This is the third Masters Series release that Cattáneo has done for Renaissance and I was a little sceptical of how relevant it would be. I have seen him play out a lot recently and have been impressed by his sets but not sure how his style and music would relate to a home-listening CD.
While there is a noticeable shift in style and content from his other two Masters Series releases on Renaissance, and his live sets it is by no means a negative one. There’s a raft of exclusive tracks on this double album and there has obviously been a LOT of thought, time, effort, energy and love put into this mix which is beautifully crafted and perfectly progressive.
The Buenos Aires native explained the process of creating the series. “ I locked myself away and started going through loads of music for inspiration. It wasn’t till I pitched a Henry Saiz track down (and it sounded brilliant) that I hit upon the idea of dropping everything back 15-20 BPMs on the first disc.”
While this shift in tempo could be thought to reduce the energy and excitement of the first disc it seems to have the opposite effect. A cinematic vibe is created, which adds a sense of grandeur, intrigue and emotional intensity that is refreshing and involving. The gentle sways, mood changes and thematic developments make the listener feel as though they are playing a role in a life-changing movie. The minimalistic use of bass frequencies and the sporadic and choreographed use of drums to interpose the intensity of the pads and synths creates a contrast and fluidity that is simply sublime. This is deep, involving and thoroughly enjoyable craftsmanship.
The second disc is equally as progressive and has a more direct correlation to the kind of sound that Hernán has become world-famous for. The patient, emotive flow of the overall mix is punctuated with perfectly placed energetic shifts, mini-build-ups and breakdowns and is most certainly a masterclass in constructing a DJ mix. It is about an hour into this second CD when Cattáneo’s skill is truly revealed – he shifts seamlessly from soft, euphoric, pad-led techno to a much more instructional, drum-led climax which contains hints of the hour before, while being markedly different at the same time. This is an aural paradox that is delivered with ease and shows why he and Renaissance are names held in such high regard.
My only criticism of this album is that it may well have been too carefully crafted and could be seen as a little too beard-strokey. For me, this is bliss – something for me to get lost in and also to deconstruct and drool over the minutia of for endless hours.
Tracklist:
Disc One – Day
1. Hernán Cattáneo & Soundexile – Indian Son / Slacker – See The World (Hernan’s Dawn Reboot)
2. Marc Marzenit Pres. Divine Elements - Saint Two
3. Hernán Cattáneo & John Tonks - One 0 Five
4. Martin Garcia - Galileo Was Right
5. Martin Garcia - Specific Impulse
6. Hernán Cattáneo & Soundexile - Blacklight (Day Mix)
7. Múm - The Ballad Of The Broken Birdie Records (Hernan Cattaneo & Soundexile Edit)
8. Mercurio – Acoustic
9. Jean F. Cochois - Like A Poison Snake
10. Hernán Cattáneo & Soundexile Feat. Tomomi Ukumori - Cripsis (Day mix)
11. Guy J - Dust (Into Dust Mix)
12. Henry Saiz - We are All ( Henry Saiz Earth´s Pulse Version)
13. Idioma - Landscape (Hernan Cattaneo & Soundexile Rework)
14. Mercurio – Beautiful
15. Sigur Ros - Svefn-G-Englar
Disc Two – Night
1. Hernán Cattáneo & Soundexile - Blacklight (Night mix)
2. Hernán Cattáneo & John Tonks - July (Manuel Sofia Remix)
3. Way Out West – Ultra Violet (Guy J Remix)
4. Tone Depth – Rumblefish (Diyo Remix)
5. Henry Saiz –The Rider
6. Tonnsaied - Seven Seventy
7. Alex.47 - Eggsperience (Hernan Cattaneo & Soundexile Mix 1)
8. Alex.47 - Eggsperience (Hernan Cattaneo & Soundexile Mix 2)
9. Hernán Cattáneo & Soundexile - Cripsis (Night Mix)
10. Fefo & Dario Arcas - Take Me Away
11. Billy Dalessandro - Your Touch (Alexander Kowalski Remix)
12. Future Beat Alliance - Crying Sine
13. Quivver - Boom Boom
14. Hernán Cattáneo & Soundexile – Teleport
15. Manuel Sofia - An Endless Forest
16. Diyo – Underlight
***Italics denotes a Hernán Cattáneo album exclusive