Balance 015: Will Saul

Simple Records’ Will Saul hands in his contribution to the Balance electronic-house series—and it’s one of the best, on par with Jimmy Van M’s beautiful 2007 edition. Like that set, 015 is a three-disc session, and Saul uses the time to explore the deeper ends of tech-house, boundary-stretching dubstep, moody downtempo and finespun techno. Sometimes, a bit too finespun; the second disc searches for footing upon the backs of delicate tracks from DJ Koze and Ricardo Villalobos before kicking into gear with the creepy-sexy Konrad Black thumper “Medusa Smile (Don’t Look Back…).” But such moments are rare, and with a mix that has room for both Jamaica kingpins Sly & Robbie and the glittering Hercules and Love Affair, they’re a very small price to pay.—Bruce Tantum

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