EQ's Balance CD series harks back to an era when dance music wasnt just a commodity, the series name a constant reminder of the tightrope it walks by capturing an elusive ideal: combining the excitement of old with a cutting edge approach.
Before its emergence, the Australian landscape was a battleground for competing overseas super-brands. Their use of local DJs merely a marketing ploy to win over the Australian audience. Comparatively, Balances inception was aimed at showcasing Australian DJs to a global audience without the expectations and restrictions enforced by other labels.
Allowing the necessary conditions for creativity has seen Balance grow in reputation from a little known local series to the benchmark against which any new series is gauged.
There’s very few DJs that can hold a candle to Agent 86. Fact. Sure, DMC champs may have the technical edge, but then how many incessant tweak scratch medleys can a crowd take before losing interest? Put simply, 86 knows how to fill the dancefloor. Yet he’ll do it in such an obtuse way, you won’t notice any obvious anthems. An underground cut here, a lost classic there; before you know it, the floor is jam-packed. And he’s not even breaking a sweat.
A fixture of the Adelaide scene for several years, 86 was regularly appearing alongside stalwarts such as HMC and Angu$. Playing a mixture of tech and old school electro, he honed his skills on the Technics and placed several times in the DMC and ITF comps. After a move to Melbourne, he started turning heads in the urban scene, throwing down hip hop and R&B with all the trimmings. But it wasn’t long before he again demonstrated his versatility, starting long-running electro-clash party Roxy, which ran for many successful years.
Forays into production have proved fruitful too, with the release of his Greatest Shit EP back in 2004. The cut So Hot proved an underground anthem on its release and could be heard in all kinds of clubs by all kinds of DJs (little did punters know it could be traced back to a local cat). It still sounds fresh today.
Versatile, humble, a skilled technician and (more importantly) a great lover of music, Agent 86 deserves all the plaudits thrown his way. He makes the difficult seem easy, and does it with a joie de vivre not often seen in an industry veteran. Electric_04 is a perfect snapshot of his skills, melding myriad genres seamlessly while bringing beats to the boil.
TRACKLISTING
- Intro.
- 40 Thieves. Don't Turn It Off (feat. Qzen)
- Aeroplane. Pacific Air Race
- Morton Sorenson. Start Something
- Bermuda. Tease Me
- Toby Neal. My Love (Putsch '79 Remix)
- Bumper. Detroit
- Spektrum. Horny Pony (Greg Wilson Remix)
- Casco Presents BWH. Stop (Bangkok Impact Remix)
- Enzo Ponzio. My 80's Funk
- Miguel Migs. So Far (Eric's Old School Revival Dub)
- Drop Out Orchestra. Gibbon
- DJ Agent 86 ft Kiti. Come To Roxy (86's Electro-Funk Mix)
- The Spirals. Without Control (Spirit Catcher Goes To Infinity Mix)
- LSB. Fog
- Bary Mason. Body! Get Your Body (Faze Action Edit)
- Bermuda. Galaxy Race (Jussi-Pekka Boring Acid Remix)
- Mawkish. Formula Futuro (Glitch & Spiller Remix)
- Soundtroopers. Shake That Booty
- Groove Allegiance. Hunkle My Funkle
Just some of the things they've said about the Balance Series...
"When it comes to DJ mix series there is arguably none better than EQ's Balance series right now.
IDJ Magazine - Jose Riera
Balance 004 mixed by Phil K
"If they do it as well as Phil K has here, that has got to be good news for dance fans everywhere."
DJ MAGAZINE - Compilation Of The Issue
Balance 005 mixed by James Holden
"Innovative, addictive and mixed with some considerable degree of skill, there’s no reason why this album shouldn't appeal to everyone."
M8 Magazine (UK) COMPILATION OF THE YEAR
Balance 006 mixed by Anthony Pappa
"...This cool series from Australia now enlists Anthony Pappa...to compile and mix this follow-up to James Holden's adventures last year, and it's fantastic folks!...It's an amazing next step in the great Balance series!"
Xpander.nl
Balance 007 mixed by Chris Fortier
"US DJ Chris Fortier rises to the challenge for the seventh edition of this consistently excellent mix series. It's a wonderful triumph of both technique and substance that wiggles on in a seemingly never-ending groove."
DJ Magazine
Balance 008 mixed by Desyn Masiello
"Compilation of the year"
M8 Magazine
Balance 008 mixed by Desyn Masiello
It's compelling stuff from start to finish and will have you grooving around your house and make you itching to go out clubbing. With DJs like Desyn around dance music is in some very safe hands."
IDJ Magazine
Balance 009 mixed by Paolo Mojo
"Paolo Mojo steps up to the plate, compiling and mixing a two disc instalment in this acclaimed mix series. This one of those essential mix cd's to have in your collection."
DMC Update
Balance 10 mixed by Jimmy Van M
The final disc 'Uptempo' is a reflection of Van M's style in a club and is an enchanting, dark ride punctuated with glimmers of light for the soul. It's a fitting finale to what is one of the best mix albums of 2006."
IDJ - Review (November 2006) - Jose Riera
Balance 011 mixed by Luke Fair
"easily one of the most inspiring DJ sets of 2007."
Image Magazine - Denver
"This is the most colorful house release I have heard in quite a while; possibly ever".
Ibeats.co.uk
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