The Glue Is in the Song

If he has a problem with glue, it's because he's starting off in a way that creates too much separation to begin with and doesn't honor or respect what's built into the song. I feel that way about space as well. You don't create space in a mix. You preserve the space that's in the arrangement. The small move approaches is a good way to do that. Push everything up and then slowly clear things out. Because that way you start with the blob, and then you just pull things out enough that you get the clarity and separation you want - but no more. And your foundation is the blob.