Wow, this set is old.  The graphic there is a scan of the CD I still have kicking around from nine years ago.  Just look at that: “Paradox”.  That was my DJ name before switching to the more “serious sounding” Austin Gregory, and it was because of music like this set that I felt compelled to make the move.  While I had been messing around with progressive stuff for a while, this set was like my official announcement: “Hey world, I’m a progressive house/trance DJ!!!”

And you know what, it still holds up today. It’s got some absolute classics on here: “Lupus” and “Xpander” by Sasha, “The Sway” my favorite song by my home town heroes Jondi & Spesh, some great Cass & Slide tracks in the height of their progressive powers and “Sunrise” by Space Shuffle, a record I’d been trying to get from Cor for the longest (when did he ever play progressive stuff?), and finally convinced him to give me on the caveat that I ended a set with it.  It’s got these chimes and ocean noises that just kind bliss you out as you drift away… fantastic ending song.

So sit back, plug in, and enjoy some vintage Progressive Trance and House like mama used to make for you on those rainy winter days.

DJ Jay - “Electric Relaxation”

Track list and more after the jump!

A peak inside the mind of a DJ: my original track list/notes on this set!  Before Ableton Live this was about as technical as it got.  I kept all my ideas for mixes in this book since I started DJing in 1997, and by some miracle I still have it today!  Ahh, the memories.

1. “Hong Kong” - John Johnson

2. “Urban Static” - Ortus

3. “Lupus” - Sasha - Jimmy Van M / Cass & Slide Remix

4. “Raincry” - Scott Hardkiss - Jondi & Spesh Remix

5. “The Sway” - Jondi & Spesh*

6. “France” - THK

7. “Closure” - Slide

8. “Perception” - Cass & Slide

9. “Xpander” - Sasha

10. “Dirty Logic” - Deep Funk Project

11. “Sunrise” - Space Shuffle

* I still, to this day, remember the first time I heard this song.  I was at 1015 Folsom (San Francisco super club from the days of yor), in that little side room to the left and up the stairs from the main dance floor (if your facing the DJ).  I think it mighta been when Cor, I and some other homies went out to see Paul Van Dyk… anyway, I was up there taking a break from the main room when I heard this song with these haunting voices, and unique sounding synths, the likes of which I’d never heard before, and HAD to know who it was.  I remember the DJ booth being inaccessible but it turned out it was the DJs last song.  When I asked him about it he replied sheepishly that the track was his, and would be released some time in the next year!  That was how I first met local San Francisco DJ/production/Qool icon, and personal DJ role model “Spesh”.