Steve Lawler

I own over 2000 cd's and this is one of the suckiest mixes I've heard. This guy is great livebut his cd releases ddo not do him any justice.

But I'll get to the point. It kinda sucks. May not tell you much about the the specific tracks and the moods it creates, or the subtleties of emotion, but hopefully is conveys the essence of what I think of the CD and the selection of music. so if you have $18 to waste and just need to have every possible selection in your collection, then its a must have otherwise....not.

Viva Toronto had many requests and was expected to be a good album having many reviews. I was one of many fans to request it. Sure enough, it did get good reviews. I heard both discs in one day and loved this in no time flat. My friend John was loving the new Alex Dolby album, but told him if that was anything, wait until he hears Viva Toronto because that kicked my butt!

The first disc is liked mellowed back keeping it simple and the introduction doesn't have Steve lawler in it, but is like being at the airport. Music with spanish people in the background immediately kicks in with a beat rising up out of no where. You here samples of a soundscape throughout the entire album that keeps grabbing at my ear. The first disc is laid back, but a lot more organized than Viva London was.

It was really the 2nd disc that got my attention and in a lot of ways, reminds me of some of Deep Dish's Global Underground releases, exspecially because of the sound. Evp Echoes and Symphony for the Apocalypse are good examples of this. The sound is bigger and does nothing but keep my ear stuck to it like it is deformed.

Outstanding soundscape and outstanding music. This is a good disc, exspecially for the 2nd disc. If I were in your shoes, I would just take it. Doctor recommended!!

This is an interesting period for this genre. For the last 2-3 years many dj's have spun a wide array of minimalistic electronica in the search for the pulse of house music and perhaps blaze a path forward that is unique and interesting while reflecting their own style. Steve Lawler in his last few albums has experimented along these lines, moving from what is best understood to be tribal house to a nostalgic neo-tech-house that is true to the recesses of a dark and sublimanal place where we depart from our day-selves.

The tracks on this set reflect a signature Lawler sound which is best indicated in the way he handles space, a consistent rate of peaks embeded across tracks. across albums.

This is not atmospheric music, it is intense...seductive and the power behind it is best described as magnetic. The journey takes you from a chaotic pass through an airport and then as you settle in, ever inward until there is no sense of time.

As always, the quality of recording is outstanding. The engineering second-to-none, selection of tracks inspired, In summary? State of the art.

Steve Lawler's Viva: Toronto embraces a sentiment that John Digweed once expressed about minimal electronic music - That is, that good minimal techno contains as much relative importance in the audible sound as it does in the absence of sound. Despite the wise sentiment, it was hard for me to be bought immediately by Lawler's minimal prominence. Viva: London was a decent enough disc, but hardly a frontrunner in its category. Viva: Toronto is altogether a similar concept, mastering the devilish attitude that accompanies darkened rooms, seedy nightclubs and unfamiliar faces. However similar the genre is to its predecessor, Toronto is altogether better than London (we're talking about the discs, here!).

Disc One ("Inside") embraces colorful, mucky and gritty minimal-tech. Like wind rushing between city buildings, the sound on this disc carries more force than it cares to show. Despite its near-phantomlike presence, I found myself bouncing around to the music as I had a listen. I argue that this type of musical incongruity sometimes makes for a better listening experience, and reminds me of the M_nus label afterhours party I attended in Detroit after D.E.M.F.'s second day. Astonishingly fresh minimal that can actually be danced to is refreshing, and now that I have come to terms with the fact that the prior king of grimy tribal has moved on to other territories, the Lawler watermark continues to cast a veritable shadow over a new genre of 4 A.M. clubbing madness. Less mad than disc two, "Inside" shows a clear progression in Lawler's new path as a class DJ. Highlights include "Give It A Go," "Loosey Goosey (Reboot Rework)," "Ramper (Patrick Zigon Remix)" and "Grains (TG Remix)."

The second disc, "Outside," feels like anything in the world other than a romp around the dewy fields of electronica the title suggests. "Outside" takes minimal to places where sunlight is merely a concept, never a reality. In short, the type of place Steve Lawler has been dominating since the beginning. "Outside" unleashes a wave of exceptional new releases; echoic and murky sounds rhythmically drip and trickle into place like water from ceiling pipes in a cellar. Miss Fritz' passive "Drifting On" segues into the stellar and demonic tone of Nivek Tsoy's "Time and Space." Most of Lawler's selections are dissimilar pieces of music taken alone. For me, they combine to form a descending staircase leading to all sorts of delightfully clandestine activites: masquerades, liquor and sweat. To follow the second disc's progression is to witness, in an entirely different realm of EDM, that which Lawler became famous for in the tribal and progressive house circuits. Other tracks worth mentioning (though all are fantastic) are "Diskotecktonik," "Cambio," "Symphony for the Apocalypse," "Perception" and "The Astropop Shop."

Viva: Toronto clearly outclasses both its "Viva" predecessors. With choice electronic cuts in all directions, I found that it was truly difficult for these discs to lose my attention. Lawler puts all the meat on one bone and emerges with a strong, energetic and intriguing compilation album. Leave it to Lawler to take minimal under his covert wing and make it appealing!

~ Lex / JW (iBeats)

I had high hopes for this CD set given the high regard I have for Digweed's two-CD Bedrock compilation. This collection did not provide the dark, brooding mixes that I had hoped for. There are a couple of catchy tracks, but unfortunately this CD will likely begin gathering dust much sooner than I had hoped.

Note: The tracks on these CDs are standalone tracks, not meshed into a continuous mix, FYI.

K well first off, I'm not the biggest Austin Leeds fan out there. I first heard a few of his tracks on the Digweed&Sasha 'Communicate' CD and I really didn't care for his tracks. So it saddens me to see Austin Leeds dominate the track listing here. All in all, the rest of the CD is good. I luv Steve Lawler and find his music reaches me. The other selected Artists are good too. And the remix of Heaven Scent is a classic as well. This compilation would have received more marks if the artist selection was more varied and also had more rare or unreleased material on here. Finally it would be nice to see John Digweed release an Artist CD as well. Oakenfold and Sasha both have there's, lets see Digweed give it a try!!

The ultra-trendy progressive house label Bedrock (founded by John Digweed) released FOUNDATIONS in 2000. This two CD collection brings together many unreleased remixes of tracks features on the label, and it's a interesting release both for DJs who want to get their hands on tracks not found anywhere else and for fans of progressive who just want to hear more of their favourite producers.

FOUNDATIONS opens with Bedrock - "Heaven Scent (John Johnson Mix)". It's a great mix, even though "Heaven Scent" in all its forms has been played out since its appearance in 1999, this is one of this collection's more captivating tracks. The two remixes of Science Dept. tracks, "Repercussion (Funk Function's Future Mix)" and "Persuasion (Dominica Mix)" are slow, hypnotic songs that would be easy to build a set up with. Van M & Leeds - "More (Austin's Unreleased Mix)" is an idiosyncratic mix that regrettably sounds too dated for use today. Ditto for the two Moonface tracks here; "Futurised Fears" and "Overactive" were key tracks in the progressive house scene of two years ago, but now could be attacked as bog-standard progressive fodder. Disc 1 closes with Bedrock - "Voices", which is a track that I think has gotten better with age.

The second disc of FOUNDATIONS is a bit more anthemic. It opens with Mainline - "Narcotic." Featured one Sasha and John Digweed's COMMUNICATION collaboration, this deep and organic track is so subtle that it may only work as an opening to a set, but it's fantastic nonetheless. Austin Leeds - "Force 51" is an incredible track, featuring a slow buildup to chugging synths that still refrains from being cheesy, and it is perhaps the best track on FOUNDATIONS. Leed's other track, "Moondriver", is a less anthemic track that moves along just fine. The fourth track, Steve Lawler - "Rise 'In (Nalin & Kane Vocal Mix") is the low point of this collection, as the atrocious vocals ruin what is instrumentally a solid track. Happily, FOUNDATIONS swiftly recovers with Saints & Sinners - "Pushin Too Hard (Futureshock's Confession)", an excellent remix that keeps all the catchiness of the original but is full of added surprises. Alchemy - "Bruiser (Evolution Mix)" is a wispy, ambient remix like much of Evolution's work, but with its odd tempo jumps does something new. Revolt - "Moonlit (Room Drumland Mix)" is one of Revolt's most disappointing tracks, but a DJ might find room for it at the end of a set.

If you are just the average fan of progressive house, FOUNDATIONS isn't worth getting. This unmixed collection is really for DJs and hard-core Bedrock fans, who will find a lot to like in it.

even though this CD was listed as used, it was in "mint" condition, in fact still had the manufacturer's wrapping.Also came in very quick within 2 to 3 days

even though this CD was listed as used, it was in "mint" condition, in fact still had the manufacturer's wrapping.Also came in very quick within 2 to 3 days

I loved Lights Out 1 and 2, but 3 was a huge disappointment, even after a few listens. Disc 1 begins with a robotechno caucophony that's just straight up weird, painful to listen to, and runs far too long. The rest of Disc 1 gets better, but it still left me waiting for some climactic crescendos or wild mixing twists. CD2 begins with an equally banal sound, and doesn't get interesting until about halfway through. (In fact, the last half of CD2 is the only part of this set that I ever listen to at all anymore.) Overall, the song choice is pretty blah, and even the mixing seems a bit sloppy and uninspired. It's definitely got Lawler's dark and nasty fingerprints throughout, but it sounds a bit canned, and definitely doesn't meet the standard set by 1 and 2.

Lights Out 1 and 2 were dark tribal masterpieces. 3 is way too electronic, with only one standout song near the beginning of disc 1. When he played at Avalon in Hollywood during his Lights Out 3 tour, he was amazing. I don't understand why this CD didn't have great songs on it. Mix CD's, especially those not recorded live at a club, should be a compilation of the some of the dj's best songs.

My 3rd disc seems to be defective, as only 3 tracks play. Anyone else have this problem?

If you're a fan of Lawler, tribal and dark, this may not be the album for you. I've been a strong fan of Steve, but this latest CD leaves me flat. Both previous Lights Out albums were dirty and gritty, giving the listener a taste of his Harlem Nights. You could always feel the "Lawler" in them, that tribal sound that we all love.

But dance music has been moving in this direction for about a year, both Sander and Steve have been advocates. Unlike tribal house, this is very cerebral, techy stuff, not a lot of deep basslines, with some seriously screechy moments. While I always love a new version of Saints & Sinners, and Obsessive Sound is a gem, just when I get into this mix, it leaves me cold.

If you're looking for where tribal is going, check out Saeed & Palash, DJ Vibe, Chus & Ceballos or Victor. The Spain/Portugal influences have been good for the progressive tribal sound.

I couldn't believe how great these discs were! I was disappointed by the first 2 compilations in this ever so popular series. However, this time Lawler really delivers.
Each of the 3 discs has something completely different to offer and are all worth a listen. I desagree with one of the other reviewers that said disc 3 is a waste. It is not.

I highly recommend this set. Go pick it up. You won't regret it.

Now, I consider myself relatively new to the house genre. But I know what I like, and this is most definitely something that is special. From the beginning of cd one, you can get the general vibe of the entire album. It's nice, dark, head-bobbing fun with sexy vocals in some tracks like "Friday" and the "Let's Go" track which I dare say samples a Christina Agueilera Genie In A Bottle lyric.

Disc 1 is more of a party starter. It has that mingling-around-the-club-bar feel to it when you just walk in and hear the opening dj yet decide to look around a bit. It sets a pre-dance feeling. You can almost swear you're walking into a smokey, foggy environment with dim lighting trying to recognize someone.

Then comes disc 2 and it's all about making you go insane. It will leave you jumping with some of the rawest house I've heard this year. You feel like you're within the throngs of well-dressed yet unkempt screaming masses. The sweaty gaggle of twenty-somethings with their arms outstretched to the dj in an attempt to become closer with his heightened state of audio involvement.

The mixing throughout all of this album is flawless. Along with there being an extra third cd and a Harlem mix. Plus, the cd case glows in the dark.

A must-get if you're in any way interested in house.

There are a lot of interesting reviews regarding this compilation. This is the 3rd Nubreed release under the Global Underground label, and in my opinion, is one of the better ones.

Steve Lawler stuck with what he knows and mixes best...deep and tribal progressive house music. Other reviewers likened his track selection to Danny Tenaglia's and I think that this is a fair comparison for the most part. Lawler tends to lean towards the darker flavors, but both DJ's have a love for tribal drum loops. The negative reviews for this album are mostly from trance purests. This compilation definitely steers wide of this genre of electronica.

I liked most of the track selections used by Lawler, but I'm with the other reviewers that this compilation could have been excellent without the inclusion of a couple of narrative tracks...and especially the multiple sexual inuendo tracks that unfortunately made Lawler's list. Come on, good electronica is sexy for the music and beats alone...you don't need cheesey tracks that include vocals and lirics that mimic sex and organisms! Tasteless.

Despite this, I like both discs equally and consider this album a success. On top of this, the album has aged well since its release.

Both disc 1 and disc 2 get 4/5 stars from me.

Hi, I have to apologize for that guy from Tulsa's remarks. I live in Lawton, OK and absolutely love this CD. We don't get classy DJ's like this out here in Oklahoma so I'm sure Tulsa guy was a little depressed when he couldn't find any sweet little melodies or synth lines to keep his mind occupied. No, progressive and tribal house has not made it this far into the midwest, but I am currently working on that with some 1200's and records purchased online. I have decided that I want almost every record featured on the album. Steve's selection is absolutely brilliant. If it is deep, tribal, progressive house you are looking for, buy this CD immediately. If you are looking for trance - avoid it. And don't purchase this CD just because it's from GU - purchase it for the bangin' tribal beats and sexy progressive cuts Lawler is known for. Lawler's mix is absolute perfection on CD 1 and CD 2 keeps it going but gets perhaps darker. The best track, for me, came early on CD 2 with Danny Tenaglia's Elements. If you could imagine someone headbanging to tribal house this is the track they would do it to. It is very sexy and deep - awesome track. Don't let the GU title fool you...Nu Breed series is almost all progressive house - NOT TRANCE! Again, I apologize for the guy from Tulsa's remarks, not all Oklahomans are mindless idiots...

Whatever you do don't waste your money on this disc. It is soooo tiring and monotonous that after you listen to it you may want to break it into many small pieces. This is absolutely the worst CD that Global Underground has put out. Believe me, I have almost all of them. There's really nothing redeeming about it whatsoever. There might be three decent songs on the whole two discs, the rest are horribly, terribly repetitive. It's dark and boring in the beginning, dark and boring in the middle, and dark and boring at the end. There's almost nothing but tribal drum after tribal drum after tribal drum until you go insane and want cut your ears off with a plastic butter knife! You don't need the hospital bills, really. If you want your "dance" music to put you into a drool inducing stupor this is the disc for you. If not, I'd suggest you look elsewhere. Zero out of five stars!

I will not ruin the magnificence of these cds by saying too much. The track selection is suberb, and the mixing brings out all of the elements that only a professional, experienced, and creative DJ can produce. Steve Lawler carries on the exact ideas that NuBreed have always expressed.

Chunk, boom, Chunk, boom. In case you haven't heard, Lawler is all about drums and percussion (see his "Dark Drums" series), and leads the pack in a very pure, stripped down, tribal-progressive house. Deep, sexy, chunking drum beats pound away as Lawler paints a monolithic tom tom assault on your soul.

And fear not, for those not familiar with the various genres, I don' mean by "tribal" some kind of world music. No this is deep house or progressive house, with the multiple drums sounds, piled on, hence "tribal".

Lawler has a unique sound that is focused on plenty of mid to high range sound in the mix, that emphasis the whoosh, grind, and tick of the percussive elements, and a deep boom that creates a sharp in your face sound that hooks you in. There is not alot of keyboard or fill in or sound effects, although there is a judicious use of vocal samples here and there.

The knock against Lawler is that his brand of house/tribal to sound the same or wear thin over two discs, and there is some truth to that. Certainy if you are "waiting" for a keyboard break, vocals, or some melodic element--or worse, some peak anthemic moment--it won't come. But if you give into the tick, whump and pulse of Lawler's drum groove you won't regret it. Another mistake is to play this too low, its requires volume to appreciate the unique sound of Lawler. It demands your attention and just won't work in the background. There is little point me going track by track here, as we are dealing with a wall of beats, the source becomes immaterial.

Lawler is the king of this subgenre of progressive house, nothing else in your collection sounds like it, and you should definitely buy if you are any kind of dance or club music fan. This particular GU set is also less quirky and more accessible than the most recent Lawler collection "Lights Out", so start here.

Well it's like the first one, Not everything is super but These cd's will definitly make you shake. And you can't find them everywhere so...

Im a big fan of lawler's work and i think this stuff is great. Either you hate the electroness or you love it. I love it and i think its great and a big step in lawler's music. Dont go out for this cd unitl youve heard what it sounds like.

This was my first Steve Lawler album. He was interviewed on the DVD "Intellect- Techno House Progressive," and I was intrigued by his approach of mixing tribal, techno, house and trance.

I enjoyed both discs, although Disc Two is my favorite. Both discs start off tribal, before getting housey and from there mixing it up. Disc Two's latter section is my favorite, beginning from Track #8 - "My Girlfriend is a Robot." The middle sections of both discs are somewhat mucky - lacking drive and direction.

Overall, I rate the album 4 stars for its frequent bright moments and strong tribal selections. Reading reviews of Lights Out 1 and 2, Lights Out 1 seems to be the favored product, and I intend to check that out.

Well, it seems that some people have forgotten that tastes diverge. Of course, Lights Out 2 is not for all, just as many great albums are not for all. Here's the deal: If you are a fan of "progressive house"/tribal AS WELL AS a fan of electro, as well as a fan of some electro-pop, then you will enjoy this eclectic mix. Although not terribly original, I thought the first disc was a LOT of fun and extremely accessible. Sure, some "lesser mortals" or "commoners" might enjoy it, but who cares? It's a party, nonetheless. Why be a house elitist? The whole point is having a soulful good time, right? The second disc is less accessible but extremely groove-laden. It's great for dancing or just zoning out. I'm very sorry if Lights Out 2 isn't purist enough for some people, but it's fun, it's danceable and it's insanely enjoyable. Good enough for me.

Steve Lawler is a dope DJ, don't get me wrong. It just seems as though he has changed his sound a lot on this CD (which I guess is one of the principal aims of a tier-1 DJ?). Steve Lawler's GU Nu Breed was huge, and it definitely made me appreciate the sound of tribal, sexy, funky beats. Dark Drums were also good works by Steve, particularly the second CD of DD 2. But this one has lost its tribal housey edge and replaced it with an electronic injection of samples and beats you would expect from Danny Howells or even Carl Cox. I don't like the faster, less deliberately layering that Lawler displays here. And it seems as though some of the other writers here agree with that as well. I don't know if he is trying to take a different step in his DJing, but he has more skills than this, and he is a premier DJ. Buy Dark Drums 2 or Nu Breed to get a better feel for Lawler.

This is the first volume of Dark Drums that I've listened to. I am tracking down a lot of Steve Lawler's older releases as I love the genre of electronica that he tends to play. Picking up where Danny Tenaglia left off. Tribal House (albeit, Lawler likes the darker tones).

I was excited when I first listened to this album as the first couple of tracks were exactly what I was hoping the whole set would sound like. Unfortunately, Lawler chose to mix mostly tracks with vocals. I have no problem with vocals, but with Tribal House they can't be so overly dominating that they even drown out the all-essential drums (it is Dark Drums after all, right?)! This occurs for the majority of the remaining tracks. Couple this with the vocals' lyrics frequently being cheesy, and album becomes much less enjoyable for this reviewer despite its excellent tribal drum loops.

3.5/5 stars

...forget the negative comments... Do you like DARK PROGRESSIVE TRIBAL HOUSE? Then, this CD is for you. Steve Lawler is by far the BEST DJ in this realm of house music. Other Lawler CD's to consider: Dark Drums Vol. 1 - Lights Out 1 - Lights Out 2 - Lights Out 3 - GU 3 NuBreed: Steve Lawler - Viva - Homelands - Home

...anticipating the return of "Lights Out (4)"

I bought this off of amazon and the first listen was downright terrible so i put it up and did not touch it for a month, i just wrote it off as another cd i wish i could have listened to before i bought it. A month went by and same result.

One day i was messin' 'round with my cd tables and i was listening to some funky azz breaks and i decided to mix some house on top of it so i picked this one to add another layer of funkieness because i remembered this to be drum heavy........and......oh......my....God!!!!! I discovered the hidden treasure that i call this cd. I dont know what it was the breaks with it or what but it just 'clicked'. This cd is noww in my heavy rotation and it is like 4-5 years old. If you dont like this after a few listens just put it away and forget about it for a month or so and try picking it up in a diferent mindset.

I am 'VERY' picky and i now call this purchase a success. It is not quite as Dark and the title would suggest, it has some.....
....dare i say 'fun' moments.

...and have it sound so good.

I had a copy of this CD for a long time and tried several times to listen to it. With nothing but drums for the first few minutes I never listened beyond. Comfortable with some other DJs, this sounded dull. After a while, I was looking for something new and put this on during a long drive. Oh my...

The drums that open the mix are there to get you into the groove. It builds and builds and reels you in. Right around thirteen minutes or so in Mr. Lawler drops a wicked bass line and the party begins. From this point on, he drops in more and more, tossing in some vocals here, some sound effects here, finally ending with some trumpets, all with some funky drumming that isn't that monotonous 98 BPM that carries many mixes (and gives you a headache after a while).

I don't know much about the styles and all the various kinds of electronica that purists seem to get off on, I just know what sounds good. And this sounds gooood. I hesitate at the fifth star because it just didn't have that something that makes me go wild for a mix. But it's almost there. Not being able to see any of these DJs live in the heart of the Midwest in the U.S., CDs and such are all we get. I'm hunting down his other stuff as we speak.

A good break from the hodgepodge of mixes out there.

Dark and tribal trance/techno like only Steve Lawler can deliver!! A solid cd with great bass and driving beats that keep you interested. Often you see artists have a few good songs but can't be consistent, not Lawler. He consistently brings only the best. Deep dark flow without flaw. Also other great Lawler cds "Nubreed" and lights out vol.1. If you like tribal sound and "DARK" beats grab this cd!!!

I've never truly understood what influences Global Underground to produce a subseries featuring a single DJ. Prototype featuring Seb Fontaine has always baffled me in this regard. Four terrible albums.

It probably has to do with peaking popularity, as 2002 was definitely Steve Lawler's breakout year. Lawler (like Danny Howells) is a clubbers's dream DJ. His sets always ooze sex and sensuality, fueled by the hot sweating bodies that sway back and forth in direct vision of his DJ booth. Lights Out is another fine example that Lawler's primary focus is making people on the dancefloor move and groove.

Disc 1 is a fraction lighter and leans more towards progressive house versus tribal house. A great set overall that includes my personal favorite track on the entire album, "Dirty Fingernails". Unfortunately, Lawler has to include (yet again) Thick Dick's "Orgasm". As I commented on his Nubreed album, good tribal and progressive house music (or any other electronica genre for that matter) is ample sexy without the inclusion of garbage tracks like "Orgasm".

Disc 2 is vocal heavy and dabbles more in the [dark] tribal house subgenres. If you are like a lot of tribal and progressive house fans (including myself) and don't like sets full of vocal tracks, don't be put off this album without listening to it first. Lights Out features vocal tracks that don't impinge on the set's groove like those on Lawler's Dark Drums 2 or Lights Out 3.

Disc 1 gets 4/5 stars, and disc 2, 4.5/5 stars.

Well did not know him beforehand but these two cd's are good. Not everything is super but it will make you shake, which is nice.

I had heard dissapointing reviews on Lights Out 2 and great reviews on this one..I was really excited to get this album and have been listeing to it non stop. The 1st cd is very tribal, using lots of drums..very sexy too. Steve keeps it upbeat, funky and dark. The 2nd cd gets more Techy and dark for my taste but this goes down as one of my favorite cds so far.

Steve Lawler is the king of tribal house (at least in my opinion) this C.D. will give you what you need to throw a slamin foam party or any kind for that matter. Deep bass lines and wicked drums, this is a safe bet if you like slammin tribal house music, try "home" steve lawler or even better global underground "nubreed" .

This CD is great, takes you on an adventure trip deep in the progressive house woods. A couple of songs are a bit cheesy and commercial but most of it is v good specially the second half of CD 2 beautilful and great mixing. Recommended for connaisseurs.

This is definitely not similar to his Nubreed. Bad, as Nubreed was in a class of its own and was the benchmark for tribal. This is not tribal nor does it reach any of the dizzy heights of Nubreed. Good in that its something new. But its not great - the 2 cd's can be compressed into one good cd. For your money's worth give Lee Burridge's Balance12 a listen/buy first.

Both disks just rock. Period. I haven't been too excited with Steve's recent releases, but this one definitely has the groove that initially got me into this DJ when he first came out with Dark Drums & also his Nubreed disk. Very nice.

I have always seen Steve Lawler as one of the truest pioneers of dark tribal house, though in recent years I have witnessed a profound metamorphosis in his musical philosophy. Whilst "Dark Drums" and "NuBreed 4" will forever be the defining albums of his career, Lawler has proven that he has the ability to branch out, balancing successfully on even the thinnest branches. Clear examples of this experimentation can be found on Lights Out 2 & 3 and Viva - which were all well and good. But now, enter Viva: London - A sensible album, not only as a tribute to Lawler's earliest residencies in London but also as the next logical stepping stone between Viva and the future. Despite repeated listens, Viva: London illustrates how Lawler continues to draw the curtains ever more tightly around his artistic progression, leading to releases that elude expectations. It can and has been argued to death that Steve's last three albums were dishearteningly mainstream (off the record, I happen to mostly disagree). This album, however, is undeniably off-kilter - and, in this reviewer's humble opinion, exemplifies what truer Lawler fans want to hear from him after Viva.

I have difficulties pinpointing this album as tribal; the first four tracks project minimal tech-house like radio waves. Gone are the ditzy vocal blemishes that tainted portions of Lights Out 2 and Viva. Gone, too, are the fat sinister bass grooves and resonant tribal kick. Instead, Viva: London embraces a foggier, deeper and shockingly cerebral funk that can only be loosely attributed to Lawler's past. For instance, sizable portions of each disc could legitimately be compared to a Satoshi Tomiie / John Digweed hybrid. Atmospherically, the album is very heady, as if one were caught in a cloud of smoke. `Paparazzi' plays right into the confusion, painting the mix's motif a delightfully spooky dive into deeper waters. The key to appreciating this album is to pay strict attention to the carefully orchestrated progression of the music behind the beat. Doing this took me a bit of time and persistence; Lawler seems to have so thoroughly abandoned his dark tribal moniker that not until `X-Rated' do I begin to detect hints of his tribal roots. My interpretation of the first mix finds Lawler bringing just enough tribalism to fuel the funk, but it is softer and more intelligent than the type of tribalism NuBreed 4 made famous. In this regard, musing over specific tracks is pretty pointless because they all seem to be lacking any type of percussive dominance. Lawler lays down thick and premeditated progressions and layers that need to be carefully dissected. In this regard, my patience with Lawler reveals a fantastic mix album whose direction seems to lead one more into the mind rather than the jungle. Two-thirds tech-house and one-third seductive deep house draped in satin, disc one is not likely to be easily forgotten. Deetron's `Life Soundtrack' gently rears its head with a `90's synth loop and block percussion. It's a particularly nice track because it suspends me for a brief moment between the gradual crescendo during `To the Bone' and `Infrared,' which to me is decidedly the powerhouse track of the first mix. Conclusively, Viva: London's first disc replaces heavy and mesmerizing darkness with airy and cerebral minimalism that is worth one's patience in order to appreciate.

Disc two has the same general vibes happening - lack of sinister tribalism, lack of excitingly dominant percussion, et. al. Despite these caveats for the die-hard Lawler fundamentalist, disc two is without argument the superior of the two discs, and it does represent a sizable chunk of that Lawleresque aggression and composition that one would expect to find on a Steve Lawler album. It also boasts a heavily impressive tracklist alongside a treasure trove of talented artists. Beginning impressively with the honorable Joel Mull's `Fluffer,' deciphering the pace of the rest of the mix is elementary. Ole & Polygon's `Instinto Primario' segues excellently into Dubfire's recent beastly hit `Ribcage,' whose luster is then compounded by a succession of absolutely enjoyable tracks; case-in-point, the succession from Simon Baker's `Confused' > Bushwacka!'s `Long Distance' > Adam Beyer's energetic and addictive `China Girl' is my favorite part of the entire release. Admittedly, I was not too impressed by `Violet' (one of two brand-new tracks produced by Steve Lawler for this disc). The track simply doesn't lead anywhere - by itself. It does find Lawler back in classic tribal mode with some wicked bars of frenetic tribal drumming, which happens to be light enough to mesh well with the other tracks but is heavy enough that realizing it's a creation of Lawler's isn't too difficult. I found redemption as the track fades into `Plutonium,' and I discovered a little piece of personal bliss from this point onward due in large part to a surprisingly aggressive bass riff that extends into the next two tracks by artists whom I am not familiar with. `Steel 24' is a standout track, packed with latent energy that dips the listener back into the vat of 3-5 A.M. madness that Lawler loves to exploit. Viva: London closes gracefully with the finale track - Steve's second (and as far as my ears go, the more agreeable) exclusive new track `Courses For Horses' which managed to claw its way on to the charts several weeks prior to the release of this double-disc set. While I may never fully comprehend the title of the production, I do know that it peaks the second disc on an appropriately energetic note before abruptly fading into obscurity.

Most Steve Lawler fans wouldn't trust that he actually mixed Viva: London if it weren't for his name imprinted on the disc. But that is far from a reason to avoid the album. Watching Steve's artistic preferences warp and twist over the past few years has not been the most pleasurable of endurances for me, but this is enough of a comprehensive mix that it is worth picking up - especially for disc two. A fan of Kiss 100 would get a bit more out of the first disc. I had struggles with accepting this album, but quickly realized that was merely based on the reputation of the DJ who mixed it. Lawler produces a fine work that showcases, perhaps better than most artists can, the general direction and the next level his future work will likely lean towards.

~Lex

My initial listening to this album ended in confusion. I realize now why...Since Lights Out 1, each Lawler album, be it on GU, Harlem Nights or Renaissance label, has been unique with its own personality. This album is no exception. To listen to this or any of Steve's previous albums with the expectation of the last cut will leave one puzzled.

The direction from Renaissance on this as well as the current Satoshi Masters album is "3D sound". This album does in fact deliver on this curiousity, yet at the same time, you are also compelled to listen a bit deeper for the underlying emotion, that albeit less raw and intense on this album, is nevertheless still cheeky in character.

The real genius of Steve Lawler is in his ability to adapt truly to a movement within House/Tribal, and that, makes this music more cerebral and sexier than any other genre I have ever encountered. His compilations are not pretentious or gratuitous. Indeed, Steve delivers the same sinister undercurrent to all his albums.

This may not be your favorite Steve Lawler album today, and arguably is not the most potent mix he has put out to date, but you cannot deny that this is a significant contribution to the currents that keep this movement alive.

On my second listen, I dropped all expectations and was rewarded with a rich experience. This album deserves 4/5 for its currency, classic Lawler touch and for keeping me interested.

Steve if you are reading this, thanks for keeping it real and don't stop.

This is good electronic music since the death of dark drums. Yeah, he may not be John Digweeed, Hernan Cattaneo, Sasha, or even the old Steve Lawler. It took almost a month to get used to the new Steve Lawler, exspecially Viva- London. However, being familiar with the original 3CD, I heard samples of this release at renaissance.com.

Two things I would consider. One, before buying this disc, listen to the last of the Lights Out series and download or grab a copy of the first Viva. The 2nd is to go ahead and pick up or download this release unless you had enough. I gave it more than a couple of listens and was like; "What is this." This was mostly the 2nd disc. With both conderations, I gave it time playing it over and it is a great soundscape, related to the first release of Viva.

With the Viva series, Steve Lawler decided to be different than playing Dark Drums. The dark drums have seen its last days in Lights Out 3 as the Viva era moved in. Viva London is an accomplishment and people do not understand what Steve did to show appreaciation for it. The first disc has tracks that sound like Dark Drums, exspecially David K's Three Arches. It very briefly breaks away from that perspectrum on the first disc and revisits it. I mostly hear soundscapes, techy house, and industrial music. A lot of echoeing and dubbing happens on the first disc as well. It is amazing how he blends it all together.

The 2nd disc is more should, but has flavor in it tying it all the more closer to the original three disc. That was the hardest to really get my ears into it. I would up liking it, exspecially "Courses for Horses". Plutonium is another prime example. I had a frustating time trying to find time to get into it, but the soundscapes are evident; maybe not the same as the first disc.

Give it time and you will hear the incredible soundscapes that Viva London has to offer. Bushwacka and Dubfire is on the second disc to start out with. Overall, an electronic genious releases the age of Viva!

...an ominous announcement on CD 1 declares the spirit of Steve Lawler's brand of House music as we now know it. The first four tracks on this CD are a tribute to all that is right with Tribal House Music. Track four? "More cowbells" as somehow I can sense a certain host reminding a young Lawler how to maintain his residency at the club.

Yet, we must also recognize that this is a release from 2000, ages ago in terms of this genre. So while the spirit is there, the more recent refinements to Mr. Lawler's talents are not present throughout this CD set.

The second CD is certainly not tribal, and could only be described as Dark House, an antithesis to the uplifting nature of Progressive House music and juxtaposed to anything from MOS from the same period as an example, you will experience a very different effect.

This is good music, however what is also absent, as Steve has spoiled us to appreciate, is his state of the art perfection in track blending, and the engineering prowess to sustain a hypnotic tempo. The music is nevertheless inspired and a welcome addition to my collection from this rare and brilliant artist.

...And to imagine that tribal music would progress to a level so paramount seems incomprehensible. Steve Lawler's "Home" is THE most inspired and simultaneously inspiring tribal mixes that I have ever heard - and it's so rare as it was released as a limited-edition-only back in the year 2000 that I can accurately categorize it as a true diamond in the rough of modern millenia's tribal house.

Disc one, The White Album, combines so much heartfelt soulfullness reminiscent of the era of wide-eyed '90s house with the dark & sinister depths of Lawler's subsequent release, "Dark Drums." The album is almost addictive, weaving classic tracks from the pre-2000 trance era with other tracks that I have yet to see so boldly mixed into a compilation. Familiar to the discerning EDM listener are tracks like "Rise In," "Cowgirl" (which sounds *so* much better tribalized!) and "Soul Grabber Part 2." What's more, every track seems to be placed in the mix with the precision of a Digweed release! There are some real heavily-hitting tribal tracks on The White Album including "I Know You Like It," "Get Ready" and "4 Wheeler." The White album absolutely took me by surprise with its relentlessly body-moving tempo and spectacular range that Lawler manages to crush and mold into what amounts to be a flawless mix.

Disc two, London, brings to the verge of insanity the pace and quality of this release despite its extra spacey and surprisingly progressive timbre. The basslines growl ferociously as London showcases an array of hyper-beats that teeter on the brink of breaks. Familiar tracks yet again bear their teeth such as "Freedom," "West On 27th," "Roaches" (appearing on Sasha&Digweed's "Communicate") and a Sasha Instrumental of "Out of Control." In Lawler's hands, however, the tracks would have been unrecognizable if not for the clearly labeled tracks. Tribalized madness compounds with reverberated speeches on archaeology, six-sided objects and the mind which enhance, rather than degrade, London's pinache. From a prog-tribal perspective, this is probably one of the most cutting edge discs in the past ten years.

The final verdict? In this reviewer's opinion, Steve Lawler's finest and most inspired work - his very own deep tribal opus. Is it really worth five stars? Without question. I've heard the album twice now; I've safely pinned it as my favorite dark tribal house album that I have ever met with.

Eons beyond its time.

~Lex

This album is not horrible, but I did expect a lot more from it for the simple fact that it's Steve Lawler AND the label is Global Underground!

Disc 1 has (in my opinion) the three best tracks of the entire album with Ben Wijay's "Wait", "Drop That Bomb", and F.E.D.O's "Happy Days Don't Stop" (Fedo Range Mix). Everything in between is pretty ordinary, but OK.

Disc 2 lacks for different reasons. There are no real stellar tracks, but the first six are enjoyable and establish a nice groove. The set is then interrupted by one of the worst tracks I've ever heard in a Steve Lawler set to date with Drax N Gooding's "ABC". There is a slight recovery with the next four tracks, but then the set completely falls apart at Saints & Sinners' "Pushin Too Hard" (Ricky Ryan Edit) right through to the end.

Both discs get 3.5/5 stars.

Love it. Unfortunately though, after listening to the first disk I accidentally broke it trying to put it back in it's case. Dark. Some tracks are electro-based and it sounds great in my car.

I have never been a fan of Lawler until now! Great mixing with some fresh dark beats. Do NOT miss out on Disc 3! That disc is the best of the set!

Excellent album ! I've heard Steve Lawler in a club twice over the past 6 months, and this album is a good sample of what he's been playing during that time.

Both discs are really good, though I slightly prefer the 2nd one. The tracks that I enjoyed most are "Criss Source - Hugs'n'Kisses", "Axwell - Feel the Vibe" and "Lutzenkirchen - Daily Disco".

Disc 1 opens up with a rather non-descript Lights Out intro, which wouldn't have been missed had it not been there, and then opens the door to some of the hottest, sweatiest, deep and dirty house you will hear right now. Track 3, Mars by Nick K, begins rather innocently until the squelching melody slowly fades in and completely envelops the track. The melody fades out for a moment midway through, and then the next time it fades in, the build up is ecstatic, climaxing in one incredible beat explosion. This is easily my favorite track of the entire set.

Electro artist Trentemoller checks in next with a super remix of Friday. The whisper-like vocals in the track are turned up so loud, you have to turn the treble down or risk ripping through some speakers. It's nuts!

The rest of this disc pours on the beats in sweaty, dirty fashion, with some quirky vocal tracks, and some classic tribal house. Disc 1 really doesn't have a bad track on it, and it culminates with Lawler's buzzing remix of Conjur's The Skeleton Key (Amazon's tracklisting is incorrect).

Disc 2 starts again with the take it or leave it Lights Out intro, and then gets into some lighter house music. Through track 6 is a decent mix, but you never really get the dark, sexy vibes of disc 1 back on track, and by the awful track 7, that and the next 4 tracks are very dull. Toward the end of the disc, the tracks start to heat up, but it ends without ever capturing the allure of Disc 1. Back to that awful track 7: it is a male vocal track where the guy just speaks the alphabet and some blurbs to go with each letter. It is truly an embarassing track.

Now, I wanted to like something on Disc 3, but listening to each track, they were all uneven with awkward melodies, and nothing I could latch onto. I didn't like a single track. It was all a funky house, without a lot of drums, and the beats simply did not move me.

You may even opt to get the regular edition and save a dollar or two, as Disc 3 is just not worth anything in my opinion. I don't know how the packaging for the 2 disc set is, but this 3 disc set comes in a cool looking fold out, glow in the dark cover, but the foam prongs that keep the discs in place are frustrating to use. I am not sure how it is on the 2 disc set.

Overall, worth picking up for the incredibly hot sounds on disc 1!