Hernan Cattaneo - Renaissance The Masters Series

Another dual CD DJ mix release from the venerable label Renaissance. Since the '90's the club/label has released some of my favorite DJ mix CDs (Think Sasha and Digweed's first 3 disc compilation in '94). This time on the decks, or should I say, on the Pro Tools is Argentine Hemán Cattáneo. True to the Renaissance Label, this is a smooth progressive outing that I've grown increasingly fond of in the last few weeks. I believe that this set of discs is up to the high quality standards that most Renaissance releases have maintained over the years.

CD1 is, in my opinion, the superior of the two discs, starting out with a rather gentle opening from Darko, the subtle and smooth “Ayahuaska”, an excellent segue to Richard Davie “In the Air”. I don't know who the vocalist on this track is, but her repeated “Come with me” is a perfect invitation by the DJ to join him on a trip. Binding all of the tracks together, Hemán Cattáneo never fails to mix flawlessly slowly building the energy with an ever present driving bass line. Overall, this is an excellent disc that is never overpowering and intrusive, but if you lend it your ear for a few minutes, I doubt it will let you go.