Music for the Maases, Vol. 2

by John Bush\nThe second volume in Timo Maas' series of mix-album/remix-collection combos is a more pop-driven set than his first. Instead of the club stormers ("Dooms Night," "Ubik") that paced the first volume, this one includes his remixes of dance-pop crossover acts ranging from Kelis toGarbage to Moloko to Placebo. Maas begins by smoothing out the Neptunes' "Young, Fresh n' New" by Kelis, moves into smoother pinpoint house with Starecase's "See," and floats a new self-production, a stark industrial number that welds Nitzer Ebb to progressive house. It's clear from this mix that Maas still hasn't recorded (or remixed) a track that deserves the massive popularity of his first few productions, and despite his usual tight style and precise mixing, Music for the Maases, Vol. 2 reveals a surprisingly flat sound for a man who was previously poised to be Oakenfold's replacement as taste-maker for the mainstream dance community.