Bedrock

John Digweed

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Bedrock Review

by MacKenzie Wilson

Underground techno originated in the early '80s in cities like Detroit, Toronto, New York City, and London. The Prodigy may have been a mainstream success, but DJs/producers like Kevin Saunderson, Stacey Pullen and Carl Cox have kept it real by staying exclusively with club gigs and molding most of their adult lives around spinning across the globe. John Digweed is another techno groundbreaker who has crafted his DJ skills on the international dance scene since 1989. Aside from being chosen as one of the most prominent DJs by DJ Magazine and Mixmag, Digweed was also the first U.K. DJ to establish his own U.S. residency in the American club market. Bedrock is Digweed's double-disc tribute to his decade-old club event, and a celebration of superb dance mixing and innovative artists such as Sandra Collins, Pob & Taylor, Morel, and Tiny Trendies. Disc one is fresh and crisp courtesy of Raff 'n' Freddy's "Listen." BPT's "Moody," which features deejay Danny Morales, broods like a jungle party with sensual vocals, but "Judy" from C12 and Jole is a looping trance tune with an electric feeling so intense, it's almost naughty (yet fascinating). Disc two continues to swirl and sway with bombastic techno grooves on cuts from Escape ("Salina") and Mark Hunt ("Over & Out"), but Digweed and his musical partner, Nick Muir, also contribute the stunning "Heaven Scent." Vivacious and lush with elements of atmospheric house, Digweed's mix is an original. Bedrock cuffs the classic and clips the modern; dance music never sounded so enchanting. It's simply about passion, so prepare to be mesmerized by the translucent beauty of John Digweed.

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