Gu39: Lithuania

It's probably simply because the dance music scene has changed that Dave Seaman's new offering for the GU series differs from the previous few. It's been some years since the series bosses used his face and name to promote a release. He has always put out extremely safe and predictable compilations, and along with the likes of Nick Warren has really helped define the whole GU sound. But times change and the music audience changes, and recent GU releases by Emerson and Lavelle have clearly shown a move towards a lower IQ, more indie-rock sound, designed for instant appeal to those who have relatively unspectacular expectations, having emerged as they have from the guitar-rock scene of their teen years and looking for familiarity on the dance scene. So....Seaman evidently discovered that the type of tracks he included before just aren't available any more. There's no material out there to compile a musical journey. It needs to start and finish in exactly the same place and visit very few different places in between. No time left for that progressive evolution of sounds - it's got to be instantly familiar from the first note onwards. And he's actually managed the transition quite well, using more shorter tracks and grouping them in bands of commonality, rather than just throwing them together as Carl Cox and Felix the Housecat did for their GU releases. The moment the beat section of the first number kicks in, about a minute into the mix, you know exactly where it's at and where it will stay unwaveringly for the next two hours.Looks like we will have to hang on until Nick Warren gets another go at the controls to have a truly exceptional album on our hands - but this is pretty good compared to many of the other dance mixes on the market right now.

CD1 is very different to what I expected. Seaman has found a new lease of life in my opinion. This CD is exhilerating. Seaman can be a bit samey over time. But this CD has kicked his sound in the pants and come up trumphs. I think I hear some influence from Agoria creeping into this set. But Seaman does not copy; he takes the influence and sets his own standard.I mentioned in my review of Agorias "Balance 016" that Agoria is at the Avant Garde of the Dance Music scene. Well, with CD1 of this compilation Seaman has thrown himself into pole position too. It is a seminal piece of work. Meaning I think it will go on to influence the future sound of Dance.The melodies are inventive, the track selection is inspired and the pace is very sure of itself. A great CD.CD2 is more stereotypical of the Seaman usual sound and of underground House in general. Its a drawling prog house/trance mix which is quite energetic and confident, but it lacks that inspired touch which CD1 has.The underground dance sound has become a bit of a cliche itself over the last few years. And here Dave does not manage to break free from it. He is one of the DJs who defined that sound in the first place, but fails to go beyond it here.It is an enjoyable mix, but it starts sounding like one of the many compilations that have gone before.Overall I would give this compilation four stars. CD1 is great and is going places. CD2 is enjoyable in a familiar and typical sort of way.

There's nothing really exciting about Dave Seaman at this point in his career, but he consistently churns out good sets and good mixes, which is probably the reason Global Underground turned to him to make yet another installment in the series. His last efforts for the label were predictably reliable and enjoyable, and he continues the trend here, although this is the best of the lot. Disc one especially shines through, with sleek modern beats and seamless mixing, sticking mainly to tech house but veering towards the melodic rather than the minimal tracks. 'Triangle & Strings' that closes the first set is especially memorable, and the three mash ups on the disc work really well also.Disc two starts off lush with the incredible Sasha remix of 'Come Home' and 'Sycamore Feeling', although I wish they'd kept the vocals on the latter. The beats are slightly more pulsating for this set, and it comes to a memorable close courtesy of two excellent tracks by Carl Craig, which has an awesome Bjork-esque vocal mixed in, and Steve Ward, who closes the set perfectly.I'd have given this disc five stars had it shown a little more ambition and originality, but if you're expecting that from a Seaman set you'll be disappointed anyway. What you get is a cool, compelling two hours of quality modern dance music, and you can't ask for much more than that.For recent comparisons sake, I'd say it's better than Carl Cox's GU set, on a par with 'Structures' by Digweed but behind James Zabiela's 'Life' mix for Renaissance, which remains the best dance album of the year.

9 years on this is still a fantastic two Disc treat for your ears. A lot of the versions you won’t find on any streaming service - if you want the real deal, you have to buy this physical media. I’ve listened to this mix more times than I care to count after blinding nights out clubbing, But playing it in the car or as I’m cooking, it’s just as mighty. The busyness of disc one winds down so fine as moonbeam mixes into taurine before easing into triangle and strings.Disc two picks up with Polar before the lights go dark and the twisted beats of Homecoming kick in taking you up to the heart of this mix.Have see Digweed play so many sets over the years and this mix is a delight.

The CDs is new and ok but the package doesn’t fit to CDs stand

Love Dave Seaman. Worth a Spin but sadly not as impressive as his other GU mixes. 6/10

bought as gift, and they liked it.

Agree with the previous comments that this is very 'Dave Seamany', but to be honest that's all I wanted.I much prefer his more evolved style from this earlier GU days, so as such this is my favourite of his GU mixes. Not quite as collosal as his Renaissance or Therapy mixes (which all have their own special places in my heart so go buy them!).Another quality addition to the family.