Perfecto Presents Timo Maas Connected: Mixed By Timo Maas

Speaking of well-played, there's Fatboy Slim kicking off Disc Two with Star 69, though it's Maas' own slightly more melodic mix that doesn't suffer for bleeping out the swear words and so has had more radio play than the original. Then it fades into Hopeless by StareCase, another haunting synth track that works even without Labelmate Max Graham's magic remixing touch. Next up is breakbeat from Sonic Infusion to wake you up before chucking another long-standing well-played track, Stylus Trouble's Sputnik with its five-note bass and melody hooks. Placebo's Special K sees Maas laying down a synth hook reminiscent of fellow Germans Kraftwerk in the funky intro to Placebo's anthemic Special K. Next is one of the standout tracks of Disc Two, Orinoko's Island- (Ibiza maybe?) Brilliant bassline reminiscent of Trisco's Musak or Saints & Sinners Pushing Too Hard but choosing a different key, fading to a bridge of long chords and a couple of Deep Forest-style chants, before *that* bassline returns- it's a skip-back track all right, the most exciting prog tune I've heard and a reminder that now those English dance music glossies knock any genre they find after six months and anything progressive is in the frame, that prog's fine as long as it's upbeat. After that stonker the originally named Calling "The Freak" bring it down a step with the intro to Rhythm your Life, building a driving soundscape on the same ghosted single-note echo. Enter expert veteran remixer Dave Clarke to make some Coatnoise with the help of Midfield General, who finds time to make the odd stonker and not just sign them up at Skint Records! Then Circulation brings you out of that "4am" tunnel, with the equally repetitive but more upbeat Purple, using funky drum effects to accompany the music in the bassline.

And finally Mr Maas himself delivers the Exclusive track- well exclusive until his album comes out anyway. I forget who did the electronic eighties classic "I Feel Love" with a female singer, but that's what the intro will remind you of and it's a pleasant surprise to hear some guitars, played in an almost Indian style!

So basically, Oakenfold's series that started with Travelling doesn't hit a bump in the road with Connected. The tracks you've heard before are not worn out and in the case of Ogenki Clinic, still burning, while the best tracks are those previously unheard or very new on release like StareCase and Orinoko. So if you liked Travelling, this is more progressive but don't get put off, you're in safe hands with Mr Maas at the decks. Can't wait for the third.


Eveything I'd expect from this guy.   May 6, 2001
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

What can i say, as good if not better than ''Music for the Maases'' This guy is the original, anything that comes close is just a copy. Check out the tracks by Ogenki Clinic, Circulation and Delerium, which are the best, although there's nothing wrong with the rest either. Deserves a space in the cd rack.