Global Underground: Reykjavik
With the esteemed Nick Warren (a.k.a.Way Out West) on hand, we should know what to expect onReykjavik, his fifth entry in the Global Underground series. However, Warren's ear has picked up new sounds, and GU 024 may surprise those seeking the usual thump. The consistency provided byJohn Digweed,Paul Oakenfold, andDanny Tenagliahas madeGlobal Undergrounda brand in itself, one associated with the highest end of progressive trance and house. ButReykjavikoften hovers around the beat, more interested in ambient crackles andBoards of Canada-like wanderings than the usual rhythmic grandeur. For much of the two-CD set, especially on disc 1, Warren spins light, sparse wax that rambles through electro andOrb-ish atmospherics and refrains from predictable peaks and valleys. Later, after the dance floor ignites on disc 2 with bouncy tracks like Aquaculture's "Don't Play the Game," it's clear that disc 1 was just the dreamy eye of a hurricane. Still, when DJs like Warren andSasha(with his endlessly interestingAirdrawndagger) are looking forward and being creative, those who still have hope for the oft-derided trance genre should be encouraged.--Matthew Cooke