Balance Presents: Do No Not Sleep

Balance Music proudly presents Do Not Sleep from UK hero, Darius Syrossian. Darius Syrossian has risen up the ranks of the house/techno scene since first emerging on the global stage in the '90s. Best known for his pumping house and techno stylings, Syrossian displays a full gamut of musical ethos across this engrossing two-part mix. Both halves are created using his no-frills setup of three CDJs, two Technics 1210s and a Pioneer mixer. Disc 1 is a live club recording showcasing his spontaneity in his natural environment. Disc 2 is a carefully constructed and prepared studio mix. Disc 1 was recorded live at The Bow in Buenos Aires, and is a master class in slow-building energy. Kicking off with jazzy cuts from Demarkus Lewis and Tim Deluxe, Syrossian's own Andranik picks things up with subtle tribal energy before the nagging synths of Dennis Ferrer's The Red Room. Grooving ensues via Apollonia and DJ T, trippy undertones amassing as Burnski's rolling Changes pushes towards an departure from Laurent Garnier's 303 classic Crispy Bacon. Syrossian's What You Say continues with wonky pitch-bent synths, before the funk-fueled rhythms from Ian Pooley and Matt Tolfrey & Heartthrob. Pacific State and Deetron's thumping Photon deliver an anthemic crescendo. Disc 2 delves into headier material with moodier, more atmospheric undertones. Francesco Tristano's piano mastery kicks things off, with Smokin' Jo and Two Armadillos getting the rhythm rolling before Syrossian delivers a triple-helping of new productions. The squelching synths and tense strings of Give It To Me recall classic acid, while the intricate percolations of Unicorn Zone recall vintage tech house and minimal funk. Layers of techno pressure build in the mix's machinistic mid-section, with Sleeper Thief pulling things back into a more stripped-back place. There are moody vocals from Kacob Korn & Break SL's You And Me featuring Tabitha Xaiver, and mystical tribal drama from Silicone Soul, leading into a Larry Heard classic. Syrossian enlists the help of Bwana and KiNK to reach the mix's climax. This is the sound of Darius Syrossian at his purest: a mean, lean DJ with an impressive arsenal of his own productions, flawless mixing and the experience needed to seamlessly weave together the DNA of house and techno music past, present and future. Also features: Bas Ibellini, Mar-T & Luca Donzelli, House Of Virus, Barber & Finn, Marc Faenger, Makam, Prompt & Onuba, Mr White (Chad White), DrDr and Jimpster.