German duo M.A.N.D.Y from the Get Physical stable follows James Holden in contining the “At The Controls” mix series, providing a 2 cd mix covering a wide spectrum of electronic dance music. With James setting the bar high, M.A.N.D.Y have a tough act to follow. With many options they need to consider. Do they mix something very leftfield and eclectic? Do they do the club experience? Do they make it a sit down and listen experience? James Holden went for the eclectic, sit down and listen approach. With this release M.AN.D.Y go for the club experience on CD1 with eclectic sit down and listen on CD2.
CD1 starts off mellow but with that typical Get Physical groove which is minimal in style but very musical. Djuma Soundsystem’s massive track Les Djinns making its first of two appearances on this CD is a perfect example of that Get Physical sound. Things pick up pace with classic track Collage by Spain’s Alex Under adding to the techno influence. CD1 shows off M.A.N.D.Y’s ability to craft club sets to suit different times of the night, moving easily from warm up to peak time to the more tripped out 9am affair taking in a little bit of Chicago along the way with Stacey Pullen’s mix of Catatonic by Kenny Larkin. Other highlights on CD1 include Matthew Jonson’s Sub Atomic on Underline and the Jennifer Cardini & Shonky’s excellent eerie, trippy remix of Mile Caro & Franck Garcia’s Far Away.
CD2 begins like a Back To Mine CD with an interesting Bond/Goldfinger-esque start, followed by some down tempo folk influenced electronica. Its all a bit bizarre in comparison to CD1. Things start getting back into familiar territory as Claude Von Stroke Who’s Afraid of Detroit bubbles in and sets off a flow of dark and moody tracks from the likes of Villalobos and Scsi-9 which slowly build in to Ruede Hagelstein’s mix of Chikinki’s Assassinator 13. The second CD has taken its time to burrow under my skin, but like Holden’s “At The Controls” attempt, its one of those that just grow and grows until you can put it down. This CD just works, with a great pulsating groove throughout and is perfect for those after hour sessions where you just don’t know where you are and have spent the last few hours intrigued by your own hands….
9/10
UK Tour Dates:
13.10 – Sankeys, Manchester (GB)
14.10 – Fabric, London (GB)
