Haven't heard of Christian Smith yet? Well, it's time to get well acquainted with one of techno's rising stars. This is his first mix CD, released on his own 'Tronic' label. He throws down 28 tracks with fierce energy, cutting and scratching at a rapid-fire pace, to create a seamless seventy minute mix. Oh, and this is done live, across three decks, in Melbourne, Australia. It's completely unedited, of course, as it should be. This is techno, done Christian Smith's way.
He takes an aggressive approach to the turntables, and his technique is rock solid. This mix is full on and very in-yer-face. He thunders through the tracks, pulling out the peaks in each record, and searing them together. It's the relentless energy here that's so amazing. It's fast and furious, yet in never disintegrates into that dull, head whacking, "thud-thud-thud" that many so-called techno mixes are guilty of.
Instead, Christian's mix inspires and uplifts, cleverly using vocal tracks set against deep house, then moving into tough tribal, percussive-led rhythms. Basslines ride through tech-house territory and charge into electro funk. The choice of music is right on the mark. It's hard and chunky, yet very melodic. Everything's there from the easy funk grooves of Gaetano Parisio's 'The Preface', through Trevor Rockcliffe and Blake Baxter's lush, atmospheric 'Visions Of You', on into several of Christian's firing collaborations with John Selway.
The focus is constantly shifting. The bassline drives tougher stalwarts like Chester Beatty's 'Levanon' and Adam Beyer's galloping 'Remainings III' , which both shine in this mix. Tracks like Samuel Session's 'You Make Me Shiver' roll around a percussive groove.
Vocal samples come jumping out, then everything goes electro. Nothing's too predictable here, and that keeps it all exciting.
'Tronic Treatment' is an impressive debut mix. Sleeve notes from Carl Cox and Richie Hawtin praise Christian's sound, energy, and "superb mixing technique." The talent displayed here is quite obvious. Soon Christian Smith's name will be just as well known.
