Can the ‘Balance’ series really be up to fifteen? Seems only last month they were round about the ten mark. What they’ve managed to do, though, is keep a very high quality threshold with each release – and this exceptional triple back from Will Saul is no exception. If you had Saul down as a DJ of slightly slower, atmospheric house and dubby breaks from the Simple stable then prepare to re-evaluate that idea, for in the course of four hours he passes through all manner of styles and rhythms. He covers a lot of ground on the first CD, starting off with some spaced-out, dub-influenced groove before Dolle Jolle, Daniel Wang and the Kerrier District up the ante. Likewise the second mix starts out in quite a chilled place, but this one stays deeper, the rhythms shifting about as we move through tracks such as the lush ‘Sous le Sable’ from Appleblim & Ramadanman, and Burial’s moody ‘Shell Of Light’. CD3 is a well crafted mixture of dub and soul that gradually mutates into faster house, the progression perfectly judged. A release that confirms Saul’s versatility and flexibility as a DJ, this particular ‘Balance’ is an outstanding set of mixes. Every home should have one.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Ben Hogwood
