- When you think of the word Renaissance, you automatically reminisce about some of the finest mix compilations the electronic world has seen in the last 10 years. Be it the first Mix Collection by Sasha & Digweed or some of the newest installations by the likes of James Zabiela, the quality of all the releases on the Renaissance label is undeniable. One DJ who has encompassed that quality, time and time again on the Renaissance label is Dave Seaman. Let’s face it, Seaman has been behind some of the best mixes on the label, from his stunning London mix to his early Masters Series mixes. It's his consistent ability to deliver solid, impressive mixes that keeps him at the forefront. It is also this ability that now sees him return to the Renaissance front to deliver the seventh installment of The Masters Series
Disc 1 begins delightfully with a blessed out Sasha Remix of Charlie May’s ‘Seal Clubbing’, a tune that opens the album with some smooth melodies and subtle beats. Some smooth basslines build into the mix courtesy of the Buick Project and the mix quickly gathers some pace thanks to some intense sounds by Prawler and some smooth and funky riffs by the Thievery Corporation. Slacker’s superb ‘Memory Man’ keeps the juices flowing very nicely early on with some twisted riffs and haunting vocal hooks. Skystate deliver a pretty unique set of sounds with some uplifting stabbing synths, while there’s some vintage progressive in the middle section thanks to Janicki’s mix of Hawaii and then the Dub mix of ‘Buy Me’ by Nufrequency.
Chab’s ‘Sunrise’ starts to take the mix to the next level with some uplifting moments, while Montero’s mix of ‘For the Time Being’ is a driving delight with some filtered vocals and a sinister set of low end sounds. John Dahlback then delivers a superb remix of Luke Dzierzek’s brilliant ‘Echo’ as the mix prepares to end on a bit of style with Matthew Dekay & Roob V’s ‘2 Da Groove’, an emotive bit of driving progressive. Seaman himself gets in on the remix act with an anthemic 10-minute closing reworking of Gabriel & Dresden’s ‘Tracking Treasure Down’. The track has a distinctive sound that is both Dave Seaman and Renaissance, and brings a very solid first disc to a nice close.
Paradise Soul get things moving on Disc 2 with a smooth and somewhat funky opener. Dzierzek & Liousias team up to deliver a funky set of electro riffs in ‘Randoms’ while ‘Don’t Walk Away’ by Killahurtz continues to set the mood of the second disc with some gritty basslines and quirky drums. Luke Dzierzek gets in on the act yet again, this time with a sinister and addictive remix of ‘I Don’t Know’ by Suicide Sports Club. The mix continues its relentless beginning thanks to some twisted sounds courtesy of Andy Page and Sean Quinn, while ‘Connected’ by Sultan & Ned Sheppard adds a bit of a melodic touch to the second disc, a disc so far dominated by the dirtier and tougher sounds.
Despite a melodic and uplifting breakdown, ‘Sedna’ by the 16 Bit Lolita’s continues the driving theme with some evil basslines, as does Chris Lake with a delightful production in ‘Hype’. Matt Rowan then teams up with Jaytech with ‘Tomorrow’, a bouncy and upbeat production that looks to take the mix out with some great vibes. Dave Seaman’s mix of Bedrock’s ‘Santiago’ is full of melodic twirls and a smooth as silk bassline while Luke Chable sends down some delightful sounds and emotive pads with his stunning mix of Shiloh’s ‘Dream On’. It is then left to Osamu M’s superb remix of ‘Stoppage Time’ to take the mix out in style. As expected the second mix has a little more energy than the first disc thanks to some superb driving productions reminiscent of Seaman's early Masters Series mixes.
One good thing I will say about Seaman is that he really always sticks to what he knows best. While some other DJs out there will be quick to jump on the latest bandwagon just to deliver a mix that will sell, Dave continues to play music that he believes in, and he mixes it and delivers it in a way that works. There are often not many dull moments in a Dave Seaman mix, and again this is true, with some really big tracks thrown in amongst some smoother moments, all mixed very well by the veteran. At times there are questionable moments in the mix – should this track have been here or go for as long as it did – but overall the end result is quite solid, and much like a typical Dave Seaman mix, it is energetic and exciting, exactly how a mix should be.