JB³ – Close Grind

why isnt "upper" just a bit longer like.. 3 minutes? with its 1:40-somethingitis what I call a cheeky teaser (:

a slightly longer mix would make an amazing tool - it's still is but you need a 3 deck setup to be able to play it.

Strong release from Beltram - no weak tunes. Cant believe its available this cheap on discogs!

Masterpiece. Real Dirty Techno. One of The Best Techno Album Ever.

Amazing sound of the "Times" theme. Strange and magical melody to setback when you get used to it. So mystical in my 17s sunday club mornings

After I revisited this one earlier today, I find it half as interesting as I did years ago. Truth be told, I was never that much of a Joey Beltram fan after he broke ties with R & S, but whereas his debut on Tresor, "Places", had a fine balance between banging club cuts and intriguing details and arrangements, "Close grind" goes straight for the dance floors, and may I admit, choses the lowest common denominator to please them. I guess this is the release where Joey started the atrocious era in his career when he sampled a single loop and let it rips for 4-5 minutes in every track. Disco, easy digestible loops with simple yet pounding 4x4 percussion is all over.
Don't get me wrong though. The production is great, Joey delivers a massive sound, and as far as club friendly techno go, this was some of the most played stuff back then. Thing is, it is utterly pointless trying to listen to this. All the tracks are too linear, too repetitive, with no changes and/or twists at all. If you are a DJ, these tunes will tear clubs to shreds!
I mean, imagine a crowd not going absolutely berserk when the hook in Forklift drops!
Point is, a three minute segment tops from any of these tracks will bring immense joy, a continuous forty four minute listening experience of "Close grind" is painful, I must admit.
Extremely well produced, carefully moulded loops, hooks and bass lines for maxed-out club experience, but overall, this is so formulaic, cold and needs an obvious injection of ideas.
This is a very easy one to track down, but if you are looking to get started with Joey Beltram, may I suggest digging harder and deeper, and seeking out the aforementioned album on Tresor, or any of his early classics, which can be found on the 1996 "Classics" collection.

Bright, colourful techno. Ideal music for dancefloors. Joey Beltram (JB3 is his alias) makes commercial techno. It is commercial because this music is good-selling and people can`t sit, when DJ plays tracks from this album. The Beltram`s style of techno is unique. Must listen techno album. Good work from good label. This music was very hard for non-experienced party people. Also over then 50% of tracks of this albums appears on many techno mixes at cds.

WARNING: This album will make your speakers hate you. Techno legend Joey Beltram trades the hoover for hard techno with a collection of punchy, no-nonsense rhythm trax that will add beef to any mix. No divas, piano breaks, or ragga toasters here - just brain damaging beats.

Secure all glass and fragile objects before proceeding.