Live at Robert Johnson 8 (By Dixon)

Earlier in the year whilst posting about a DJ Kicks release, I questioned the necessity of mix CDs in today's climate. As long as you have a internet conncetion, you essentially have unparalleled access to thousands of mixes at your fingertips, whether they are a podcast recorded for a website, a recorded live mix, a mix put up by the artist themselves or a rip of an actual mix CD release.

My argument was that despite all of this, you couldnt beat a good mix, wherever it is found. However, it is still with a tinge of sadness that this mix Live at Robert Johnson by Dixon will be the last for the German DJ and record label owner and also last of the series which has featured acclaimed mixes by Arto Mwambe, Prins Thomas and Thomas Hammann & Gerd Janson.

In 2007 at the height of the popularity of the Get Physical sound, Dixon was chosen to submit a mix as part of their Body Language series. What we were left with was quite possibly the mix of that year which had the unique ability to remain listenable long after it's release, even featuring tracks which had even at the time probably been overplayed.

Whilst the Body Language Mix and his Temporary Secretary mix from 2009 focused on layers of beats (and on the latter several tracks) whilst matching the tempo seamlessly, this mix starts off as a rather ambient affair. To be honest, there is little or no beats to be had in the first 30 minutes or so. Instead the mix begins with sparse drone soundscapes until we reach the third track, 'He Said', a low-key vocal number from Dominique, which was a highlight of the Dial ten year anniversary compliation CD of last year.



Dixon continues to build momentum, and once the drums drop from Agoria's 'One Hour', you just know Dixon has got the best yet to come. That's what I have enjoyed about his previous mix CDs. There is no need to overload the listener with the more high-profile tracks straight away, its marathon, not a sprint after al. Subtle, low key beats continue (all underpinned by a variety of understated vocals) where we find ourselves in the midst of his new edit of Mark E's 'Call Me' which soft feel leads pefectly into the more techier harsher Roman Flugel track.

What I enjoyed about the mix is that at this point it could quite easily for the last part, turned into a mix by numbers with more dancefloor friendly tracks being introduced. However Dixon slows it down once again before throwing Ame's killer mix and his edit of Osunlade's 'Envision' which represents the 'peak' of the journey before slowing down once again to close with a favourite of his recent DJ sets, Todd Terje's 'Snooze for Love'.



Whilst this may be last Dixon mix on CD, his original work and dedication to the art of a mix certainly won't disappear. Unlike many online mixes this mix is designed for the long haul, to be enjoyed over time. Without question, a fitting send off to an excellent series.

Live at Robert Johnson (By Dixon) (buy)