Pros: Constant energy, great track selection, "real" mixing
Cons: I'm sorry, I seriously can't come up with any cons
The Bottom Line: If this mix doesn't make you feel like dancing even once, please return it to the store you bought it from and ask them to check you for a pulse.
sadida's Full Review: High Desert Soundsystem by DJ John Kelley
Finally a DJ, not afraid to actually release a mix cd that was created with two turntables and a mixer. I know it seems odd, but surprisingly enough, most DJ mix CDs out there were put together in a computer. Parts might have
been mixed by hand, but in the end they were precisely edited to achieve that "perfect" sound. Well, you know what? I sort of like it when the mix doesn't sound perfect. Not only does it give wannabee DJs like myself hope, but it demonstrates that the mix is a real performance. It's sort of like all of the big boy bands getting their songs written for them. They are just the face to the music. I listen to the music for the music, I'm not in it for the "face". That said, it is quite refreshing to hear the occasional quick adjustment in this mix. At times you can hear John Kelley grabbing the record ever so slightly to bring the beats back in line during a transition. Don't worry, it isn't anything like a trainwreck avoidance, just a slight nudge to keep things pumping.
No whimpy mix by numbers here either. John Kelley will begin setting up the next track minutes in advance. Even though he does let the songs play thru properly, there is almost always a second track on its way in or out. That keeps things interesting and very upbeat.
The EQ skills are fantastic too. It seems he can drop out individual elements and layer in another at will. How many knobs are actually on your mixer John?
Track Highlights
[5] Krome - "The Real Jazz" - This track is simple in structure, but just rocks. There have been many a time where I have come close to causing harm to my neck due to intense head bobbing.
[8] Jark Prongo - Movin' Thru Your System - This track was everywhere in 1999. It can be found on Bad Boy Bill's - Bangin' the Box Vol. 4, Sasha - Global Underground [San Francisco], and countless other compilations, and each and every time it brings something different to the mix. In this mix, its purpose is basically to make you dance so hard you fall down.
[15] Mr. Jack & Olivier Grosseries - "Give it Up" is crazy, funky, breaks at their best. I'm not positive what it is they would like me to give up(money, cheers, baseball cards?), but whatever it is, they deserve it,
and are welcome to it.
[16] The last track, Samuel Onervas' "Inter Primate Express" contains a sample that sounds like "Learn to dance". If that is what he is saying, this track should have been first. I'd hate for someone to listen to this
entire mix and not know how to dance. This friendly reminder would be more helpful at the start of the mix. Sort of a checklist that you should go over before you listen to the rest :)
Other tracks of interest come from
DJ Dan presents Needle Damage - "That Zipper Track"
Grant Phabao - "Tub"
What else should I check out?
John Kelley - Funkydesertbreaks 1
John Kelley - Funkydesertbreaks 2
Fatboy Slim - On the Floor at the Boutique
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