Tropes Media Browse Indexes Forums Videos Ask The Tropers Trope Finder Media Finder Trope Launch Pad Tech Wishlist Reviews Tools
Cut List New Edits Edit Reasons Launches Images List Crowner Activity Un-typed Pages Recent Page Type Changes Changelog
Tips
Creating New Redirects Cross Wicking Tips for Editing Text Formatting Rules Glossary Edit Reasons Handling Spoilers Word Cruft Administrivia FAQ
Tropes HQ
About Us Contact Us Advertise DMCA Notice Privacy Policy Report Bug
Go Ad-Free Changelog
  • Show Spoilers
  • Night Vision
  • Sticky Header
  • Highlight Links
 

Follow TV Tropes

Following

Creator / Global Underground

Go To

A series of DJ mixes started in 1996 by Andy Horsfield and James Todd. Initially released on Boxed Records, it eventually superseded its parent to become its own record company.

The series was responsible for bringing the role of the DJ to prominence. From That Other Wiki: "Billboard has recognized Global Underground as the first DJ mix compilation to place high-quality photographs of DJs on the album covers. This, it further asserted, played a part in turning DJs into superstar figures within the culture of electronic dance music." Prior to this, most electronic music artists (such as Aphex Twin) were somewhat reclusive.

A few other aspects feature prominently on the releases. First, the releases are numbered. Initially not considered important, as GU 002 was skipped (some accounts say the item supposed to be GU 002 was a t-shirt, others say it was the cassette version of GU 001). When Thrive Records was contracted to handle the US releases of some early installments, they changed the numbering scheme. Since GU 012, the numbers have been consistent between UK and US versions.

Another prominent part of the branding is the location. Each release is a retrospective on a performance by a globe-trotting DJ (though the first few were recorded live, this was quickly scrapped), and the exotic location features heavily in the liner notes, frequently including a description of the local nightlife by Dom Phillips, editor of Mixmag. To date, Global Underground DJs have released mixes on every continent except Antarctica. note  The formula of highlighting a location with each mix has been copied by other DJs, including Tiësto's In Search of Sunrise series (starting with volume 3 and continuing through Richard Durand's tenure from vol. 8 on) and Markus Schulz's yearly (2005-2013) mix series.

All the mixes in the series have been 2 CDs in length. In the initial live mixes, this merely meant a slight break in the set. On later mixes, this allowed DJs to craft two separate mixes, often of vastly differing character. For the most part, mixes are house and trance, though there are a few deviations into breakbeat, ambient, and Drum N Bass (both of Paul Oakenfold's mixes have dipped into Drum N Bass). The format of two CD-length mixes has been adopted by numerous DJs since.

Releases

     City Mixes 
The original. A series of 2-disc mixes featuring a globetrotting DJ crafting a mix in an exotic clubbing location.

    Samplers 
A series of 1-disc mixes highlighting a selection of tracks from the most recent GU mixes.

  • GUSAM001: Departures
  • GUSAM002: Arrivals
  • GUSAM003: Destinations
  • GUSAM004: Locations
  • GUSAMUS001: Passport
  • GUSAM005: Exposures
  • GUSAM006: Synchronised
  • GUSAM007: Synchronised 2

    Nubreed 
A series of 2-disc mixes highlighting up-and-coming DJs.

  • NU001: Anthony Pappa
  • NU002: Danny Howells
  • NU003: Steve Lawler
  • NU004: Sander Kleinenberg
  • NU005: Lee Burridge
  • NU006: Satoshi Tomiie
  • NU007: Jim Rivers
  • NU008: Sultan
  • NU009: Habischman
  • NU010: Oliver Schories
  • NU011: Theo Kottis
  • NU012: Denney

Previous

Index

Next

  • Show Spoilers
  • Night Vision
  • Sticky Header
  • Wide Load

Important Links

Ask The Tropers Trope Finder Media Finder Trope Launch Pad Tech Wishlist Reviews Go Ad Free!
Crucial Browsing
Resources
Top