Oh yes, Vocal Sessions part 2 from therobsta. Rob put this set together exclusively in response to the popularity of his last vocal house mix. The hits were through the roof on that one, so to satisfy demand, here is the sequel. And what a perfect sequel it is. Right from the start this set is uplifting, stylish, and has a feel good sound that makes you want to move.

This music is familiar, feels good, but also has an edge to it that will create that anticipation / release cycle that I’m always going on about. Check this out and enjoy…

“Vocal Sessions 2″ - mixed by therobsta
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This set was recorded Live at Ministry of Rave, Ministry Nightclub in Christchurch, New Zealand on March 29th 2008. It was an extremely successful night, which involved 2 zones and over 10 DJs. This recording is the set I DJ’d with Alement (Alain Hinton). It was the first time we have done a back-to-back set and it was a lot of fun. Hopefully the first of many collaborations.

The first few tracks were cut off since the recording didn’t start straight away. Most of the set is there, however.

Maestro B (Brent Silby) and Alement (Alain Hinton) LIVE at Ministry of Rave, Ministry Nightclub, Christchurch NZ
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Time for a deeper house sound. Here is the April mix from NaJ. As usual we are treated to some wonderfully laid back soulful arrangements throughout this set. The chord progressions in the tracks contained here are definitive of the deeper house sounds. This music is good for early night, sort of pre-club, or in a chill zone at an event. It would also fit nicely at the end of a night, or (as I heard it) on a Sunday after a late night out.

Thanks for the set NaJ, we look forward to your next offering.

“Powerful Mix April” - mixed by NaJ
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Enjoy the journey from the realm of disco/funky house through to some electrohouse beats and back. As always, I attempt to construct a set that takes the listener from point a to b to c. The beginning of the set contains a range of nice clubby house tracks. It then develops towards a chunkier electrohouse sound. Listen out for some sampling from “I feel love”, which I loop through “Push it” before transitioning to “I feel love”. This sounds quite good and has prompted me to produce a small mashup track. Hopefully I’ll have it done before “Ministry of Rave” next week so I can test it on a dancefloor.

After the harder section of the set, I take it back to a cleaner disco sound which serves as an easy going resolution to the anticipation that builds during the development.

“Feel The Push CD” - mixed by Brent Silby aka “Maestro B”(running time 66 minutes)
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Live recording of DJ David Morales at The Aurora Club mid 2007. This set represents David Morales’ harder style, minimal on the vocals, highly percussive, creative use of acappella sampling. Its serious dance music. David uses some clever sampling within the set. For example, in track 9 “Armed” - Pryda, David samples heavily from the acappella of “Don’t Make Me Wait” - The Peech Boys. The tracks fit nicely together creating a pleasing mashup.

From a critical point of view I think there are ways this set could be improved. I think house lends itself very naturally to the idea of creating a journey within a set. Now, this set from Morales is cleverly mixed, but it doesn’t really take us on a definite journey. It sort of hovers around its starting point without any real progression. Of course, it is possible that this is a section from a larger set, in which case it may be part of a journey. However, as it stands, it doesn’t take us on the type of journey I have written about in previous posts.

David Morales is a legend in house music circles, having been active since the beginnings of the genre back in the early 1980s. He continues to tour the world, working crowds of thousands of people. If you ever have the opportunity to see him live, I recommend the experience–not that I’ve seen him “live”, but thanks to youtube, I’ve come close :).

“Aurora Club 2007″ - mixed by David Morales
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therobsta brings us his latest vocal house mix. From the very start, this set treats us to a wonderful selection of disco orientated bass grooves and rich vocals.

Around the 20 minute mark, the mood changes nicely to slightly harder sounding bass line. At 22 minutes we get experience a drastic change in mood as the track playing drops in tempo along with a complete change in rhythm. This is the sort of development in a mixset that gives it character and enhances the overall journey. The best thing about the change in mood is that it keeps going, building anticipation until the release / resolution comes in at around 26:10. Nice!

At around the 53 minute mark Rob changes the mood again. He shifts it back towards a more laid back vocal house sound. The track is deeper than the style that opened the set, and fits perfectly along the journey Rob is taking us on. This is a good example of what I have written about in the past. A mixset should shift up and down in mood. It needs to develop and take its audience from a clear starting point, through some anticipation / resolution and move towards a clear end point.

Unfortunately the set cuts off at exactly 80 minutes, which meant the final track doesn’t complete. It would have been nice for the last song to be finished in order to close of the set as a complete package. I’m guessing it had to be cut off to fit on to an audio CD. Its no big deal, really.

If you are in Christchurch City on April 5th, you can see therobsta playing live at Audiodreams event at “Level 5″ (Hallensteins building, Cashel street). Tickets $20, on sale soon at Cosmic Corner.

“Vocal Sessions” - mixed by therobsta
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Alex Einz presents his February 2008 mixset. This is a wonderfully upbeat, clubby sounding mix from Alex. The build up in this progression works nicely and the track selection effectively maintains the energy. This is not a vocal set–there are few vocals throughout the entire mix. The overall sound is reasonably hard, and the set has a “down to business” feel, which would see it fit well in a prime time slot at any club.

I always enjoy the build up of tension followed by resolution (or release) in mixsets, and Alex pulls this off in a natural way. The build ups and releases in this set in conjunction with the overall development take us on a well planned musical journey, making this a worthwhile listen.

Thanks for the link Alex.

“February 2008 mix” - mixed by Alex Einz
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We are launching a new series of Audiodreams events. These will be in collaboration with the White Elephant trust, so keep checking back for more details.

This set takes you on a journey through a good progression of tunes, starting with a laid back feel and progressing very rapidly to good solid dance music. The set develops through to some harder sounds before resolving nicely back to a disco-sound and ultimately with a wonderful relaxed instrumental house track.

“Delight” - mixed by Brent Silby “Maestro B”(running time 65 minutes)
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Rob kicks off 2008 with his new mixset titled “Taxi”. This set represents the type of journey that house music can take you on.

Rob starts with the house sounds, which have a club style before transitioning towards electrohouse. The transition is natural and smooth, and shows how a set can develop from a starting point to a conclusion. The subgenres of house make this type of progression possible.

Thanks for the set Rob.

“Taxi CD” - mixed by therobsta
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NaJ has just released his February mix in his Powerful Mix series. Starting with “Give it up” from Sean Thomas, this set begins with relaxed vocals. We have wonderful chord progressions in this first track and a minimalist sound that builds in complexity as we progress through the next few tracks.

As the set progresses, we move towards a disco sound with some nice hints of saxophone coming through. The rhythms increase in complexity and the general feel of the set becomes more uplifting.

This set finishes nicely with an uplifting track, which contains some downward chord progressions. This is a nice way to bring a set to a close, as it gives us a feeling of resolution. I would like to have heard the complete last song rather than have it fade out. This would have made the set a complete package.

As always, a great selection of tracks from NaJ. We look forward to the March release.

“Powerful Mix February” - mixed by NaJ
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On Friday 1st February I’m DJ’ing at the “Whatbar”, which is in the brand new Hotel SO on Cashel Street, Christchurch City. Its a very nice bar…quite small but a good atmosphere–sort of like a cocktail lounge. Its the perfect pre-club venue, so I’m going to play some nice laid back house tunes. I will incline towards a funky/disco sound, but I’ll keep the groove relaxed as you expect in such a venue. I start at 10pm so if you are around the city at that time, drop in and say “hi”.

In the meantime, check this set. Its a relaxed journey that builds slowly to its peak, and then resolves with the laid back “Didn’t mean to turn you on”–a classic track.

“Preclub” - mixed by Brent Silby - “Maestro B” (running time 67 minutes)
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Wow! What a hot day. Perfect weather for an afternoon BBQ and a few tunes.

This set is introduced with a couple of laid back tracks before moving into some nice lazy afternoon disco house. This characterizes the main feel of the set until it develops into a couple of electrohouse sounding tracks. The set concludes with a remix of “I feel Love”, which brings it back closer to the early sound but without going all the way. I think its quite a nice journey. In the middle of the set we have a diversion in the form of “I’m coming out”, a classic tune.

Right, I’m still too hot so I’m gonna get a beer.

“33 Deg C BBQ” - mixed by Maestro B (running time 65 minutes)
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