Various - Warren, Nick - Balance 018 Mixed By

way out west hero and dj genius in his own right nick warren finally makes his mark on the inspiring balance series - with a mix that exemplifies why he is revered by so many and furthers his reputation as a selector who truly understands the challenges and subtleties of a successful and enduring mix compilation. disc 1 gets off to a graceful, deep start - a warm sunrise feel surrounding tracks like underset's delicate berlin - before unexpectedly twisting into the jacking techno throb of fiord's the tribe has spoken (soaring melodies intact mind you). paul hazendonk's stripped-down my addiction throws our attention before eelke kleijn's monkey movin' connects the dots and brings the groove back. the mix hops and skips between percussiveness and melodic flourishes at will, keeping you on your toes in anticipation of what's to come next. nick w's tlb keeps it stab-heavy, before nomad in the dark's drones (send me) juxtaposes squelching funked-up bass with psy-trance-esque acid shimmers. giorgos gatzigristos' tickless brings the first half down to a sub-aquatic close, laden with hazy pads and hypnotic tones. warren's own remix of tripswitch's collider kicks off the second disc with nods to groove-driven, atmospheric '90s house music, all cool and slow-burning, and demonstrating he's a producer to be reckoned with. beat factory's let's take a walk takes the mix to sensual new heights with its soft, morphing chime refrain and gorgeous synths, with lank's ain't no problem stating its intent next with a killer, shimmying groove that builds to incessant and heady heights. yamil colucci's bristol warm makes for a resplendent centrepiece with its heavenly pianos and lashings of warmth, leading us towards the ethereal charms of solee's aragon and the techy splash and buzzing refrains of steve mill's someday, with solee reappearing to add a cinematic lift to the end of the mix in his remix of warren's flowers. it's left to pablo acenso's pulsing bread to cap a beautiful collection off with its bold, melancholy chords making for an engrossing and tantalising finale.