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On some albums, you can tell within the first half a dozen notes whether it’s any good or not; Balance 014 is certainly good and so much better. On two equally impressive CDs with a stagger 100 (yes that’s the big ton) of the best in electronic dance tracks!

Now don’t be put off with the 100 as it does sound like a terrible idea but Mr. Voorn is a smart DJ with a technique to match so that it’s hardly noticeable that there are that many tracks. And don’t think that this means that it’s a unruly mash-up mix nonsense or bland mush. What he’s done is got some core tracks and mixed it bits of others. Some of his selections may be only mere fragments looped, others may be just a couple of mixed tracks, there’s even one whole track.

And just because a Radiohead track is listed, this isn’t like a Radiohead track. O.K. Thom Yorke’s acapella for ‘Nude’ is good (but it’s a shame from my point of view that he didn’t get Hectic’s Nudist Beach mix) but that apart, these two discs are more like two genuine 70 minute tracks; CD2 even slips in a bit of reggae!

Names you’ll recognise Carl Craig, Joakim, Aphex Twin, Flying Lotus, Minilogue, Robert Babicz (his last 12”, ‘Purple Dance’ is big at the moment and he’s at Matter supporting James Zabiela on Saturday), Quiet Village, Goldie, Silicone Soul, Jerome Sydenham, Model 500 (aka Juan Atkins) and loads more that combine in a glorious ambient, minimal, techno, house of a two part masterpiece.

I thought I’d hate this and was ready to leave it alone but now I’m a convert. And whilst this is released on Australian based EQ Recordings, Voorn is on an extensive global tour to support this one so worth checking his myspace site for up-to-date details as well as getting the CD; as EQ say, the beat goes on… and on.. and on.

Reviewed: Joris Voorn - Balance 014 (EQ Recordings) Cat. No: EQGCD024 2xCD Release date: 07 February 2009

Links:
www.jorisvoorn.com
www.myspace.com/jorisvoorn
www.balance-series.com
James Zabiela, Robert Babicz, Joey Beltram, Spektre, Christian Smith and John Selway
Saturday 7 March 2009 : Matter, Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DY Tel: +44 (0)207 549 6686 www.matterlondon.com