An inspired choice for the latest Balance compilation from those savvy Aussies over at EQ Recordings: the triumvirate of Demi, Omid 16B and Desyn Masiello, otherwise known as SOS. There are few DJ trios in the world who work so well together, and few who can whip a crowd into such a frenzy as they. They’ve got 3 discs to play with here, with lots of room for manoeuvre.
The first disc is a masterclass in electronic chillout (and then some) – kicking off with Omid’s own gentle Balaeric-baiter Seagull and the continuingly impressive AN2’s classy soul/funk instrumental Wide Open. Hard techno stalwarts Surgeon and Speedy J surprise with their lesser-known, softer electronica moments, before the midsection takes us into a more euphoric place with Aeroplane’s life-affirming piano jaunt Caramellas and Chymera’s stunningly beautiful Umbrealla (immense and pure in its Beatless Mix form). Bryan Ferry makes a surprise appearance on his classy ’80s Balaero-pop moment Don’t Stop The Dance, before an eclectic, world music-influenced final third lays on bongos, tribal chanting and well-placed (honestly) sounds of nature. The disc culminates with The Cure’s Lullabye, with Robert Smith’s hushed vocals and that evocative string line.
Disc 2 makes moves towards the dancefloor, kicking off with SOS’ own sublime interpretation of Lullabye, and Dusty Kid showing us his fragile side with the wonderful Luna – like super-euphoric trance boiled down to its very essence. The energy starts to rise, slowly rising through a flurry of tasty synths and wiggling bass, leading towards the restrained electro-stomp of Marc Romboy vs Stephan Bodzin’srasping Atlas and the plodding electro house SOS Edit of Inner City’s classic Big Fun. The mix then tails off again into softer, less rousing climbs to the end, with Henrik B’s heavenly Logos leaving us begging for bigger things from the final disc.
Disc 3 is the most in tune with the SOS sound that we know and love. After a trance-soaked, slow-going intro, we get the hugely underrated Paul Keeley pitching in with the sunny, mellow prog house vibes of A Sort Of a Homecoming, segueing into DJ Pippi’s seductive, Balearic Do U Feel It and later the sexy funk of Raoul’s Dub of Kid Massive’s Release. The Disc peaks with the joyous, immensely uplifting breakbeat of Martin Buttrich’s classic re-rub of Loco Dice’s City Light, before disappointingly dropping down into more mellow, Italo-disco and nu-disco (aside from Michael Cassette’s storming Shadow Movement) for the second half of the disc. Nice, but frustrating.
It’s a near faultless compilation – beautifully structured and mixed, with a wide palette of tastes on offer and perhaps a tracklisting which surprises and titillates in ample quantities. The only problem for me is that after over 3 hours of listening, it feels like it should have stepped up at another gear. True, the discs progress well and Disc 3 is most of the way there – but it’s a shame for me that the mix only briefly reaches the giddy height of a peak-time, full-on SOS set...all charging basslines, euphoric melodies and feel-good vibes. By the end of the compilation you’re urging it to take things to the next level – but sadly it never does, with the momentum dropping due to the laidback ending.
That said, that probably wasn’t the aim here. It’s a captivating, thoroughly enjoyable listen that’s sensibly aimed more at the home listener than the clubber – or rather a well-struck balance between the two.
Tracklisting:
Disc 1
1. Seagull - OMID 16B
2. Wide Open - AN-2
3. Gliding - Modern Heads & Pig/Dan
4. Final Choice - OMID 16B
5. Slow River - C. Smth & J. Selway
6. Nurture [Surgeon remix] - LFO
7. Fill 17 - Speedy J
8. Starstrings [instrumental] - Jody Wisternoff
9. Caramellas - Aeroplane
10. Umbrella [beatless] - Chymera
11. Just An Illusion [Lindstrom dub] - Imagination
12. Pimms By The Pool - Fritz Zeig
13. Don't Stop The Dance - Bryan Ferry
14. Karamoon - Jan Driver
15. Der Bauch - MC Sultan
16. Ritual [Chateau Flight mix] - Brandy
17. Cherry Coloured Funk [Seefeel remix] - Cocteau Twins
18. Lullaby - The Cure
Disc 2
1. Lullabye [SOS edit] - The Cure
2. Luna - Dusty Kid
3. Digiboy [DJ Tarkan & V-Sag remix] - Josel
4. Whatever - Nima Gorji
5. Brain Candy - Spirit Catcher
6. Wagnis - Kollektiv Turmstrasse
7. Mangia Amore [Makossa & Megablast remix/Lucas Abadi edit] - Marsmobil
8. 2028 - Black Society
9. Fly High [SOS edit] - Whizz Kids
10. Aeroplane/The Real Life [dub/SOS edit] - Aeroplane/Corporation Of One
11. Once In A Lifetime [dub/SOS edit] - Bionik Phunk
12. Atlas - Marc Romboy & Stephan Bodzin
13. Spin Out [Neon Skin mix] - Slytek
14. Six - Ink & Needle
15. Dum Dum - Middleman
16. Big Fun [edit] - Inner City
17. Caribe Elektrico [Outter Limits mix] - Joeski
18. Logos - Henrik B
Disc 3
1. Fill 17 (1) - Speedy J
2. Salome - Joash
3. Pacific Air Race [dub] - Aeroplane
4. Sort Of Homecoming [SOS edit] - Paul Keeley
5. Do U Feel It [piano mix/SOS edit] - DJ Pippi & David Penn
6. VBS Redlof B - AFX
7. Here She Comes [Elektrokid remix] - Dimitri
8. Release [Raoul dub] - Kid Massive
9. Miau - Levan
10. Bend The Rules - Ozzie
11. City Lights [Martin Buttrich remix] - Loco Dice
12. Kiss The Wasp - Michael Ho
13. Kjappfot - Ytre Rymden Dansskola
14. Moogie Nights [SOS edit] - Kingpin Cartel
15. Shadow's Movement [SOS edit] - Michael Cassette
16. Game Over - Bastian
17. Savin' The Day [SOS edit] - Alessi Brothers
18. Luna [Johnny & Peps remix] - Stereo Brains
19. Think Twice - Detroit Experiment
20. Full Of E mty - OMID 16B