Already highly regarded for their existing compilation series such as the acclaimed Masterworks releases featuring the world's top DJs, Renaissance have decided to raise the bar even further with the launch of the 3D series. The concept will feature only the best of the best in the electronic music stratosphere, since each contributing artist must put together a separate full-length CD of club, studio and personal favorites - three full discs (hence the 3D) reflecting their strengths as live performers, composers, and lovers of tasty music.
It's only fitting, then, that the inaugural volume in this series comes from the brilliant NYC-based Japanese mastermind Satoshi Tomiie, who broke onto the scene at the dawn of the 90s with Frankie Knuckles and whose extensive remix portfolio includes everyone from David Bowie to Mariah Carey. He's now head of his own SAW Recordings label and maintains an extensive touring schedule worldwide. All of which would be just so much gilding of this lily if Satoshi hadn't been able to deliver the goods, but thankfully he steps up to the plate with a trio of deep fly balls that easily clear the fence each time.
After two and a half solid hours of high-energy beats, Satoshi slows things down a bit with another twelve cuts from his personal stash of late-night groove. Pound for pound, this may be the best disc of the three, starting with Dexter Wansel's funky "Life on Mars" and breezing along through an all-star selection including the Sneaker Pimps, M.F.S.B, and an absolutely gorgeous twelve and half minute version of "Solea" from Miles Davis and Gil Evans. Jaco Pastorius fans get a double dip, with his "Portrait of Tracy" and the Weather Report classic "Palladium" from "Heavy Weather," which also features Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter along with Jaco's fine bass playing. We also get Roy Ayers, Lonnie Liston Smith, James freakin' Brown and more, including the "hidden" track "Fly Over The Horizon" from Azymuth which closes out the disc and the project. All in all, just a few seconds shy of three and three-quarters hours of music superbly showcasing the blood, sweat, toil and tears of one of the most creative artists working in electronic music today.
