To celebrate the 9th edition of the Extrama Outdoor festival, Matthew Dekay and Gene Farris have put together a double CD that totally rocks. On CD1 Matthew Dekay shows what one of the most innovating and brightest stars on the DJ scene right now is all about. He mixes the most wonderful progressive house music together in one perfect set – on the best I’ve heard this year. It includes a long string of Matthew’s own track, remixes and collaborations. The outstanding “Behind Secret Borders” is build on a sample from Depeche Mode and the massive Engelpost remix of Peter Gabriel´s “Darkness” concludes the mix. Gene Farris goes a more deep and techky and delivers a great mix, but for me it’s the Matthew Dekay mix that stands out – and for this alone I will get hold of this package that also includes a bonus DVD with gig snips, interviews and other goodies from the Extrama Outdoor festival. (CA)

What can I say – this is f****** brilliant. The breakbeat masters Way Out West has done it again. “Don´t Look Down” is Nick Warren and Jody Wieternoff´s third album as Way Out West and they are perhaps best know for their hits as “Ajare”, “The Gift”, “Intensify”, “Stealth” and “Mindcircus”. You can hear that they have developed as a group now they have expanded with an extra band member Omi on vocals. The album kicks off with two down tempo vocal tracks “Anything But You” and “Don’t Forget Me” before we are given the trademark 4/4 breakbeat instrumental anthems “Everyday” and “Apollo” that Way Out West are so known for. “Killa” is just another stunning 4/4 track to the floor and “Northern Lights” is just an amazing chilling track. As an extra bonus you are given a mix compilation CD with re-edited tracks and mixed by Way Out West and in the mix they have included another brilliant track “Pulse Of Life” that couldn’t fit on the album – by the way I’m happy that they didn’t include “Muthaf***ka” that was released earlier in the year – this tracks wouldn’t have fitted the overall feeling of the album. Well I can’t praise this album enough – the best Way Out West so far – go and get it. (CA)

One of my favourite produces and DJ´s finally released his “Shine” compilation. The “Shine” compilation was originally scheduled to be released on Hope Recordings in 2002 but never came out. So Max has put together a new one and what a compilation this is. Melodic progressive trance from the start - you are full on with the rolling and melodic sound of Piece Process “Solar Myth” that moves into Marc O’Toole’s “It’s Our Time”, Red And Blue “Quintos”, Ultravision “Inner Earth”, Stephane Malca “Revolutions” and Piece Process “New Driver” follows. Sander Kleinenberg´s “Buenos Aires” fits perfectly in the mix and you are kept on your journey into the unknown with tracks from Madoka “Altered” and “Afterburner”. The Inkfish remix of Medway “Trauma” slows everything down and to close the CD you are handed the Junkie XL track “Tennis”. Whoo what a ride – I have to come down again – you can get high on this. (CA)

The 6th instalment of The Master Series, sees the return of Hernán Cattáneo with a double CD full of some the latest progressive releases. CD1 kicks off with Pole Folder’s “Salvatioin on Salvery Sims”, that moves into 16B”Coloures” in a mix done by Hernán himself. Morel “If I Love You Me” and Parham and Jokke “Love Sequence” are also included in the mix. Space Manoeuvres “Part Three” starts off CD2 that also includes John Graham & Roland Blades “Funky Summa”, Jeff Bennett “Strange Items” (Hernán Cattáneo remix), Dousk “Estrange”, Nick Muir “Savin´You”, Hybrid “Higher Than A Skyscraper” (Satoshi Tomiie remix) and Underworld “Mo Move” (Hernán Cattáneo remix) concludes this massive new Renaissance release (CA).

Sander Klienenberg delivers a crazy mix of styles on his follow-up to his the critically acclaimed “Everybody” compilation released last year. He takes on the electro house, the funky house, the hart hitting tribal house, and the straight up progressive tracks in one giant mix. So if you expect a dreamy trip in Klienenberg land then think again you are in for a diverse ride in some of the current and up coming floor fillers. CD1 features the awesome “Filth” track from Rowan Blades and Chris Lake, Infusion’s “Do To You In 82”, Michael Burns pres. Blue Haze “Into Nothing” in the Bill Hamel remix. The first CD closes with a new fantastic track “The Right Time” from Sander himself and is mixed in a way that you actually can use it in your own set. CD2 starts out electronic with a new track from Sander (I must say I like his progressive tunes better) and we are also given the fantastic Deepsky “Take Like A Stranger” track, the smoking Dimas & Riva “Work Together” track and Redanka’s “Waves” closes the mix. (CA)

Another compilation from Paul Oakenfold sees the light. This time the big outdoor festival in Liverpool “Creamfilds” is the theme of the compilation. The two CD´s spans from the breakbeat tunes over the progressive tunes to the uplifting trance tunes of the present and the future. No doubt that Paul Oakenfold has a big name and can get the tracks that he wants for his compilations and this release is another great statement of this. CD1 includes tracks from the likes of Matt Darey pres. Li Kwan “Point Zero”, Duran and Ayteq “First Sight”, Sultan & The Greek “Wadi”, the massive Markus Schulze “Clear Blue” track, Quivver “Space Manoeuvres Part 3”, two tracks “12” and “The World Doesn’t Know” from Tilt´s forthcoming album and a remix by the man himself of Carlos Vives “Como Tu”. CD2 features tracks from Girl Nobody “Cages” in the Lemon8 remix, the fantastic “Perfect Wave” track by Peter Martin, John OO Fleming´s “I’m Not Fooled”, an unreleased Shane 54 remix of Okaenfold’s own “Time Of Your Life” and two new remixed by Oakenfold himself of U2 “Beautiful Day” and Mauro Picotto “Lizard”. (CA)

About a year ago I asked Paul Van Dyk if there would be any special editions of his “Reflections” album and at that time he said that it only would be released as a normal CD, a SACD and a Japanese two disc edition (see interview). In the spring we got the UK Positiva release with an extra CD with remixes. Now we have the latest edition of Paul´s “Reflections” album with all the goodies that was released on the CD2 of the Positiva release mixed into one long continues mix. But in the end the new collaboration track with Peter Heppner “Wir Sind Wir” in the PVD club mix is included in the mix. As bonus tracks you get the Faithless remix of “Nothing But You” and the brilliant original version of “Wir Sind Wir”. I’m not sure of the purpose of this release, but the Positiva release was for the UK market only and the new “Re- Reflections” is a proper Vandit / Universal release for release in the rest of Europe. So if you have “Reflections” you must get “Re- Reflections” to get the great club mixes put together by the master himself. (CA)

For the CD junkies comes here the third collection of tracks from the vaults of Vandit. Some already released, some just released, a perhaps future track and an exclusive edit. All 14 tracks are compiled by Paul Van Dyk and all sequenced / mixed perfectly together. The CD kicks off with the smooth Starchaser “Falling Star” track that Paul van Dyk also featured on his mix album for Mixmag last year. Modulation “Spirits” follows and Paul Van Dyk´s own “Crush” in the Vandit Club mix is a perfect build to the great Agnelli & Nelson “Holding Onto Nothing”. The exclusive PvD edit of Terry Bonnes “Introspection” is next and one great trance tune after the other is presented. NU NRG is represented with the title track from their new album “Freefall” and a track from their Spaceflower EP “Universe”. The highlight is José Amnesia “The Eternal” that Vandit just has released and another track that has a few years on its back is the amazing Realistic “Infernal Machine” Ibiza sounding track that looks like to be a future Vandit release. No doubt that this compilation will appeal to all trance lovers – one of the best trance compilation of 2004. (CA)

With a Brian Eno’esk intro Tomasz Balicki aka Atmos launches his second album “2nd Brigade” into gear and shortly after you are encapsulated in the finest progressive trance and you can hear the progression and influence that Tomasz has undergone since his release of his huge success “Headcleaner”. Some will say this is the 3rd album but the Flying Rhino release was more of a concept album. “2nd Brigade” is a long way from the deep trance scene that he is associated to - he has transcended to the other side of progressive music, where the likes of Kasey Taylor and Thomas Penton will greet him welcome. Overall I feel that “2nd Brigade” is a great album, I never get bored and the album has its forward thinking moments. (CA)

This trance album has it all – this is what I have been missing on the big trance DJ´s solo albums, like Ferry Corsten and Tiësto – this is straight up trance - no fooling around trying to do some kind of fusion between styles. The two Italians Andrea Ribeca & Giuseppe Ottaviani have created a studding debut album that is melodic, driving, uplifting without being cheesy and even the hard hitting tracks have a great melody line to them. NU NRG was discovered back in 2001 by Paul van Dyk with their track „Dreamland“ that he included on his mix compilation „The Politics of Dancing“ and since then they have made over 20 remixes and 11 tracks that now makes up there “Free Fall” debut album. The album starts off with the atmospheric “Eclisse” and moves slowly into gear with the beautiful “Visual Sonar”. “Bonssai” and “Free Fall” are just breathtaking and tracks like “Connective” and “Butterfly” have a strong influence of Paul Van Dyk´s sounds. A new modernised version of “Dreamland” concludes the album. Trance lovers - go and get this fantastic album (CA).

The Lexicon Avenue boys have been rooming around in their Forensic label back-catalogue and have found some of the greatest moments of Forensic releases and have mixed this into a perfect dark and capturing ride. C&M Production “True House”, Mooncat “Hear What Was Said”, Little Green Men “These Are The Beats”, Little Green Men “Through With You” and Echomen “Spirit” are all in the mix. And some of my favourite Forensic tracks are also included; Third Movement “Free”, Echomen “Substance”, Lexicon Avenue “From Dusk To Dawn” (Sander Kleineberg remix), Fishead “Autorock” and an un-released Satoshi Tomiie Dark Parth mix of the fantastic Little Green Men “Need” track. Forensic Science is a brilliant house compilation not only as an exhibit for Chris Scott, Mark Amstrong and Scott Bradford’s production and DJ skills, but also a testimonial of the fantastic releases that their label has released over the years – looking forward to hear Exhibit B. (CA)

Hot in the heels of his “Just Be” release comes Tiesto’s “Parade Of The Athletes”, that he released due to huge demand after he DJ’ed at the Olympics opening ceremony in Athens this summer. The album consist of some old know trance dance floor fillers; “Traffic”, “Lethal Industry”, some brand new tracks like “Heroes”, Ancient History”, “Athena” and his brilliant take on Barber Samuel “Adagio For Strings”. All tracks are mixed together in one continues mix but it doesn’t set my world on fire and I’m sorry to say isn’t what I had expected to say the least – it feels like it is a concept album and the tracks are made for a purpose and not the listeners or the feeling in mind. But if you are a Tiesto fan then you have to get this album to complete your collection. (CA)

One of the hottest producers for the moment is Steve Porter. This American has been making a name for himself the last few years, and is now ready with his debut album “Homegrown”. Steve Porter has released over 30 remixes and over 50 singles under different names, he is perhaps best known for his Agent001 moniker where a track like “Bubblebath” (Opek Music) comes to mind, his collaboration with John Graham on “Two Days on Landsdowne” (Boz Boz) and his own tracks “Definite Form” (Little Mountain Recordings) and “Vodka Cranberries” (NU Republic). On “Homegrown” he has collected “Definite Form”, “Vodka Cranberries” and produced 12 new original tracks, that all has been mixed in one continues mix. Steve Porter´s style is somewhat a mixture of progressive house, tech house and deep house all blended in with fantastic melody lines that will appeal to lovers of Sasha, Matthew Dekay and James Holden. This is the best album of the year so far and you can’t help it getting in a happy mood when you listen to this album. (CA)

The forth album from Ed and Tom sees them reaching back into the essences of what The Chemical Brothers is all about – They have just celebrated their 10th anniversary top of British dance music with a greatest hits collection and 2005 sees the release of “Push The Button” that includes 11 new tracks. First single "Galvanize", features Q-tip on vocals and it’s a track for the dancefloor that tries to keep up the tradition of "Hey Boy, Hey Girl", but it doesn’t make it 100%. Classic sounding Chemical tracks are "Come Inside" and "The Big Jump". Another standout track like "Galvanize" is "Left Right" featuring Anwar Superstar. Overall the album from my point of view is not as strong as “Come With Us” and “Surrender” that gave us the best Chemical Brothers track ever “Out Of Control”. (CA)

The second album from the massive Australia Infusion boys; Jamie, Frank and Manuel, has seen the light and they have made a clear statement with their mixture of rock, electronica, break beat and progressive house that they are a force to be recon with. The album kicks off with the massive “Better World” hit and moves through the splendour of the Infusion universe with tracks like “The Careless Kind” with the retro electro sound and muted vocals, “Feeding From The Hand” a typical four four to the floor Infusion track that builds into another Infusion hit “Girls Can Be Cruel”. “Love and Imitation” is a masterpiece of an instrumental track that has a great feel and atmosphere to it, something like Chemical Brothers, but more melodic – clearly the best track on the album. Infusion shows that there is more than meets the eye for these 3 aussis, taking on strings, cello, horn and delivers some soulful and ambient tracks like “Daylight Hours”, Invisible”, “We Follow, I Fly” and “Continental Drift”. You can experience Infusion live around the world in the end of the year, and on the 11th of December they will be playing for the forth time in Demark – and I for sure are looking forward for this early Christmas gift. “Six Feet Above Yesterday” is one of the best albums of 2004. (CA)