Derrick May - Mix-Up Vol. 5

A shockingly average mix of either bland or predictable tracks that completely fails to capture the imagination. Derrick demonstrates that tight beatmatching is only a small part of mixing, and that he is unfortunately lacking in ability when it comes to track selection and panache. There are some very good tracks in this mix: 'Mindless Funk', 'Convextion', 'Relish', 'Nite Drive' and of course Kenny Larkins' mix of 'Meditive Fusion'; but that doesn't stop Derrick subjecting us to the same amateur 'chop & stop' mix which manages to ruin a fair few transistions. There are even some truly hideous mixes; 'French Kiss' into 'Lonely Disco Dancer', and 'Relish' into 'Get Down Get Horny', being standouts as laughable clear-the-dancefloor moments.

Rumoured to be a live studio mix with further post-production by Kenny Larkin, it's a shame someone so clearly capable could release a mix like this. If you want an example of raw swift mixing, try Mills' 'Live At The Liquid Room' CD; the mixing is more rugged and rough around the edges but has far more energy. If you want to hear smooth house and techno blended expertly then I'd suggest you check out Richie Hawtins' 'Mixmag Live Vol. 20', or Stacey Pullens' Essential Mix, broadcast on Radio 1 in 1996. Both are superior examples of how this mix could have been done.

Many records,many dj's and many mixes.Few however, in my opinion, rival the majesty that is this mix from Derrick May.Superb tracklisting,perfectly mixed with some quirky dj type stuff going on.I especially like the 'stopping record'effect which he uses alot.The pace never gives up and it is a true journey through house and techno music.After 15 years of listening to house and techno,whenever I put this on, it takes me right there.Wicked.Thanks Derrick.

Derrick May shows why he is one of the best DJ's in the world on this mix. The mix moves effortlessly from the house sounds of tracks like The Groove Essentials to techno classics like Alarms and Club MCM. All mixed to perfection by the man himself, using all the tricks in the book. Some of my personal favourites have to be Lonely Disco Dancer, Cosmic Coast, the old school acid of Spank Spank and the classic that is French Kiss. May pulls a blinder out of the box with the Bassment Jaxx track Eu Nao towards the end of the mix. I have had the pleasure of seeing him play on more than one occasion and he is even better in person, driving crowds wild with his ability to mix up the music from one style to another. I hope that the rumours come true and another Mayday mix is produced. If you have never heard May play then I suggest you track one of these CD's down at all cost, you will not regret it.

It's fairly obvious that if you've ever seen Derick May spin live, this mix is representative of what the guy is capable of. Every genre has its stars, and Derrick is the real deal. After party of this past year's DEMF was proof- four hours of getting your mind blown.

And BTW, 99% of the mix CDs out there are computer-enhanced in some way.

funny to read these comments after all this time. it was recorded in one pass but it obviously contains some post-production. which, btw, was done by kenny larkin.

and who the hell cares anyway. it's a masterpiece.

When this mix was released years ago, Derrick told in interviews that he was already pissed of because he knew that a lot of people would analyse and criticize this mix. He just underline that this was no demo or lesson but just his way to share his pleasure for electronic music !!!

That's funny, usually I can spot the studio mix a mile away but I didn't get that from this CD at all. Whatever the case, I was somewhat disappointed with it. A lot of the tracks are "classics" but I didn't really need to hear French Kiss again (sorry, I know it's his all time favorite record, just my opinion.) It seems to fall prey to that "educate the crowd" mentality, too many classics trying to cover too much ground over the course of 70 minutes. The transition from funky old school disco house to classic Chicago stuff to techno (and a very cheezy latin track) might work over a 3 hour set but it seemed a bit much for this release.

Just saying...

Derrick May is the best deejay i ever saw live and this mixed cd shows him at the hight of his abilities - he tried to give as much effort into this cd as possible . so what`s the point of arguing , if he actually did it live in his studio as opposed to producing it the way it should be done in his mind . he is a genious , and each time he plays live , you can see that he doesn`t need to hide in a studio to give a memorable DJ-Set .There is nothing on the cd that states it is a live mix anyway.

you can do it with a pioneer djm 600 right now, even though some of the samples that have been used in the cd exceeds the limits of the sampling facility of the pioneer (the reverse playing in the kramer dashwood song, for example), but back then in 1997 the djm 600 didn't exist. Yet, I repeat, there is no disrespect for Derrick for me, he is a genious and together with deep dish's penetrate deeper compilation on tribal usa, this is the best compilation ever made for me. But again as I said listen to the cd with your pure attention and own some of the stuff on vinyl, you will see the impossibility of playing those stuff naturally.

I had 3 copies of that CD and must have listened to it maybe over a million times. At first I did wonder a lot about those mixing skills and other stuff, but as time passed and I happened to own most of the records from the compilation on vinyl myself and after hearing the songs "actually", then I found out that most the skills and the songs being used in the compilation are the perils of great studio ability and a great sampler not true vinyl mixing. i.e. no vocals in message is love, no saxaphone in earth people, somewhere by the end of preacher man the same loop keeps on going all the time, when he plays hayden andre and gene farris at the same time the whole thing is a 15-20 second loop sample, kramer dashwood song, the sample goes normal and then goes backwards then he mixes to alarms, etc, etc There's no disrespect for Derrick though. He's a genious, the songs being played are all killers and must have items and being bought for over 100s of $$ in auctions in ebay.com etc. etc. but listen to the cd as much as I do, and you will see...