Various Artists mixed by Jim Rivers - nubreed

“The previous releases were of such a high standard that I knew I had to deliver. Hopefully, people will enjoy it” Those were young Bristolian Jim Rivers’ musings on being asked to kickstart the return of Global Underground’s nubreed series recently – a sensible choice, given his knack of fusing prog and techno in a very GU fashion.
 
It’s atmospheric from the start on Disc 1 – gently skippy beats with delicate, classy melody atop, such as the beautiful strings of Mike Monday’s Stargirl. Pretty melodies prevail with Ilija Rudman’s typically retro-synth heavy Ocean Colour, while the recently departed Didier Sinclair’s Devotion presents a warm slice of classic tech house to usher us into deeper, smoky territories.
 
Therein we get Stimming’s lovely rolling remix of Luomo’s gorgeous Tessio, and The Viewers’ flute-filled Streethorn, as well as Jim showing off his deep techno skills on By Any Means. Scope’s glorious Strung Out 2009 then leaps into life to raise things back up a notch with its jaunty, classic house cool. Sublime mixing skills are displayed when he mixes the breathy vocals of Ripperton’s remix of Beanfield’s Tides over the throbbing, tribal sub bass of 2’s Company’s Drop Bass Kick, and a clever knack of leaving you wanting more is provided with the driving bass grooves of the final two tracks – Tom Budden’s The Tree Dance a particularly tasty treat.
 
Disc 2 doesn’t titillate quite so much, feeling too ploddy and slow for the most part. Brief flashes of excitement as in Plasmik Honey’s Jungle are soon dissipated by monotone basslines and over-repetitive tracks. More melodic, hypnotic cuts come from Nicky Muir and Guy J, but what follows is an uninspiring drone of unsettling arpeggios and dull throbs. Paul Woolford’s Hierbas provides some light at the end of the tunnel, its phat, winding b-line and fizzing trance melodies pumping some much need vigour and vitality into this disappointing second half.
 
It’s worth buying for the first disc alone to be honest, which shows that Rivers is both a very talented DJ and producer. Just a shame that it all loses its way.
 
Tracklisting:

Disc 1
 
01. Joash - Bubblegum Strings
02. Mike Monday - Stargirl
03. Florian Kruse - The Miracle (Dave DK 'Magic' Mix)
04. Burnski - Packing My Bags
05. Ilija Rudman - Ocean Colour06. Didier Sinclair - Devotion
07. Will Saul & Tam Cooper - Through The Smoke
08. Luomo - Tessio (Stimming Mix)09. Jim Rivers - By Any Means
10. The Viewers - Streethorn (Ben Watt 'Buzzin Fly' Edit)11. Scope - Strung Out 2009
12. Lemon Popsicle - Zavoaie13. 2's Company - Drop Bass Kick
14. Beanfield Feat Bajka - Tides (Ripperton Mix)
15. Rockers Hi-Fi - Push Push (Rainer Weichhold Mix)
16. Jim Rivers - Forget About It
17. Tom Budden - The Tree Dance18. Jim Rivers - Vibrant

Disc 2 
01. Unkle - Heaven (King Unique Mix)
02. Kabuto & Koji - Drunken Slumber
03. Dj Yellow Presents Mindz Kontrol Ultra - Space Soon To Vanish
04. Nobuo Ittetsu - Flow
05. Aril Brikha - Deeparture In Time
06. 16 Bit Lolitas Presents Glowfield - Moiemaker
07. Plasmik Honey - Da Jungle
08. Itamar Sagi - One Million Oaks
09. Christopher Manik - Take It Back
10. Bradler & Dualton - Glow (Erphun Mix)11. Nick Muir  - 100's & 1000's
12. Guy J - Lamur
13. Claes Rosén - Captivating
14. Clinton Brown & Miltos - Pesticide15. Jim Rivers - Stone
16. Andre Kraml - Safari (James Holden Mix)
17. Avilo - Rubicon
18. Tarrentella - Karma (Fiord Mix)
19. Paul Woolford - Heirbas