Paris

While I don't consider Paris as dance music's (or GU's) ultimate masterpiece, and with my feet firm on not being a Nick Warren fanboy, I don't think this album deserves all the negative feedback it has received on this site. And this is where the real issue is, I'm afraid, at least in my opinion.More and more Amazon reviews are hasty imdb-style reviews where people blame artists and cds for not being what they expected them to be. You can spot more of this attitude on Radio 1's Essential Mix guestbook. Eclectic mixes are discarded as "chill-out", prog is so bad-mouthed and so out of fashion nowadays that any reference to it marks you as stuffy and old. Maybe you're looking for the wrong things in the wrong places, people. Many comments are also completely out of contest, musically and historically, as if reviewers just stopped by, had a quick listen and felt pressured to write down their thoughts. There is no perspective and no critical sense anymore (thanks, in part, to the musical press, now collectively NME-ized).That said, Paris IS a controversial choice for Warren and Global Underground (most of the same comments were made about James Lavelle's mixes and Warren's Reykjavik anyway). But this is no Cafe Del Mar or Winter Chill. Enough with the story of GU having jumped the shark. They try something different, and people complain. They select Pole Folder and 16 Bit Lolitas and it's more of same.

Another wonderfully crafted set by the master that is Nick Warren. CD1 Downtempo, yet full of joy, gracefully building into the beautifull uptempo tones of CD2. If you like GU 24 Reykjavik you will love this album too. A brilliant work of art 6 years old and still just as fresh, and a must have for any Nick Warren GU/ Renaiisance fan.

Nick Warren never fails to bring the best to this release label - others don't seem to have a clue what they're doing or have a grasp of what GU is all about!

Absolutely stunning piece. The first disc is one of my favourite mixes ever. At first listen it is amazing although very different to what we have come to expect from the GU stables. On continued listening I have found this disc to be addictive. It introduced me (an avid listener of the genre) to a completely new avenue of complex, laid-back and intricately produced music. Nick really shows his talent as an exceptional set builder in both terms of tune selection, mixing ability and journey plotting. I have all of Nick's cd's and was fortunate enough to see him play throughout the late nineties & onwards. This is without doubt his finest composition. Do not think twice about buying this, it will appeal to anyone! A great listen for newcomers and a fascinating education for fans.

I do understand the point made by some of the other reviewers in reference to "How does this compare to Nick Warren's other Global Underground releases"?In defence of the guy, a DJ's job is to intuitively understand what the prevailing fashion is/what the punters are into or open minded to accept, and what are the top tunes around at the moment. So each set should always be a progression of sorts (who wants to hear "Now that's what I call banging house volume 234!" etc), but staying true to the basic skills that we all know and love....and to me Nick Warren does this. Some, like me will prefer Rejkyavik, a true bolt of unique inspiration, others some of his more uplifting trancey stuff (a la Way Out West, GU Budapest etc).Paris caters to all, and to that extent could be seen as a safe bet. It is also, as other reviewers have said, more of a sunset to midnight kinda set...the sort playing as you arrive at a club or for that matter a field at Glastonbury. Very melodic, some tunes make the hairs stand up others make you start gurning and waving a hand/arm around (warning: you look like a wally doing this stuck at traffic lights!)...few make you actually want to dance but all are very "Nick Warren".In summary, if you are into his stuff (and feel he has proved to be the most consistent GU performer) then this is a great edition to his canon/your collection.

After the rather disappointing Lima mix, I wasn't sure what to expect with this one. I've got most of the big GU releases up to GU20 and have found some of the newer releases a bit dull. I've also got all of the Nick Warren mixes, liking some a lot more than others.I rate both the mixes here as really decent, tuneful proggy dance with a bit of an ambient tinge. There are several really beautfiul, trippy tracks that make it worth if for me. Tripswitch - Roll your own, Blue Foundation - Sweep (Mikkel Metal Vox Reshape) for example. They're all on youtube for a preview.

Nick Warren has always been 'there' and making great music, making mix albums but its always been Sasha in the limelight for understandable reasons. Nick's mixing on this is first class, no question. Being a DJ myself, track selection is quite possibly the hardest thing to get right. knowing what should go into the next etc.Nick does this on both cd's with blatant amounts of skill.CD1 for me is just the most wonderful journey through Ambient melodic and at times down right emotional electronic music, which echoes the flawless Northern Exposure series by S&D.Track 2 Tripswitch's Strange Parallels can reduce you to tears. but then he brings you out of the melon collie and into sat on a beach watching the sunset. Lush.CD2, as expected picks up the pace. This is what I remember Nick Warren for 'back in the day'. The big trance buzz around the late nineties has fizzled out but Nick never followed one specific path. He in my opinion just plays great music that he loves, and thats what its all about. Its intelligent driving prog house if I have to pigeon hole it.Over all I seriously recommend this CD. The music is absolutely fantastic with some excellent production and programming. Emotional, tripped out, driving.... the lot.I take my hat off to Nick Warren and those at GU for still producing albums which aren't full of twaddle. Still pushing new music forward thats isn't mega commercial. There is soooo much good music out there as this album will show. Well done.