Reviews

Calvin’s corner  

  Spirit Zone

The first time I heard a track by Element was in Amager Bio back in December last year where DJ Alex played the track “Turn To Me”, and I have been looking for it for a long time. Finally the album is out, and more of this mixture of deep trance and progressive music is found on this super album that I strongly can recommend, if you are looking for a new inspiration in the ever-growing world of trance music. Element are three Germans; Mark Engemann on keyboards, Dieter Gerbe on drums and Dirk Draeger on guitar, keyboards and vocal. This is the group’s second album release; they have in 2000 released the popular album "Transform" on Liquid Audio. The album never stops, it’s full on from 133 to 143 bmp and the highlights are many, in my point of view one of the best albums to hits the streets in 2002.

Phonokol

Avi Nissim and Lior Perlmutter are back with their new album “AMEN” since their release of “Another World”  in 1999. On AMEN Astral Projection expand their well-known Israeli trance sound, nothing much has happened over the years, it’s still Astral Projection. The album is full on 80 minutes music as we know Avi and Lior. They introduced some new sound elements collected from the European trance and the progressive music environment and my guess is that a track like “Infiniti Justice” will find its way on to the dance floor and on mix compilations. “Anything Is Possible“ and “Heaven's Gate” are in my point of view some of the best tracks on AMEN, but I’ve expected more from the masters of Israeli trance.

  Hook Recordings

At long last the debut album from the brothers Dave and Brendan Webster is released. We have over the years been thrilled with smooth and innovating tracks from Transa, and now they are all collected on a double CD together with ten brand new tracks. The tracks range from melodic trance over hard edge deep trance tracks to Ibiza feel soundscapes, and emphasis the musical talents of the two brothers. Tracks like “Prophase”, “Supernova”, “Behind The Sun” and “Transcend” are already burning the dance floors. The album is also released as a double vinyl.

Ministry Of Sound / Bonnier

Take the wonderful piano theme from the movie “American Beauty” done by Thomas Newman and add a pulsing rhythm, then you have “American Dream”. Take the piano theme from “The Shawshank Redemption” also done by Thomas Newman, add the vocal of Seal and a driving rhythm you, then have “My Vision” and both of them work fantastic and have a positive uplifting energy around them. The Jakatta album is full of interesting crossings of uplifting music, ethnic voices, sounds and laidback tunes. “Ride The Storm” featuring Linda Clifford is a fantastic house blast; also featured on voice is Sheila Chandra, Ty and Beth Hirsch.

For a long time I’ve been impressed with the high quality productions of Dutch DJ Harry Lemon, but to get all his tracks on one double CD is amazing.  “The Inner Sanctuary Sessions” covers most of Lemon 8’s back catalogue and there is not one bad track on this mix compilation that has been spinning on my CD deck since I got it. No doubt in my mind that Harry is one of the top producers right now. His build ups, senses for rhythm and atmospheric sounds are amazing, spanning the progressive house and progressive trance genres. Simple one of the year 2002 best compilations. It’s released on Basic Beat Recordings and you should be able to get it through your local record shop, if not then try here – Check out his hymn to New York – Enjoy..

Another addition to the well-known Global Underground family is “Afterhours”. This double CD is a strange mixture of slow electronic tracks and is a brilliant backdrop to chill. The CD is compiled and mixed by Global Underground themselves. It features some well-known artist like Depeche Mode, Human League mixed with tracks from Monu, The Thrillseekers, Jimi Tenor and Ashtrax.

Conjure One is the former Delerium member Rhys Fulber and he has on his debut album collaborated with Sinead O’Connor, Marie Claire D’Ubaldo, Poe and Junkie XL. This album is for the chill out moments in a hard days work, a journey in ethnic sounds, voices, textures, and beautiful melodies. The limited edition of the album includes a fantastic bonus disk with a Hybrid remix of 'Tears from the Moon' featuring Sinead O'Connor on vocals and the massive Max Graham remix of “Redemption”. Also on the disc remixes by Ian Van Dahl and Robbie Rivera are included.

Bedrock,

From America comes the hottest producers and remixes duo in present time, John Creamer & Stephane K. and they have on their debut mix compilation drawn on their influences and have come up with a deep tribal journey. On the compilation you will find classics like Kim English “Supernatural”, Dogma “Mas Suave” and unreleased and exclusive material by Rivera and Tratter. Also featured is Bernard Leon Howard III “Mascarter”. The compilation is also released as two double vinyl, under the name of “Compiled and unmixed”.

The soundtrack to the new James Bond movie “Die Another Day” features the super title track by Madonna and a remix of the 007 theme by Paul Oakenfold. David Arnold has done the rest of the music to this new instalment of 007 with a twist. The CD is enhanced with the Madonna video and a “making of” the video. Also included are web links for extra information and videos, e.g. the music video for the Oakenfold 007 mix. For the clubbers go out and get hold of the CD singles or the 12”, that incl. remixes by Dirty Vegas, Deepsky and our own Brother Brown.

Electric Calm

Global Underground

Packed as a DVD, this CD is the first in a new series from Global Underground called “Electric Calm” and features tracks from Global Underground’s single labels Quad and Coded. The 11 tracks are all mixed together in one continues mix by The Forth in a beautiful flow and it’s an album that you can sit down to at home and relax and listen to. It’s a chill out album that takes you on a journey in sounds and rhymes. BEATUTIFUL – In my book one of the best chill out albums of 2002.