Response: Mixed By Ashley Casselle

Apparently Ashley Casselle, half of production team Ashtrax and mixer of the excellent set Deviations in 2001, re-edited and thoroughly jiggered around with the two dozen tunes used for this Automatic Records double album. What's more pleasing to see, and a rarity of sorts, is a label compilation that isn't reaching to fill space. There's no extra dub versions, alternate remixes, or acapellas in here to rack the song tally higher. The results? Quite tasty for those wanting well-crafted rhythm tracks and melodic (if darker) progressive house cuts. Hour one keeps it mid-tempo, accentuating beat changes and dynamic flourishes to stay well above the identi-kit progressive plod line. The variety of tones and depth within these mostly unreleased instrumentals are effortlessly engaging, impressive considering that all the listed artists are about five people under aliases. Nods go to Filter Tip's "In Season," and Allen & Healey's "Buzzing." Disc two proves just as stellar, though more reliant on older work. Electric Tease/16B and Quirk/Brancaccio & Aisher drop Digweed-favored funky tunes, while Cass and Slide offer a slew of tested trance hits. Ashtrax's ambient rework of "First" ends the set on a refreshing note. Technically Response came out last December, traditionally a musical slow point for the industry, hence not a lot of fervor has come of this. So let's just move forward, and call this the first essential pick up for 2002. 4.5 stars