Fundacion NYC

Amazon.com
Wax will always have its place of honor, but MIDI controllers, laptops and other forms of technical wizardry continue to inspire DJs throughout the land. In 2004, one of the world's most popular, Sasha, performed extended aural surgery on his Involver release, molding ten tracks into a softer, vaguely ambient, yet still lethally danceable mélange. But live, the studio tricks didn't translate with such panache. So he built his own tool, a box of circuits, knobs and processors he calls MAVEN, and took it for a test run on Fundacion. The result, ironically, will make you forget all about the fancy gadgetry, since that's not the side of the brain that involves motor function. More house-oriented and playful, this is Sasha's most overtly dance floor-oriented release since 1999's Ibiza. 17 tracks are thoroughly diced and sliced, served up hot with sides of e! lectro ("Electromagnetic") and driving pop (the album-ending one-two punch of Goldfrapp and M83, for instance). Say what you will about DJs without turntables, but no matter how innovative the means, the end goal remains the same: delirious crowds and late-night bliss. In a world where music has broken up into tiny digital pieces, astute artists like Sasha are only adapting. --Matthew Cooke

Amazon.com
Wax will always have its place of honor, but MIDI controllers, laptops and other forms of technical wizardry continue to inspire DJs throughout the land. In 2004, one of the world's most popular, Sasha, performed extended aural surgery on his Involver release, molding ten tracks into a softer, vaguely ambient, yet still lethally danceable mélange. But live, the studio tricks didn't translate with such panache. So he built his own tool, a box of circuits, knobs and processors he calls MAVEN, and took it for a test run on Fundacion. The result, ironically, will make you forget all about the fancy gadgetry, since that's not the side of the brain that involves motor function. More house-oriented and playful, this is Sasha's most overtly dance floor-oriented release since 1999's Ibiza. 17 tracks are thoroughly diced and sliced, served up hot with sides of e! lectro ("Electromagnetic") and driving pop (the album-ending one-two punch of Goldfrapp and M83, for instance). Say what you will about DJs without turntables, but no matter how innovative the means, the end goal remains the same: delirious crowds and late-night bliss. In a world where music has broken up into tiny digital pieces, astute artists like Sasha are only adapting. --Matthew Cooke

Fundacion NYC,Sasha,Fundacion,Dance,Dance Music,Pop,Progressive House,Progressive Trance

Average customer rating: Tepid, unpleasant, but beautifully mixed as only Sasha can Rise of the Machine Solid Mix Unbeleivable, he broke the mold...again. A change of pace, but not an unwelcome one

Fundacion NYC Sasha Manufacturer: Fundacion ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Trance | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music House | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Similar Items: Fabric 20 Global Underground: Shanghai Involver Global Underground: Miami In Search of Sunrise, Vol. 4: Latin America ASIN: B0007YXQ4G Release Date: 2005-06-21

Tracks:

1. Badger Rise Of The Machine
2. Adam Johnson Four Squares
3. Swayzak Another Way (Richard Davies Mix)
4. Beanfield Tides feat. Bajka (Cs Movement #1) (Carl Craig Remix)
5. Kosmas Epsilon Innocent Thoughts (Stel Remix)
6. Funk DVoid All That Matters
7. Closer Musik One, Two, Three (Ewan Pearson Remix)
8. Phonique 99 & A Half featuring Alexander East (I:Cube Remix)
9. Holden & Thompson Come To Me (Last Version)
10. Holden & Thompson Come To Me (Club Mix)
11. M.A.N.D.Y. Jah
12. Playgroup Behind The Wheel (DJ-Kicks Electroca$h Mix)
13. Freeform Five Electromagnetic (Tiefschwarz Dub)
14. Closer Musik One, Two, Three (Ewan Pearson Remix)
15. Andre Kraml Safari - (James Holden Remix)
16. Freaky Chakra Blacklight Fantasy
17. Goldfrapp Strict Machine (We Are Glitter Mix)
18. M83 Don't Save Us From The Flames (Superpitcher Remix)

Amazon.com

Wax will always have its place of honor, but MIDI controllers, laptops and other forms of technical wizardry continue to inspire DJs throughout the land. In 2004, one of the world's most popular, Sasha, performed extended aural surgery on his Involver release, molding ten tracks into a softer, vaguely ambient, yet still lethally danceable mélange. But live, the studio tricks didn't translate with such panache. So he built his own tool, a box of circuits, knobs and processors he calls MAVEN, and took it for a test run on Fundacion. The result, ironically, will make you forget all about the fancy gadgetry, since that's not the side of the brain that involves motor function. More house-oriented and playful, this is Sasha's most overtly dance floor-oriented release since 1999's Ibiza. 17 tracks are thoroughly diced and sliced, served up hot with sides of electro ("Electromagnetic") and driving pop (the album-ending one-two punch of Goldfrapp and M83, for instance). Say what you will about DJs without turntables, but no matter how innovative the means, the end goal remains the same: delirious crowds and late-night bliss. In a world where music has broken up into tiny digital pieces, astute artists like Sasha are only adapting. --Matthew Cooke

Album Description

2004 Grammy Award Nominee Sasha returns with the highly anticipated follow-up to the hottest and most critically acclaimed electronic music album of 2004: Involver. To be clear, the most exciting thing about this release is that this is not "Involver 2", the Involver concept is Sasha finding the space between artist, producer, and DJ. Fundacion on the other hand, is a whole new take on DJing. He's given up the turntables and CD players in exchange for a custom designed mixing setup that uses the Ableton "Live" software and a one of a kind controller that Sasha has dubbed "MAVEN" to create a never before heard kind of mixing.

To showcase this new technology and its sonic capablities, Sasha launched a bi-coastal residency (at New York's Crobar and Los Angeles's Avalon) with the closing party in New York being the launch party for the fruition of the entire endeavor: the Fundacion mix CD.

Fundacion will be the recorded version of what Sasha has been doing live at his residencies: effortless on-the-fly re-edits, mash ups, and flawless blends.

Customer Reviews:

Tepid, unpleasant, but beautifully mixed as only Sasha can.......2007-03-17

Ah well.
It had to happen sometime. The real tragedy of this mix is not the track selection which after ewan Pearson one, two, three is an absolute disaster by the way until the super pitcher mix of M83 moves in to save the day. It is not even the fact that this mix is a diffident, pallid version of the dark, moody, stunner that was Holden's Balance 005. The real tragedy is that this is Sasha at his technical pinnacle and with mixes like this and Avalon (which did have better tracks though) will be rexeperiencing the misunderstanding that has often shrouded his attempt at pushing the envelope. In the first case, airdrawndagger, he was completely underrated. In this case it has nothing to do with being ahead of the bell curve and what have you- It is simply a great mix that is boring and the paradoxical feeling it inspires in those familiar with Sasha's work will not be welcome. It is too complete... this tragedy. So complete, in fact that hints at Greek proportions. I am always open to new avenues but this mix is not new. The premise is not (Holden pulled this off brilliantly with his Fear of a silver planet compilation), and the execution relies to much on the talent of another (Holden again)

I really do wish that I could offer some more in depth analysis of this mix but that is part of the problem. It is like being under the influence; you realize it is almost not even worth the effort (which is a surprise since its Sasha). That is the problem wit this mix. It is not bad like an recent Oaky album or splendid like Fortier's Tranceamerica. It ranges from a mediocre to a boring listen after the first exhilarating twenty minutes.

Not recommended for those trying out Sasha for the first time. Not recommended at all. The only mix that I can think of that even comes to being this overrated is Zabiela's Utilities.

At least we have Nick Warren. Can't wait to hear Paris man. Since Reykjavik you've kept us perpetually on our toes man. Thank you.

Rise of the Machine.......2006-11-25

Sasha has released a string of mixes since 2000. First the "long-waited" release of Airdrawndagger, next Grammy award-winning Involver, and the technological advanced Fundacion NYC. Sasha abandons his turntables and CDJs for a laptop, his mixer "the maven" and Ableton software to mix live. You either hate it or you love it. I enjoy it except it becomes somewhat dull towards the end. Fundacion NYC is electro-clash plus tech-edge house blended together smoothly. Ableton Live allows Sasha to edit on-the-fly, layer sounds, and create mash-ups. Throughout this mix, Sasha carries elements of one track into the next track creating some cool soundscapes and formulating the cd to sound like one continuous track. I thought the first half of his track selection was really good and the second half begin to die out. It loses its stamina. Would I buy this again? Yes I would. I admire Sasha for his ability to adapt with technological changes and progress artistically. I think his next release will be even better, this is just the beginning.

Solid Mix.......2006-08-08

This is such a mellow set it is almost unbeatable. If it wasn't for Involver to bust along with Talk Amongst Yourselves, this would be the best Sasha mix. This has a great remix of Little 15 by Depeche Mode, called Behind the Wheel. Two of the songs are the same, which I just noticed on the back of the cd case, replays Closer Musik- one, two, three...This is a slow mellow set that couldn't be redone, even by Sasha Live at Hollywood, which is another good mellow set by one of the best dj's. The best track in my opinion is Holden and Thompson - Come to Me.

Unbeleivable, he broke the mold...again........2006-07-22

Sasha deserves an award for trying something brave and new and ignoring his fans complaints of less prog house. The mix showcases a range of genres, and it only grows and opens up beautifully. Sure, some moments are so out there we get lost, but that's the beauty of this mix. Sasha simply blends and layers and forgets what is labeled and goes for the sound. When things get techy, they do so smoothly, and overall an experience is created. This is the first step in a new direction, and so far everyone has followed in his tracks. So for those who say these tracks are dull, well I'm sure there's time to develope good taste sooner or later.

This CD goes from lightly gorgeuous to upbeat to brooding and dark, and on even further into straight up grimey electroclash. Sasha smirks and throws another blinder at us. Appreciate it, now.

A change of pace, but not an unwelcome one.......2006-06-26

Sasha's FUNDACION mix was released in 2005 to showcase some of the sounds characteristic of his eponymous recent club night in New York City. As many have commented, it departs widely from his earlier work, but I found it quite satisfying.

First some background on your reviewer. I stopped listening to progressive dance music several years ago when, feeling a little tired of the club scene and looking for music more unpredictable and rich, I started listening to post-war classical music such as Boulez, Gubaidulina, Lindberg, and so forth. Only recently have I started catching up with the old dance scene, and see that various stylistic changes have occured which suggest that many DJs are growing older just like myself. The shift to electro suggests an interest in something more cerebral instead of youthful emotion, and now that I look back, the shift to progressive around 1999 can be seen in much the same light. If you are still feeling youthful enough to dig a sweaty, energetic dancefloor-oriented style, there are other DJs you're bound to like at the moment, and that probably explains the mixed reviews of the album. For those like me, however--and I can't imagine that I'm alone in my tastes--there's a real need for something radically new within the dance music scene.

So here Sasha presents us with a new series of tunes compiled entirely with his MAVEN computer system, at the heart of which is the Ableton Live music sequencer software. "Series" isn't quite an appropriate word, because this technology allows him to explore a "vertical" dimension of sound in addition to the "horizontal" flow of the mix. Several tracks can be heard at once with the system, and some tracks are rearranged. The general soundworld is that of electro and Swayzak-like tech house, but there are references to pop (especially toward the end) and allusions to the trance of the first NORTHERN EXPOSURE compilation. While there's a 4/4 beat and a bass drum and a hi-hat to make this fit into the house style, clearly considering the music with the mind is just as important as dancing. I'm not sure how much I can talk about individual portions of the music, since the layering of tracks with MAVEN, but especially fascinating moments are Swayzak's "Another Way (Richard Davies mix)", and the melange of sounds before Holden & Thompson's "Come To Me" and that track itself (in the form of two different remixes).

While this is all a pleasant surprise, FUNDACION does have a few weak points. MAVEN is a new technology, and Sasha clearly hasn't become entirely used to it yet. I can imagine a true comfort with it coming in future mixes. My second complaint concerns the packaging: there's not really any commentary here. It would have been nice to at least get some comments about the new technology here, as well as a graphical representation of the album's flow, showing what tracks are in the mix at any given minute. The CD is divided into 18 tracks, but trackpoints are fairly meaningless when so much is going on. But in spite of the album's imperfect nature, it shows that Sasha continues to push the envelope of dance music when some have given in to 1980s early-house nostalgia (Sander Kleinenberg, Danny Howells) or are just doing the same thing they've been doing without end for the last few years (Tiesto and that whole rotten trance bunch). I want to hear more of this MAVEN-inspired work, and am glad that I can come back to dance music without feeling like I've taken a step down from any other musical style.

Average customer rating: Almost Like the Old Days ZRODN A change of pace, but not an unwelcome one the tracks are the dullest I LOVE Sasha. But this CD is terrible.

Fundacion NYC Sasha Manufacturer: Fundacion ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Trance | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music House | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Similar Items: Fabric 20 Global Underground: Miami The Politics of Dancing, Vol. 2 Airdrawndagger Involver ASIN: B0007YXQ3M Release Date: 2005-06-21

Tracks:

1. Badger Rise Of The Machine
2. Adam Johnson Four Squares
3. Swayzak Another Way (Richard Davies Mix)
4. Beanfield Tides feat. Bajka (Cs Movement #1) (Carl Craig Remix)
5. Kosmas Epsilon Innocent Thoughts (Stel Remix)
6. Funk DVoid All That Matters
7. Closer Musik One, Two, Three (Ewan Pearson Remix)
8. Phonique 99 & A Half featuring Alexander East (I:Cube Remix)
9. Holden & Thompson Come To Me (Last Version)
10. Holden & Thompson Come To Me (Club Mix)
11. M.A.N.D.Y. Jah
12. Playgroup Behind The Wheel (DJ-Kicks Electroca$h Mix)
13. Freeform Five Electromagnetic (Tiefschwarz Dub)
14. Closer Musik One, Two, Three (Ewan Pearson Remix)
15. Andre Kraml Safari - (James Holden Remix)
16. Freaky Chakra Blacklight Fantasy
17. Goldfrapp Strict Machine (We Are Glitter Mix)
18. M83 Don't Save Us From The Flames (Superpitcher Remix)

Amazon.com

Wax will always have its place of honor, but MIDI controllers, laptops and other forms of technical wizardry continue to inspire DJs throughout the land. In 2004, one of the world's most popular, Sasha, performed extended aural surgery on his Involver release, molding ten tracks into a softer, vaguely ambient, yet still lethally danceable mélange. But live, the studio tricks didn't translate with such panache. So he built his own tool, a box of circuits, knobs and processors he calls MAVEN, and took it for a test run on Fundacion. The result, ironically, will make you forget all about the fancy gadgetry, since that's not the side of the brain that involves motor function. More house-oriented and playful, this is Sasha's most overtly dance floor-oriented release since 1999's Ibiza. 17 tracks are thoroughly diced and sliced, served up hot with sides of e! lectro ("Electromagnetic") and driving pop (the album-ending one-two punch of Goldfrapp and M83, for instance). Say what you will about DJs without turntables, but no matter how innovative the means, the end goal remains the same: delirious crowds and late-night bliss. In a world where music has broken up into tiny digital pieces, astute artists like Sasha are only adapting. --Matthew Cooke

Customer Reviews:

Almost Like the Old Days.......2006-12-07

If you're a fan of San Francisco and Ibiza, but have been (though not entirely) dissapointed and disaffected ever since, read on.

Fundacion NYC, while not the masterpiece of the two Global Underground albums, is a bona fide return to the Sasha of old. The hint for you should have been the various reviewer comments about "great mixing" but "bland" and "boring" tracks. This is clearly a return to the old Sasha, who could work in a 14-year-old's birthday party track by somebody like D.J. Sankin and Friends into a seemless wonder of sound.

And, for the record, he does center the mix around one of James Holden's beauties, "Come To Me." I was particularly struck by the wondering, percussive few minutes before the Holden tune, which reminded me somewhat of track selection on GU009 disk 2, when the hat-dropper "The Chain" by Breeder is introduced by the foreboding percussion of Mana's "Psionic."

It was encouraging for me to pick this album up. I'm glad to see Sasha returning to what he does best. Alas, if only we could put Breeder back together again...

ZRODN.......2006-10-25

The cd cover is cool and the statements inside are worthy of praise however the sound the music the mix is totally different from what i usually hear from this artist. more like a slow elevator house techno jazzy theme i mean lets start a new genre dont get me wrong it might sell to a different crowd mostly those in europe go for slow off-tone off beat off sync musical sounds like green acres but ten steps up with slow bpm's or maybe barbra streisand fans or 60's or 70's christian rock or a whole new musical database of fans that i dont know exist but i mean throw the maven away or use it for its glory and if those workers around you who hepled you make this cd dont give you loot i would fire them and tell them what they can do with this new musical format i mean its that bad but not.

A change of pace, but not an unwelcome one.......2006-06-26

Sasha's FUNDACION mix was released to showcase some of the sounds characteristic of his eponymous recent club night in New York City. As many have commented, it departs widely from his earlier work, but I found it quite satisfying.

First some background on your reviewer. I stopped listening to progressive dance music several years ago when, feeling a little tired of the club scene and looking for music more unpredictable and rich, I started listening to post-war classical music such as Boulez, Gubaidulina, Lindberg, and so forth. Only recently have I started catching up with the old dance scene, and see that various stylistic changes have occured which suggest that many DJs are growing older just like myself. The shift to electro suggests an interest in something more cerebral instead of youthful emotion, and now that I look back, the shift to progressive around 1999 can be seen in much the same light. If you are still feeling youthful enough to dig a sweaty, energetic dancefloor-oriented style, there are other DJs you're bound to like at the moment, and that probably explains the mixed reviews of the album. For those like me, however--and I can't imagine that I'm alone in my tastes--there's a real need for something radically new within the dance music scene.

So here Sasha presents us with a new series of tunes compiled entirely with his MAVEN computer system, at the heart of which is the Ableton Live music sequencer software. "Series" isn't quite an appropriate word, because this technology allows him to explore a "vertical" dimension of sound in addition to the "horizontal" flow of the mix. Several tracks can be heard at once with the system, and some tracks are rearranged. The general soundworld is that of electro and Swayzak-like tech house, but there are references to pop (especially toward the end) and allusions to the trance of the first NORTHERN EXPOSURE compilation. While there's a 4/4 beat and a bass drum and a hi-hat to make this fit into the house style, clearly considering the music with the mind is just as important as dancing. I'm not sure how much I can talk about individual portions of the music, since the layering of tracks with MAVEN, but especially fascinating moments are Swayzak's "Another Way (Richard Davies mix)", and the melange of sounds before Holden & Thompson's "Come To Me" and that track itself (in the form of two different remixes).

While this is all a pleasant surprise, FUNDACION does have a few weak points. MAVEN is a new technology, and Sasha clearly hasn't become entirely used to it yet. I can imagine a true comfort with it coming in future mixes. My second complaint concerns the packaging: there's not really any commentary here. It would have been nice to at least get some comments about the new technology here, as well as a graphical representation of the album's flow, showing what tracks are in the mix at any given minute. The CD is divided into 18 tracks, but trackpoints are fairly meaningless when so much is going on. But in spite of the album's imperfect nature, it shows that Sasha continues to push the envelope of dance music when some have given in to 1980s early-house nostalgia (Sander Kleinenberg, Danny Howells) or are just doing the same thing they've been doing without end for the last few years (Tiesto and that whole rotten trance bunch). I want to hear more of this MAVEN-inspired work, and am glad that I can come back to dance music without feeling like I've taken a step down from any other musical style.

the tracks are the dullest.......2006-05-19

was extremely excited for this to come out following involver, which i still can't get enough of. this CD is dull from front to back. total rubbish. all of it. especially the cheesy intro w/ the robot gal talking about sasha's athleteism and competitive spirit. please. I've been really digging nick warren shanghai and james holden 'at the controls'

I LOVE Sasha. But this CD is terrible........2006-05-18

I loved Ibiza. I loved San Francisco. I LOVE Airdrawndagger -- consider it one of the best CDs ever. Involver is great.

Fundacion ... words do not describe how awful it is. If I had to sum up my feeling for this CD, the word that immediately comes to mind is "slimy."

My deep abiding love for Sasha has driven me to listen to this CD about 4 times, but I have not managed to force myself all the way to the end. Maybe I'm missing out -- maybe the last track is one of the best of all time. I can't make it that far. Alternating between dull and gratingly dull, this CD explores new depths of yuck.

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