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Gregor Tresher is a German dj/producer who has been active since 2003 --- an eternity in the dance genre --- doing both remixes and his own compositions, as well as being featured on dozens of compilations --- building a worldwide underground audience among techno, trance and house aficionados. A Thousand Nights is Tresher’s first solo CD, and highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the dance genre.

Someone encountering electronica for the first time may have a hard time digesting A Thousand Nights, at least in one setting. Trance and techno cuts, by definition, tend to be long and somewhat unvaried. Within context, they work quite well --- as does the majority of A Thousand Nights --- particularly the title track --- but as a CD with well over 70 minutes worth of music spread over thirteen tracks it can approach the point of tediousness. For my own taste (being a bit outside of the demographics such a project seeks to attract) a track or two at a time works just fine. Syncopia is a favorite of mine off of A Thousand Nights, wending an Arabic percussive rhythm through a hyper kinetic electronic sample. The Now People, which was released as a single in 2006, is included on A Thousand Nights as well, an extended techno mix which still sounds interesting two years later.

Tresher’s loyal worldwide audience will welcome A Thousand Nights, particularly for the inclusion of his hits as well as his new mixes, but neophytes to the electronica genre might be better served by acquiring a collection of the music by various djs and producers to get their feet wet before jumping into a solo CD like this one.