United DJs of America, Vol. 9

As I listened to it a few more times, I began to realize that the disjunctures I was hearing had nothing to do with the transitions between songs. Instead, he was breaking up the songs' own internal continuity so that his blends of records took on their own full personality; the parts of the record that sound smooth are, in fact, the mixes.

The mix between "Glasgow Jazz" and "C'mon Clap Your Hands" goes on for upwards of two minutes, and "Glasgow" only plays by itself for about eight seconds. Right at the end of the mix, he drops the bottom out almost completely, and comes out into a bridge in "Clap Your Hands." The first eight or ten times I heard the CD, I thought I was listening to one track, with a kind of weak, EQ-tweaking mix into the next track. When I finally sorted it all out, I realized I'd been had. It's one of the best transitions I've ever heard -- and I've heard a lot. Anyone who wants to steal some house technique should buy this CD for that mix alone.

And that's one of about ten mixes on the CD that will drop your jaw to the floor -- once you've actually listened to it enough times to realize the magic act that Farina is putting on. You'll just shake your head and say "Huh?" until then.

One down side: most songs on the CD play for only a few minutes, and most of the time they're being mixed with other records. The one record that he really lets go (to the tune of about 12 minutes) is record 12, which in my opinion is the weakest of the bunch, and could have stood to be about 6 minutes shorter.

But it's not enough to detract from an amazing virtuosic show on this disc.


Mix of the millenium ?   December 19, 1999
Jonathan Parker (Brighton, East Sussex England)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

A superb fusion of deep disco house flawlessly mixed by Mark Farina, the cohesion and continuity of not only the mix, but track selection is wonderful. Definately a CD to add to the collection to define the genre.


funky frisco disco with mark farina   January 6, 1999
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

this cd is perfect for disco, deep house listeners. check out "clap your hands" and "glasgow's jazz" for great basslines that really energize. Also, he knows how to use the vairous EQ dials that bring new dimensions to the tracks. Last, his beatmatching skills are impeccable. I saw Farina in SF @ 1014 Fulsom and he spun on three tables. -Dj NuYorkan Seoul


Subterranean House at its Best   December 16, 1998
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Farina proves he can mix with the best of them, with this solid CD. Many underground beats and funky samples are flawlessy blended in this CD, a must for any true House fan. Favorite tracks: 6, 7, 10, and 12.


Trademark house set from one of the USA's finest DJ's   October 22, 1998
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

If you like house, you've definitely heard this disc. If you don't know what house is, this is the one disc you should hear. Farina starts off this set with three ass-shakin' deep house tracks: "Flame," "Dreams of You" and "I Know" and then eases his way into a funky and groovy house set starting with "Feel your Body Talkin'." Personally, I like the first 15-20 minutes of this album the most, especially "I Know," which is an underground classic. Yet, the rest of the album is very good and would pack any dancefloor from Chicago to San Fran to Atlanta.