feel through the first half of the mix.



The weakest spot on Disc 1 is the right in the middle with "Do Dirt" kind of like cake that doesn't rise. It doesn't work. At all. In fact, I dislike it so much I've taken CoolEdit and edited the song right out of the mix. Really. I've cut Fauna Flash's "Question" in half and edited "Do Dirt" and Sinner DC's "Born to Be Mild" to about 30 seconds between the two tracks just for continuity. I'm a whole lot happier with the mix now.



However, the blending of the last six songs on the disc is some of the best I've heard on a DJ mix in some time paying homage to a sound reminiscent of the best of the moody late 80s electronica sound of the likes of Tangerine Dream.



Then there is Disc 2. It is really disappointing. It starts off promising for the first four or five tracks but peaks at Cerrone's "Supernature" and then freefalls into cheesy, retro disco fodder. I've tried listening to it several times to give it a chance and find myself skipping tracks, frustrated. Though there is an overall moodiness to the mix that holds it together, in the end it simply merges into one long drone of uninspired sameness. Honestly, I doubt I'll ever play it again unless it's to confirm how uninspired it is.



Disc 3 is a pleasant surprise offering some fairly head bobbing tunes. At least it gives hope that electronica isn't quite tapped out. However, I find myself wondering why these weren't somehow mixed in with Disc 2 making this a two disc set. As Disc 3 is unmixed, with a little creativity you can probably pick and choose from the tracks on Disc 3 and mix them with Disc 2 and make your own mix.



Sadly, though, gone are the snippets of odd dialogue, the vast array of sounds and the quirkiness that made the first two in the series so interesting. No talk of the end of evolution, no talk of love with an inflatable doll and definitely not as dark. This one flows more like a traditional DJ mix.



Overall, though, four stars for discs 1 (after edit) and three stars for Disc 3 (because as unmixed tracks you can play around with them) and two stars for disc 2 rounding up to three stars for the mix.



By the way, if you are looking for a mix more akin to the first two volumes, I recommend checking out Disc 3 from Steve Lawler's Viva set. He takes the concept and really trips it out some more. Two of the songs from Afterhours 2 are on the mix and The Doors "tribute" at the end is a great touch."

A step backwards

gas | Buenos Aires, ARG | 03/08/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I liked the first two afterhours compilations, mostly because they are so downbeat and emotional. There was a concept in those albums. Now global underground (In my point of view, a very unrespectable company or "label") gave the opportunity to amateur computer-music geeks to become a part of what was a fine series of compilations (and good compilations are so hard to find) without using any criteria.

There is a lack of criteria also at choosing unrepresentative tracks by major artists like Cinematic Orchestra and gusgus.

Two stars, because I only like no more than four songs. And they're no big deal at all.

"