Sasha fans, chairravers and merceryserver members,

I don't know if this belongs here, but I would like to start a little discussion. I'm a big Sasha fan for years and I love his sets. I also have to say that I think I love the old Sasha more although I enjoy his new sets too.

When I listen to his old sets (for example the studio mix 1993) my hart starts beating faster, and I feel happines. The piano's, the waves, damn I love it :LoveYou:

The years go by and I went for example ten years later to the Glastonbury set 2003. A modern sound compared to the 1993 tape, but still the same happines. Actually it's better then before, and at the end I want more and I want more. My head can't stop floating around and my body rocks (maybe this sounds familiar to some of you). Hell Yeah this is great ! The biggest sets were played (the famous Privilege Manumission and Avalon sets for example).

At the end of 2006 the sound becomes darker and darker, but in all sets are still some lightening sparks. Now it's 2009, and I have to say that his mixes are greater mixed then ever, and I like most of the tracks. The only thing that makes me a bit sad sometimes is the happines that is gone in 95% of his current sets :Down:. Now I listen to it and think: "yeah great tracks, nice floating", but at the end that was it.... It's sometimes just too minimal.

I don't want to say that I don't like Sasha's sets anymore, because I really do (at a different way) like I said in the first paragraph, but sometimes I really mis the good old days :Smiling:

Just my 2 cents,

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

yeah...lol

I don't really see a discussion here. What you are experiencing is the effects of long term extacy ab(use).

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

For my part I prefer the more progressive sound and layers Sasha creates - especially his ability to put together a dark heads down set or make your jaw drop with the beauty of a track he brings in unexpectedly.

I'm not a big fan of the early music, I'm not one for the piano tracks - but the deeper NE sound leading to Arkham Asylum to GU009 to Xpander to GU13 to Communicate really does it for me.

In terms of sets I love it's Zen Afterparty leading to The Rub, progressing to the darker sound of Sobremonte & culminating in Octopus (for me his most under-rated set .. and one of his darkest).

2002 and 2003 marked a bit of a lull and move towards playing crowd pleasers (although live he still had his moments - the 1st hour of Beirut is still masterly programming)... Involver marked a real return to form and re-invigorated Sasha - he again put out some great live appearances culminating in his appearances in ibiza that summer.

The move to @Live and MAVEN started well - an awesome and unique EM followed by a great appearance at Fabric that night .. but the remainder of 2005/2006 and 2007 was hit & miss. Some really good stuff (Avalon, Warung, Studio, Metrophonic) and some duds. As Sasha admits, the tracks that Producers were providing lacked melody - melodies have always been a key part of his sound.

Invol2ver seems to have re-envigorated him - with real promise in the form of his Amnesia set and Skyclub ... he's stopped relying on up front tracks simply because they are up front - instead it's all about melody and building the set.

I'm off to see his Fabric return at the weekend - I've got high hopes and will report back.

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

Sasha is a talented enough dj (one of the most talented) to pick and choose between playing what he wants to hear and what the crowd wants to hear while at the same time constantly improving and evolving. EDM isn't that old, when you look at the history of edm it's pretty plain to see that the genre has evolved...some dj's set trends some dj's follow trends. I think most listeners on MS appreciate how Sasha has balanced his ability to take risks and yet stay true to his fan base. At the end of the day, I think he's a superstar dj that plays what he likes, without being overly concerned about what others think. It's only natural for a musician's sound to continue to mature, which Sasha has certainly done well. Just out of curiosity, did you like Airdrawndagger and does it make you happy? lol

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

i'm a big fan of how he uses his pingpong on every breakdown since about 2005 :Gay:

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

I'm not a die-hard Sasha fan... so I can't really comment of which style - old vs new I like better as I haven't kept up with his sets, albums etc. I'm more into what Digweed spins but mind you... some of Sasha's sets are steller and I absolutely LOVE [B]Airdrawndagger[/B]

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

I think the main differecne is

Old Sasha [SIZE="6"]Has long hair[/SIZE] [IMG]http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/VHNIN/Sashayoung.jpg[/IMG]

New Sasha [SIZE="6"]Has almost no hair[/SIZE] [IMG]http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/VHNIN/TampaFLHydeParkCafe-SuzySolarDjSash.jpg[/IMG] :p

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

[quote=Haziel;745396]I think the main differecne is

Old Sasha [SIZE=6]Has long hair[/SIZE] [IMG]http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/VHNIN/Sashayoung.jpg[/IMG]

New Sasha [SIZE=6]Has almost no hair[/SIZE] [IMG]http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e319/VHNIN/TampaFLHydeParkCafe-SuzySolarDjSash.jpg[/IMG] :p[/quote]

two things are still the same in these pics:

1. both birds next to sasha are fit.. :LoveYou: and

2. sasha has the exact same smile on his face! :lol:

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

^^LOL^^

^RIGHT ON^ -samesmile below-

[img]http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs030.snc1/2585_55191239292_717134292_1355559_6644296_n.jpg[/img]

my appraisal is mostly unneeded, everyone already knows I listen to every set ever released by sasha

and if this photo is taken by him: [IMG]http://www.djsasha.com/img/tour/09_1_29/sm_image01.jpg[/IMG]

[I]Then i'd say he's a damn good photog as well![/I]

still a better dj [url]http://www.djsasha.com/img/tour/09_2_14/lg_image05.jpg[/url]

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

I think it's more an indication of what's being produced these days. As much as they influence the scene they're also restricted by the productions. Maybe it's just a sign of the times and what moves people these days. Gone are the warmth and lush melodies and optimism. It's all about twisted fucked up shit and intense highs.

If a noob listened to NE or Renaissance or GU these days, I wouldn't be surprised if some of them find the tunes cheesy.

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

i like the new Sasha waaaay better. But then again, i've never been into trance.... LOL

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

^not to mention most real sasha fans have been pretty pleased over the last year vs. 2 yrs ago when everyone was like wtf happened to sasha?

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

i like his live older stuff a lot more... have not been into anything he's done lately except his involver releases. occassionally i hear a good set, but too few and far between for me to go hunting for anything.

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

HIs electro phase sucked , I was listening to that lithuania set the other day it, was really bad , I prefer the actual sasha

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

I think he did a lot better with less (as far as sound goes). The stuff he was doing with vinyl was head and shoulders better that the computer faggotry of today. With that being said, he does sound better today than when he first switched over.

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

[quote=feather;745425]I think it's more an indication of what's being produced these days. As much as they influence the scene they're also restricted by the productions. Maybe it's just a sign of the times and what moves people these days. Gone are the warmth and lush melodies and optimism. It's all about twisted fucked up shit and intense highs.

If a noob listened to NE or Renaissance or GU these days, I wouldn't be surprised if some of them find the tunes cheesy.[/quote]

As I said its the effects of prolonged use of ecstasy on dj-s and most well known producers :)

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

^that's a pretty interesting point shpira, I am sure that [I]has[/I] happened [I]huh[/I]?

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

GU: San Francisco and his live @ La Mania the best for me by far!

i know for sure that sasha was my fave dj... but, i think after his EM in 2005 something changed with his sound, and i cant say i liked the change.. now there are so many of his sets in the p/r sasha section and i just dont download 'em.. im waitng for everyone else to say "of fuck.. oh yeah.. what a set.. sasha's on form.. " and so on and then i decide to download it.. not that the set will be shit or anything, i just dont like experiments with my ears, if you know what i mean..

im still going Sasha & Digweed in Leeds in 3 weeks tho!

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

[quote=Shpira;745483]As I said its the effects of prolonged use of ecstasy on dj-s and most well known producers :)[/quote]

That might be but I think it's a wider issue.

I think it's a societal change. It's no longer the summer of love and stuff, it's all about money and shit in our world, and that influences most people's mindsets.

Do people today go out to lose themselves in music like when I started on the scene, or do people go out, drink to get drunk, and lose themselves away from their shit lives and the shit happening around them?

If you looked at media like TV or movies, that's changed so much. It's all about being darker and real and grittier. If you put out something that is simplistic and optimistic and makes people feel good, half of it gets shot down as being too cheesy or fluff.

I think all this stuff influences us and ultimately the media we produce and consume and even if it is not obvious, I imagine these influences show itself in the music we listen to.

Or I'm just thinking too much into this :|:roll:

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

mid-sasha! GU san fran/NE2 time he was spot on!

old sasha was a bit too pianoy for me and new sasha is, meh!

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

Feather

You've got some good points, but I think that people are going out to loose themselfs from the beginning (just run away from the daily problems). Most of the people in the house scene just wanted to party, and forget all the problems in the world.

In the 90's there were lots of problems too, but the tv and radio is broadcasting this whole day long now, and on a different way, like you said. That could be the trigger one for the change in music.

Have to say that I prefer really dark sounds too these days. Swayzak - Smile & Receive (Apparat remix) for example. This one gives me shivers all the way. When this track is played at a gig I loose myself too, but on a different way. It's not the happines that makes me floating arround, but the dark and intense sound. Actually I have to say that: "the world is fucked up" fits better to this kind of tracks instead of "the world is beautifull" like the earlier tracks fit too.

You can compare it with these tracks: Emerald - Bedrock Sasha ft. Junkie XL - Breezer Maurice & Noble - Hoochie Goochie Man

vs Swayzak - Smile & Receiver (Apparat remix) Kissogram - My Friend Is A Seahorse (Radio Slave remix) Sasha - Coma

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

"everything being all about money" is not a new societal phenomenon...and actual societal change is a very slow moving animal.

But I think what Feather is getting at is that the more grittier sound makes him happy more than the fluffier stuff.

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

^^Exactly. From Peace and Love to All about the money is a change from the 60's - 70's hippie era to the Yuppie era of the 80's ...

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

[quote=floridaorange;745616]But I think what Feather is getting at is that the more grittier sound makes him happy more than the fluffier stuff.[/quote]

so feather likes it gritty not fluffy, hey? :Naughty:

:Anal: ;)

:lol:

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

are we even still talking about sasha? :lol:

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

^you 2 are both drawing strange conclusions:lol:

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

about feather or sasha? :NotMe:

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

Sorry :NotMe::oops:

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

what happened there? :NotMe:

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

Like any DJ, Sasha will tailor his sets and track selection to the crowd, venue and time on the decks he's given. I think he enjoys playing longer sets (Budapest 12/07, Warung 2006, Zen afterparty) i.e. greater than 3 hours where he's got a chance to pull out more tracks and really build a set rather than playing for 2 hours where he's gotta start out strong, chessy and climactic and finish with that LADYTRON track.

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

Sasha has always been at his best in a small intimate venue where he can stretch out - he's admitted that he gets nervous at the big events and even described a panic attack a few years back.

There only is one sasha!!!!!!!!!!

dude man dude it sounds like what ure really saying is that you are still following sasha in the hope that he will return to the old style. we all connect with the music we grow up with so you walk into a club nowadays and its all techy grooves and minimal based 10years ago in was trance but it has been raped by the music industry. sasha is a musican and to stay on top for 10years plus you have to play the freshest music.... i new sound which is creeping into sasha set is classical based stuff.... tracks like king roc - flow. the way i look at it is in 89 music was based around a piano... in 99 it was based around synths...... since then vsts have taken over and computrs are cheap so everyone wants to be the next tiesto..... problem being unless u have musical training you can only write techy minimal loops based tracks.... so the industry has been flooded with a mass of music which 70% of it all sounds the same..... what going to happen is someone is going to write a track that will break the mould and ull been dancing away in a club to sasha and u will think he is play a melodic set then he will drop a tune that has pads and swirling melodies and a new sound will be born.... and all the ravers from 99 will be saying yeah its good but not as good as it was in 99..... :)

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

^ wtf! my eyes hurt now. :evil:

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

i think his enter key is not working properly

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

[quote=simonr;746041]he's admitted that he gets nervous at the big events and even described a panic attack a few years back.[/quote]

Didn't know that :o: I thaught he was over things like that after 20 years, but at the other side I can understand that raves with >20.000 people will never be normal. In a small club people come to see you. At a megarave 50% wanted to see Paul van Dyk or something like that, and when he sees that people aren't dancing the panic comes in.

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

[quote=tiddles;745385]i'm a big fan of how he uses his pingpong on every breakdown since about 2005 :Gay:[/quote]

+1

Sasha get off of Ableton! Leave the tracks in peace!

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

[quote=simonr;746041]Sasha has always been at his best in a small intimate venue where he can stretch out - he's admitted that he gets nervous at the big events and even described a panic attack a few years back.[/quote]

Yeah i remember Digweed saying he was sick just before starting his set, the first time he played Twilo

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

I miss his mixing from the vinyl days... The Ableton-mixing is just so boring, he used to be amazing with the mixer. Just listen to the set from Amsterdam in December 2001 where he played at Sander Kleinenberg's party... The mixing is just incredible and totally unique, he had total thing of his own.

He still has the ear for good tunes and can obviously program a set but I miss his technical skills.

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

No matter old or new Sasha is Sasha simply #1

Re: The old Sasha vs The new Sasha

fighting talk! :wanna fi: