Balance Selections Podcast

By Balance MusicMusic

Balance Selections Podcast episodes

October 08, 2013 Balance Community 001: Joe Miller
The winner of the inaugural Balance Community Series is Joe Miller from Adelaide in South-Australia. Looking at his tracklisting might make you exhausted as it features a whopping 40 tracks that takes in a lot of different artists and styles. He has created something that is akin to a piece of musical art, and you can hear the thought, effort and time that he has put into this mix to get it right. These type of mixes are usually hard to gel together without sounding like there is no narrative to the mix; Joe happily achieves both as this mix is cohesive and engaging.
"It’s more of an audio collage than a sequential mix, with many of the tracks edited beyond recognition and cheekily poppng up long after their rightful place" Joe explains. "I’ve taken a lot of time and pleasure in hiding secret treasures along the way for the most anorak-donning of trainspotters, including additional synth lines and thorough reworkings of existing chord-structures (listen out for Caribou’s “Irene” as it glides over “Vehemence of Silence”, “Kodomatchi”, and “Deer and Fox”, while the tiniest hints of “Over” and “Blume der Nacht” cut in an out like the needle of an old grandmother’s sewing machine).
The attention to detail in this mix really shines through, and trying to figure out where tracks begin and end is fruitless exercise - just sit back, turn off the lights and enjoy the journey. With Joe taking his first tentative steps into the production world, its only a matter of time before his skills will see him travel outside of Adelaide and Australia. Regardless of profile, this might just be one of the best mixes that we've heard all year. Period.
Tracklisting and interview here: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/features/balance-community-001-joe-miller/
1 hr 1 min
October 01, 2013 Balance Selections 002: Luke Fair
Not many artists can say that they have done official mix compilations for the likes of Yoshitoshi, Bedrock and Balance... Luke Fair please stand up. Luke Fair is a name that's been on the scene for over 10 years now plying his trade all over the world, and he first came to our attention with the massive 2002 Kritical/Let U Know 12" on Black Recordings (Let U Know was famously featured on the Satoshi Tomiie Nubreed compilation). Luke went on to establish himself as one of the world's premier selectors to call upon for warming up dancefloors, and he was even asked to be the official warm-up DJ for Sasha on his North American Involver tour. Since then Luke has become an headliner in his own right, playing a deep, almost Balaeric-sounding variant of house that will get the most rigid of bodies grooving. Back in 2007 Luke Fair delivered one of the more housier outings with his Balance 011 effort, and he continues that exploration of house in the second of our Balance Selections series.
Tracklisting and interview with Luke Fair here: http://www.balancemusic.com.au/home-page-feature/balance-selections-002-luke-fair/
58 min
August 20, 2013 Balance Selections 001: Navar
We are proud to present you with the very first edition of the Balance Selections podcast series with which we'll aim to bring you some of the very best in up and coming, established and outright interesting artists working in the scene today. For the first edition of Balance Selections podcast we head to the Netherlands to feature one of the most promising underground producers to emerge from Europe: Navar.
When we recently spoke to Guy J (http://www.balancemusic.com.au/features/guy-j-interview-balance-presents/) -who remixed Navar's 'Phases of Grief' track for his Balance Presents- we asked him who he would select to do a Balance Selections podcast: "I would choose Navar as i find his productions have its very own style and something unique to it. He can do dancefloor friendly tracks or deeper tracks and it will always have his sound on it. He is very talented producer and I have plans for him on my Lost & Found label."
Coming from one of the scene's most loved producers that is indeed a glowing endorsement - and we have to say that we agree with him. Navar's production style can fluctuate between grooves that pack a heavy punch ('Verbeeldingskracht') to more restrained and deeper melodic sounds ('Atemzüge'), and for his podcast Navar has delivered a deep and techy workout that sits somewhere in between those tracks. This podcast definitely showcases that there is more to Navar's musical range than what you might think....
Tracklisting can be found here:
http://www.balancemusic.com.au/features/balance-selections-001-navar/
1 hr 9 min
November 20, 2006 Balance 010: Jimmy van M (Disc 1)
In 2006, when the borders of progressive house were starting to blur and music started melting into the digital sphere, Balance 010 arrived with almost monastic ambition. A three-disc journey mixed by Jimmy Van M, the release cut against the pace of its moment: patient, structured, emotionally articulate, and stubbornly uninterested in chasing trends. It didn’t shout for attention. It didn’t try to out-shine the giants of the series. Instead, it built something more durable, a slow-burn statement that critics recognised as one of the era’s most meticulous experiments in long-form storytelling.
CD1: Downtempo Mix
01. E. Shibabaw & Bill Laswell – Ethiopia
02. Bill Laswell – Babylon Ghost
03. Future Sound Of London – Study Of Six Guitars
04. Laika – Coming Down Glass
05. Coldcut – Autumn Leaves
06. Union Jack – Water Drums
07. Casino Versus Japan – Slo Bid Bellwave
08. Nathan Fake – Falmer
09. Boards Of Canada – Dayvan Cowboy
10. Anoushka Shankar – Beloved (Thievery Corporation Remix)
11. Wax Poetic Feat. Norah Jones – Angels (Thievery Corporation Remix)
12. Autechre – Nine
13. Boards Of Canada – Everything You Do Is A Balloon
14. Brian Eno & J. Peter Schwalm – Rising Dust
15. Depeche Mode – Halo (Goldfrapp Remix)
16. The Egg – Walking Away
17. Bonobo – Everything You Do
Read full feature: https://balancemusic.com.au/the-buried-brilliance-of-balance-10
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1 hr 14 min
June 30, 2004 Balance 006: Anthony Pappa (Disc 1)
Today marks the 20th year anniversary of Balance 006 mixed by Anthony Pappa. Needless to say, it’s a chapter which holds a special place in the Balance story.
In the years between Anthony's breakout year in 2000 and his Balance mix in 2004, the progressive scene underwent many transformations—shifting from more trance-y sounds to tribal house rhythms, and dark atmospheres, eventually incorporating melodic progressive breaks. With Anthony’s trademark harmonic mixing on full display, this compilation skilfully captured the evolving landscape and showcased Anthony’s musical range in impeccable style.
With it’s borderline spiritual take on progressive breaks, it still sounds as fresh as it did 20 years ago. For Anthony, it stands out as a unique entry in his discography:   
‘I had never dedicated a full mix to breaks. That was something special.'
CD1
1. Luke Chable – Into the Storm
2. Fretwell – Faceless
3. KVK – Reality Theory
4. Michael Lanning ft Charity Havens – Bound For Ascension
5. Blue Haze – A Time To Reflect
6. Rhino Drum – Underground Sound
7. Michael Burns – Sunshine In My Shadows
8. Jacob Todd ft Kevin Clark – Nothing Is Real
9. Main Element – Delta Of Venus (Chris Salt Remix)
10. Steve May – Open Day (Luke Chable Quakes & Craters Remix)
11. Chimera – Natural High
12. Slacker – Tutikinegi
13. Shiloh – Mana
14. Tilt – I Know You re Afraid
1 hr 16 min
June 25, 2002 Balance 003: Bill Hamel (CD2)
EQ Recordings have done it once again. This time by releasing their brand new album from the Balance series: Balance 003 - Mixed and compiled by Bill Hamel.
After the previous two highly successful Balance compilations mixed by Sean Quinn and Kasey Taylor you can only expect the highest of quality from this one.
Bill starts this CD off with the massive track 'Darko' remixed by Blackwatch. This is a very impressive dark track and is a perfect way to kickstart this mix before slowly but skillfully blending in the next killer track, which is Lula's - 'The DJ The Music & Me' (vocal remix) by Peace Division. The CD is definitely a work of art by Mr Hamel and his track selection and mixing is absolutely superb. The highlight of the Disc 1 has to be the massively popular 'Gorecki' track fitting in the best of ways.
Disc 2 starts by dropping the huge Evolution mix of 'Close'. It's soothing sounds and effects of pure progressive pleasure is a great way to build the mood for this CD. Track 2, Tilt's 'Headstrong' (Maria Naylers volcal remix) is then masterfully mixed into the first track.Towards the end of CD2 Bill drops in the magic track 'Need' which has been masterfully remixed by Satoshi Tomiie, this gem is guaranteed to get your heart pumping. Following this masterpiece by Satoshi, Bill spins us the tune 'Gentle Rain', which gives you the feeling your standing in a gentle shower of raindrops - the perfect end to an impressive album.
Tom Pandzic's EQ Recordings sure has come a long way, producing some of the best albums available for purchase, and this gem is no different. Have a listen, but I definitely recommend you purchase your a copy.
Disc: 001
01. Darko - Phased [Blackwatch Spanish Harlem Dub]
02. Lula - The DJ,The Music,and Me [Peace Division Freaky Vocal mix]
03. UDG - Give Me Fierce
04. Way Out West - Mindcircus [Tarrentella & Redanka dub]
05. Joeski - Groundfloor ep [Tribalfusion]
06. Hipp-E presents - Primary Function
07. Chris Lum - Big Tool
08. Paco Bugg & D'Amatoria presents Circus Night - Amazonia [Chus & Cellabos Iberican mix]
09. Swain and Snell - Mean What You Say
10. Guy Gerber & Saha Z - Kenny's Back
11. Lamb - Gorecki [Hamel's Bootleg mix]
12. Barraka - Song To The Siren [Filterheadz Undercurrent vocal mix]
Disc: 002
01. Hamel - Close [Evolution mix]
02. Tilt - Headstrong [Relentless Vocal mix]
03. Quivver - Boz Boz
04. Mike G - Bellslut 0
05. Gardner & Thomas - Control
06. Powerplant ft Machineries Of Heaven - With Or With Out You [Blackwatch Orient Point mix]
07. Little Green Men - Need [Satoshi Tomiie rmx]
08. Blackwatch & Greed - Gentle Rain
09. Simon Noble presents Redback - Closing In
1 hr 5 min
June 25, 2002 Balance 003: Bill Hamel (CD1)
EQ Recordings have done it once again. This time by releasing their brand new album from the Balance series: Balance 003 - Mixed and compiled by Bill Hamel.
After the previous two highly successful Balance compilations mixed by Sean Quinn and Kasey Taylor you can only expect the highest of quality from this one.
Bill starts this CD off with the massive track 'Darko' remixed by Blackwatch. This is a very impressive dark track and is a perfect way to kickstart this mix before slowly but skillfully blending in the next killer track, which is Lula's - 'The DJ The Music & Me' (vocal remix) by Peace Division. The CD is definitely a work of art by Mr Hamel and his track selection and mixing is absolutely superb. The highlight of the Disc 1 has to be the massively popular 'Gorecki' track fitting in the best of ways.
Disc 2 starts by dropping the huge Evolution mix of 'Close'. It's soothing sounds and effects of pure progressive pleasure is a great way to build the mood for this CD. Track 2, Tilt's 'Headstrong' (Maria Naylers volcal remix) is then masterfully mixed into the first track.Towards the end of CD2 Bill drops in the magic track 'Need' which has been masterfully remixed by Satoshi Tomiie, this gem is guaranteed to get your heart pumping. Following this masterpiece by Satoshi, Bill spins us the tune 'Gentle Rain', which gives you the feeling your standing in a gentle shower of raindrops - the perfect end to an impressive album.
Tom Pandzic's EQ Recordings sure has come a long way, producing some of the best albums available for purchase, and this gem is no different. Have a listen, but I definitely recommend you purchase your a copy.
Disc: 001
01. Darko - Phased [Blackwatch Spanish Harlem Dub]
02. Lula - The DJ,The Music,and Me [Peace Division Freaky Vocal mix]
03. UDG - Give Me Fierce
04. Way Out West - Mindcircus [Tarrentella & Redanka dub]
05. Joeski - Groundfloor ep [Tribalfusion]
06. Hipp-E presents - Primary Function
07. Chris Lum - Big Tool
08. Paco Bugg & D'Amatoria presents Circus Night - Amazonia [Chus & Cellabos Iberican mix]
09. Swain and Snell - Mean What You Say
10. Guy Garber & Saha Z - Kenny's Back
11. Lamb - Gorecki [Hamel's Bootleg mix]
12. Barraka - Song To The Siren [Filterheadz Undercurrent vocal mix]
Disc: 002
01. Hamel - Close [Evolution mix]
02. Tilt - Headstrong [Relentless Vocal mix]
03. Quivver - Boz Boz
04. Mike G - Bellslut 0
05. Gardner & Thomas - Control
06. Powerplant ft Machineries Of Heaven - With Or With Out You [Blackwatch Orient Point mix]
07. Little Green Men - Need [Satoshi Tomiie rmx]
08. Blackwatch & Greed - Gentle Rain
09. Simon Noble presents Redback - Closing In
1 hr 14 min