The Spanish electronic producer brings a unique formula to the esteemed mix series with an exciting conceptualized approach. Bucking the trend of that of a traditional mix compilation, Saiz has approached the project differently and has produced an album that aligns itself with the creative space of an artist concept album, but still retaining the formatting of a DJ mix.
Through giving Henry complete creative control of the albums musical development, the label has allowed him 12 months to fine-tune the release in a number of ways. Notably, rather than compiling a selection of tracks from a range of producers, Saiz uses the release to showcase a plethora of new productions under his various aliases. As such Saiz has full control over not just the arrangement of tracks, but also the content of the majority of the productions, with every track written, remixed or edited with the flow of the album in mind. This achieves the goal of creating a unique experience that takes the listener on a true odyssey in sound.
CD1 explores how music has the power to contain and store personal emotional experiences. This is the characteristic that Henry loves most about music, that ‘evocative power to send you back to your childhood or to a specific moment of your life’. In order to create that evocative and psychedelic atmosphere, this CD has an elaborated crafted lo-fi sound through the use of varying analogue formats such as cassette or vinyl. Saiz expertly harnesses his intricate knowledge of sound through the use of a multitude of layers, sampling, edits and the use of lot of vocals to create a melodic and intense experience that attempts to connect with memories and complex emotions.
Following the same concept, but offering up a balance is CD2, which is more geared towards the dance-floor. As ever, the track selection is eclectic in its outlook, but has a definite tech-house feel that is tinged with the influence of House, melodic Techno, Disco and Detroit alongside the plethora of styles Saiz uses for his musical motivation.
Adding to the experience is the fact that Henry has chosen to use only unreleased productions and exclusive collaborations with other artists. So there are plenty of rare inclusions on the track-list that make for a completely fresh listening experience.
View Video Trailer here: http://www.vimeo.com/22346378?ab
Notable highlights are Saiz’s own new downtempo version of ‘Lady in the Mirror’ and new tracks from him like ‘Eterno Retorno’, which effortlessly fuses the past and present. Exclusively made for this are collaborations with Marc Marzenit, Dosem and Pional. New tracks like ‘Together’ by Border Community’s Ricardo Tobar and Petar Dundov aka Solar Sailor’s ‘Horizons’ revisit Henry’s musical journey with their distinctive progressive and futuristic sound.
Additionally Henry’s new moniker ‘Hal Incandenza’ is featured here for the first time and offers up some amazing productions in the form of ‘Little Mountains’ and also ‘Mystical Tree’.
Following the precedence set by previous featuring artists such as James Holden, Agoria and Joris Voorn, Balance 019 is another truly breathtaking outing from one of electronic music’s gifted proponents, and fully lives up to the forward-thinking expectations of the seminal mix series.
BALANCE CD 1
01. Intro - Taped memories, voice notes, still moments, through an old radio in a ghostly artificial paradise
02. Tyrane "King of the Invisible Land" (Henry Saiz’s We are the Music Makers 303 remix)
03. Hal Incandenza "Mystical Tree"
04. Henry Saiz “1981”
05. Jesse Somfay & Henry Saiz "Honey Wine"
06. Hal Incandenza “Little Mountains” (Henry Saiz High-End Re-work)
07. Spada "Onice"
08. Henry Saiz "Lady in the Mirror" (Mediterranean Haunted Beach Version)
09. Cora Novoa & Spaceman "Black Heart" (Henry Saiz’s 95 Cassette Rework)
10. Kitkaliito "Letting go" (Henry Saiz RnB Added Version)
11. Esperanza "Ink"
12. Henry Saiz "Eterno Retorno" (90's Acid Trance version)
13. Interlude
14. Pional & Henry Saiz "Uroboros”
BALANCE CD 2
01. Calypso Synth Ensemble “Gaia”
02. Armed "Caminando Sobre la Superficie del Sol"
03. Henry Saiz "Vargtimmen"
04. Eelke Kleijn "Lone Ranger” (Henry Saiz Ocean Drive Remix)
05. Mono Electric Orchestra “Indifference” (Henry Saiz Queztalli Rework)
06. Charles Gudagafva "Tango Hej DåĚŠ"
07. Spada & Henry Saiz “Gloom”
08. Dosem & Henry Saiz “Zen Boat”
09. Ricardo Tobar “Together”
10. AMyn “Elle” (Henry Saiz Balance Edit)
11. Solar Sailor “Horizons”
12. Marc Marzenit & Henry Saiz “Radiance” (Balance Version)
13. Liz Cirelli & Minski “Trip of the Dolphin”
14. Okain “Thank You, Come Again” (Live Version)
15. Simon Garcia “If This World Were Dub”
16. Henry Saiz feat. Anneke van Giersbergen “Come Wander With Me”
17. Sistema “Nodo 6” (Henry Saiz Balance Rework)
