Deep Dish - Penetrate Deeper (Re-release, Various Artists)

Bureaucracy is one of Washington's greatest exports. Deep Dish is another, two young men who cut through the red tape and mediocrity of the underground with the sharpest of knives. Before Deep Dish became world-wide dance music sensations, before the main stream recognition that has garnered them a Grammy Award and more, and even before they gave birth to their world renowned record label Yoshitoshi, Deep Dish were working hard to stake their claim in the world of dance music.

Penetrate Deeper represents the early days of Deep Dish and the then fledgling Deep Dish Records. The now classic compilation features the first four original Deep Dish Records releases ("A Feeling", "The Moment of Truth", "Relativity", and "Lonely Winter") along side the pivotal Quench and Special remix of Naomi Daniel's "Feel the Fire," produced for their long-time mate, Detroit's Carl Craig.

Two additional compositions complete the picture – the lush, orchestrated Elastic Reality, and "The Dream" by Prana – the apex of Deep Dish's career at that point.

After listening to these works, it becomes clear that, even at that early stage in their career, Dubfire and Sharam had tapped into a chemistry and bond that is greater than the sum of its parts. Album Description

The Early Conception of Legends

An interesting glimpse into Deep Dish's earlier beginnings is back on the shelves. Penetrate Deeper is definitely not for electronica fans that love Deep Dish's 21st century work. This album is solidly house minus any "progressiveness". Not surprising, as the original release date is three years prior to the unofficial induction of the progressive subgenre of house music.

The album is fun and happy, but lacks depth. Deep Dish tend to overuse their featured vocalists on their own albums. Penetrate Deeper is no exception.

There are only a handful of old electronica albums that warrant re-releases. This is not one of them.

2.5/5 stars.

July 30, 2007

Old school

Note--this is a re-release of an OLD Deep Dish cd, but it is excellent! Definitely lets you see the beginnings of what they sounded like when they started. Quite different than now, IMHO. But, some great house tracks, and BT is on here also. I picked up the first issue in 1995 when I kept hearing 'Lonely Winter' at the club and was loving it. Also, desperately wanted to find Chocolate City but had to wait all the way until the "Junk Science" album to get it on cd. Sigh-brings me back to the good old days. February 27, 2004

Not quite what I expected

I normally buy any Deep Dish release without reading the reveiws or listening to it first. This definitley sounds older and I was expecting a little more. Maybe a good one for serious DD fans but I prefer their newer stuff (Global Underground). November 11, 2003

PURE BLISS

LOVE IT SHOWS THEY WERE MILES AHEAD ! November 7, 2003

Glad this is available again!!

I remember buying this CD in 1995 solely because it was on the old TRIBAL AMERICA label (Remember them?). I had never heard of Deep Dish and I just started to learn how to DJ. I was into house music for a few years and decided to give it a shot because I recognized Carl Craig and I heard the "Cassa de X" track when I used to go clubbing.
I have to say that this CD changed how I felt about house music. I liked it before Penetrate Deeper but LOVED it after. I'd listen to this over and over, mesmerized by the slow building and hypnotic nature of the tracks. When TRIBAL went under, I was saddened to realize that this CD may not get the opportunity to touch others like it did me. It is a relief to see that it has been rereleased.
Tracks like "Cassa de X", "Lonely Winter, "Feel The Fire", and "The Dream" were my personal favorites. At the time, I never heard house music like this. I was used to the NYC/NJ garage influenced style. (MAW, Todd Terry,MK,JohNick, etc.)
Please listen to it with an open mind. It is only a single CD, and remember that this originally came out in 1995! Many of the tracks are 10 years old. I'd still listen to my old copy often and reflect with a smile on my face. September 11, 2003

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