Dave Seaman & Phil K - Renaissance Presents The Therapy Sessions

Well, it's a game of two halves, isn't it? Dave Seaman's mix is so very, very 2004. After a left-field start with Habersham's slightly terrifying "Transparent Sound", there's basically 70 minutes of straight-ahead melodic prog house, which everybody was playing in those days. Cass and Ernest Saint Laurent hint at the electro-house sound that was to sweep all before it barely a year later. Apart from that, every beat is trebly and trancy, and every bassline does that strange thrumming thing that they seemed to love so much Down Under.

But is it any good? Absolutely, yes. There are some sterling tracks here. Chable's mix of "Blame" is one of the best things the boy Luke ever produced. "Hostile Ground" is as tense as its name, and Dave drops all the vocals from "In A State" - which is just as well, since as I recall the lyrics were quite horrible.

Phil K's mix is less consistent. The Vance Musgrove track early on is utterly gorgeous - and completely unreleased apart from this CD, so that's a selling point in itself. A few tracks in, we get a sequence of very dirty breaks tracks, with varying success. Habersham's "Follow The White Rabbit" sounds like a bunch of random distorted noises the first few airings, but then really does begin to sound like an acid-fried psychedelic journey. The Disciple Grin's "Odditease", in its Transformer Man mix, is extremely funky. On the other hand, the vocals on the Crystal Method track will have you screaming in pain, and "Take Me To The Sound" is a real anti-climax. The Marshall Jefferson accapella loses its charm fairly quickly too.

Not a bad package on the whole.

This album obviously has very high expectations containing, first off, a mix by Dave Seaman, a DJ who refuses to release anything less than great DJ mixes. Secondly, it's from Renaissance, the label that revolutionized the DJ mix album, and also refuses to release anything less than great DJ mix albums. And lastly, it contains a mix by alleged super DJ, Phil K, who is heralded as "technically the best" by his peers. So this mix has lot of hype going for it. Does it live up to it? Not quite.

Dave Seaman's mix is a standard progressive house mix. The first track caught my ear right away with it's spacey tribal beats and floating synths, and from there, listening to the mix the whole way through, I didn't hear much that I didn't like. Dave spins deep, melodic progressive house with deep basslines and repetitive thumping beats with just enough melody to keep everyone awake. Some of the better tracks include Sterio & McGrath's "Hostile Ground", Cass' "Giant", and Stel & Good Newz' "Particle", the latter of which might be one of the best progressive house tracks I've ever heard. The rolling bassline and epic chiming synths are just out of this world. A perfect closer. Progressive house fans should be weary however, as Seaman spins some very serious progressive house. He eschews funky basslines and tribal beats for droning, repetitive percussions with airy melodies that will probably appeal more to trance fans than your average house fan. It's a kind of middle of the road approach I suppose. Be forewarned.

Phil K's mix is interesting. Starting off with some gorgeous down-tempo breakbeat numbers, he creates a lush intro that will instantly transport you to another world. He doesn't waste time picking up the pace though, and by about midway through the CD, you're listening to some of the funkiest breakbeats you've ever heard. Some are very catchy and will force you to move with the music, while others are just abrasive and hard to listen to. Definitely interesting stuff though. I particularly enjoyed Vance Musgrove's "Music In The 24th & a half Century", and Nubreed's "One Day". Listen with an open mind, and you'll more than likely find something you enjoy.

Though not among the best Renaissance or Dave Seaman have ever released, this is still a worthy purchase. I recommend Dave Seaman and breakbeat fans check it out, though don't be surprised when high expectations are not quite met.