Track Listing

1. Believe - Gus Gus
2. Soothe [Chicane Mix] - Furry Phreaks
3. Burn the Elastic - Violet
4. Geomantik - Prana
5. Cycles of Time
6. Dammerung - Frontside
7. Blue [LP & Original Mix]
8. Little Bullet, Pt. 1 - Spooky
9. Botz [Synthetik Mix] - Überzone
10. Reeferendum - Fluke
11. Distant Voices [Angel Edit]
12. Purple - Gus Gus
13. Symphony

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #48929 in Music
• Released on: 1997-07-14
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Double CD

Customer Reviews

Years On....
....this album still gets played. In particular, CD1 gets an airing on my I-pod. CD1 of NE2 and CD1 of NE1 are the only 2 mixes that NEVER leave my i-pod.

In all honesty, I don't think Northern Exposure 1 has ever been beaten as a mix, in terms of choice of tunes, atmosphere and the perfect key matching. It stands alone as a piece of music, let alone as a DJ mix. I salivate at the though that one day I'm going to stumble across something which will get me quite as emotional!!

I don't think NE2 is trying to compete with NE1, but is a progression of the series. The whole project has a completely different feel to it. It's less glacial, more immediate and doesn't set out on the epic journey that NE1 did.

Nevertheless, Sasha's mix on CD1 is another stroke of genius. Listen to how he brings in 'Soothe' or 'Dammerung' and you'll see what I mean. (I'd love to know where Sasha discovers his records - always so well produced and so achingly beautiful - compositions rather than 'tunes'). As always his mix flows really well, with each song seemingly made for the one before it. Again, it's another brilliant example of how mixing in key can make such a subtle difference ands adds layers to the drum patterns.

John Digweed's mix is technically excellent as always, but lacking a bit of inspiration. Cygnus X provide a pretty introduction, but from then on it becomes a little bland and dare I say it cheesy on occasion, with the like of Enervate. It's a good enough tune in the right cicumstances, but not really one I'd associate with Digweed. Unlike his mix for NE1, this shows a slight lack of imagination and takes something away from the package as a whole.

An ageless sequel - Sublime!
Their is absolutely no denying that Northern Exposure 1 and 2 are up their as the best DJ mixed compilations ever. If you're intrigued as to what all the fuss is about with these 2 albums, then all I can say is buy them and find out for yourself.

So, how does Northern Exposure 2 remain both an improvement on the already perfect first, and an evolution in terms of direction?

It's fair to say that N.E 2 (for short, sorry) moves blissfully away from the organic and nature-built sounds of N.E 1, and instead builds on a more modern sound. This is apparent for 2 reasons; N.E 1 was an album built up on tracks from between 1990 and 1996, while N.E 2 focusses on tracks from 1997 primarily. The other difference is the approach on each discs - while Sasha and Digger's both still follow their Breaks and Trance music respectively, the arrangement of music is more abrupt and feels like it's following on from it's first album.

The result of all this is an extremely icy and emotive album that, although incredibly mellow, ceases to tease you that those high key's you've been waiting for are not too far away. It's fair to say N.E 2 really is the 'arrival' of your Northern destination, approved by the neat ice bergs on the album cover.

Sasha's mix, being CD 1 again, is undoubtedly the highlight of the album. It would seem so risky to place a short vocal track right at the start of the album, but the beautiful lyrics of that which follow's it, 'Soothe', is nothing short of sensational and returns the composure. The rest of the songs that make up the first half of this album take things in break-beat fashion with a combination of icy electronic riffs, to the beautiful 'Dammerung', all mixes slickly and seamlessly. A real purpose and drive is noted by a couple of 4 to the Floor tracks, such as the popular 'Little Bullet' in a superb remixed form. Things are brought back down again though as the latter part of the album is all chocks away; Reeferendum, Distant Voices, Purple, and Symphony all mix to end this beautiful CD in style. And in typical Sasha style, each track just keeps getting better and better, with Symphony being an all time classic dance tune, if not, dare I say it, THE best in my books.

Theirs always been speculation over the effect of Digweeds mixes. Some like them, some don't, I can only express my thoughts and thats that they are completely under-rated. Sure, Sasha's mixes in N.E 1 and 2 do shine out as the best, but forgetting Digweed's effort is a crime, for each album simply wouldn't be complete without them. While Johns mix in N.E 1 contained some classic trance/classic proggy house songs from around 1994 (including the stunning Plan 4), his efforts in N.E 2 are harder and more serious. The playlist comprises mainly of popular German Trance tunes from 1997, and has seminal tracks such as 'Envervate' and 'Netherworld', to name just a couple. However, unlike Sasha's disc, this will definitely need time to not only adjust to, but to appreciate. The mixing is near perfect, the song choice is spooky but flawless, and the arrangement is atmospheric to your wildest imaginations. It's fair to say that it does get better in the second half of the mix, but this is just picking.

It's unbelieable to think that only 3 Northern Exposure albums have been produced. This is mostly likely to reflect the club night that was touring between 1996 and '98, but it shouldn't have held back the duo creating further mixes. Nether the less, the sheer quality of 1 and 2 (I don't class Expeditions as a true NE album) will NEVER be matched, and their always a case of over-doing things. This being said, it's credit the idea hasn't been milked, and Northern Exposure 2 should be remembered and played regularly as reminder of the peak of visual DJ'ing... Where the individual set out with a vision and purpose, and could tap into your emotions and senses. With this not being touched these day's, Northern Exposure is my daily reminder of the power of music, and why Alex Coe & John Digweed are not just the best DJ's, but the best musically-brained DJ's ever.

Get this now!

BREATHTAKINGLY AGELESS!
Wow is the only word i can think of whilst opening my reveiw on this cd and this is 2008 all those years after its release. I have just been lucky enough to purchase both 1&2 off ebay for £42 in mint condition off a very generous seller.
Anyway although the first of the series deserves to be up there at the top because it was the first of the groundbreaking journeys these two Dj's were takin us on, i have to say i am miffed as to why more people have not reveiwed the second of these ageless discs. I don't think you can class these as musical cd's as they do much more to the listener than give you the odd danceable beat, these really do take you on a magical mental journey that really has stood the test of time.
I would say that this (part two) has more drive than the first as the first of the two builds up the atmosphere in a way that will never be beaten and really only starts the musical journey come the second disc, where this starts with the drive the first one ended with and continues through both discs. The quality of part two is absolutly phenomenal, hypnotic beats from the start that take you on an emotional rollercoaster of a ride. I beg you if you have a young family put them to bed at night get your comfy spot on the sofa dim the lights and grab yourself a beer, chill and just let this disc do the rest it will blow your mind.