Its July 31st 2006 – The Montpellier Philharmonic Orchestra at Pont Du Gard, Provence, France stages the live recording of Jeff Mills’ Blue Potential at a groundbreaking concert. Seminal techno classics such as Amazon, The March, The Bells and Sonic Destroyer are performed with a 70 piece symphonic orchestra, the result of composer and arranger Thomas Roussel’s inspired adaptation. The album isn’t simply a techno DJ tagging his beats on to a piece of classical music, when Mills’ distinctly Detroit drums appear they weave in and out of the compositions occasionally fused with live percussion. All the beats were tailor-made for the concert, to cut through the massive sound created by the orchestra, the best examples of where this works to fit Mill’s originals are the more dancefloor based tracks such as The Bells and Sonic Destroyer. On the fusion of techno and orchestral sounds, Mills states: “These two musical forms share common emotions and expressive elements, their sense of atmosphere and power, the characteristics that fire the imagination.” Jeff Mills is a name synonymous with Techno and arguably the genre’s biggest DJ, and one of the main aims of this project was to attract new audiences to classical music, given the audience numbers and rapturous applause, it’s been undeniably successful. Whether an existing fan comparing the performance to the originals or a Mills virgin, the album will have merit for all. And, maybe even a few classical music lovers might now start getting into techno, the bonus DVD featuring the full live concert rounds of this package completely .
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: MARTIN MADIGAN
