Album Review: Andrew Rayel - Mystery of Aether

Andrew Rayel is one of the fastest rising star in Trance music. He’s on the top of his game at the moment and what a great time to release his debut compilation. When he posted on his Facebook and Twitter about this first compilation, I got all giddy and excited. I've been following the style of this neophyte and there's no sign of him slowing down. Especially now being backed by the world's four-time DJ Mag #1 DJ Armin van Buuren, he is being tagged as the AvB's protege and even the modern-day Mozart. 

The 21-year old talent is known for his very own, distinctive sound, bringing trance a refreshing, new sound. That sound, loved by many, myself included, can now be found on Andrew’s very first compilation Mystery of Aether.

It hasn't been more than 24 hours since I have gotten my hands on my copy of this compilation and I have been bumping it all day. The initial impression I got upon first few listens is that the compilation brings the sounds of Andrew Rayel, in full effect. From the most touching, emotional twists to stumping beats, hard-hitting bass and quieting breaks, this is Rayel doing what he does best. Through the tracks of Airbase, Dash Berlin, Armin van Buuren, Alex Wackii, Orjan Nilsen, Alexandre Bergheau and of course himself, Andrew moves you, by unfolding Mystery of Aether beat by beat. It was also good that it includes a continuous mix of the whole compilation for a more dramatic, emotional, and tranquil journey into euphoria.

This guy truly lives up to what trance music is, as I have mentioned previously in my blog entries, and even in a contest I have joined for the Loudbasstard promo for the Andrew Rayel in Manila gig, the guy gives a dramatic, existential, majestic titles to his tunes that somewhat describe the feeling when listening to his work, ergo Mystery of Aether.

Track list:

01. Airbase – Modus Operandi (Andrew Rayel Intro Radio Edit) (03:52)
02. Tasadi & Aryas – Lost Garden (Faruk Sabanci Dirty Rock Mix) (05:58)
03. Andrew Rayel – Zeus (Radio Edit) (03:27)
04. Tenishia – Pantera (Radio Edit) (03:37)
05. Bogdan Vix – Stella Maris (Radio Edit) (03:28)
06. Maarten De Jong – Wave Glider (Radio Edit) (03:19)
07. Armin van Buuren & W&W – D# Fat (Radio Edit) (03:15)
08. Alex Wackii – Marianne (Radio Edit) (03:48)
09. Fisherman & Hawkins – Apache (Official Radio Edit) (02:50)
10. Dash Berlin & Alexander Popov feat. Jonathan Mendelsohn – Steal You Away (Radio Edit) (03:00)
11. Klauss Goulart & Mark Sixma – Rio (Radio Edit) (03:38)
12. Orjan Nilsen – Violetta (Radio Edit) (03:15)
13. Alex M.O.R.P.H. feat. Sylvia Tosun – An Angel’s Love (Andrew Rayel Aether Radio Edit) (03:32)
14. Alexandre Bergheau – Damavand (Original Mix) (08:06)
15. Bobina with Andrew Rayel – Sacramentum (Andrew Rayel Aether Radio Edit) (04:14)
16. Andrew Rayel – Musa (Radio Edit) (03:35)
17. Andrew Rayel & Alexandre Bergheau – We Are Not Afraid Of 138 (Radio Edit) (03:28)
18. A.R.D.I. – Beyond The Time (Radio Edit) (03:51)

19. Andrew Rayel – Mystery Of Aether (Full Continuous DJ Mix) (78:09.00)

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Official Video: Katy Perry - Roar

Katy Perry releases the official video for her infectious song Roar.

I love the message of empowerment by song. The video captures the emotion it wants to get across while being in a fashionably tribal and primitive get-up.

I'm loving Katy's outfit as the female Tarzan. Jungle Jane or The Queen of the Jungle.

Last month she did release a lyric video for the same song

What do you think?

Album Review: Trance Nation 2013 (Remixed by Lange)

Recognized as one of the most influential Trance artists of the past decade, Ministry of Sound welcomes scene-wide legend and genre-founding father Lange to the mix of the acclaimed Trance Nation series. 

Joining its esteemed compilation mixing DJ legion (which to-date has included luminaries such as Above & Beyond, Cosmic Gate, Andy Moor, and Rank 1), I say that Stuart Lange’s mixes have delivered a new high for Trance Nation. Drawing on more than a decade’s knowledge of ahead-of-the-curve sounds & styles, catalysed by exacting drops and epic lifts, Lange brings his inimitable and distinctive take on the genre to two sun-summoning Trance Nation mixes. Characterising the lifeblood of trance in 2013, it sees Lange innately compile and harmonically mix music from across its broad stylistic range.

On his Trance Nation compilation, Lange said: It’s an honour to have been invited to mix this album. For over a decade the Ministry of Sound Trance Nation series has become legendary, a snapshot of our ever-evolving scene, and I follow in the footsteps of some of it’s most respected artists. 

It features music from Ferry Corsten, Arty, Cosmic Gate, Andy Moor, Orjan Nilsen, Bobina, Shogun, and a lot of others. It also includes 5 massive exclusives, hot from the desk of Lange’s own studio and Lange Recordings label.   

Now as I am listening on hi-def earphones while typing on this space, here's my sort-of blow-by-blow take on this latest TN Mix from 'Langend'....

The first mix embarks on the vocal gleam and shimmer of Yahel & Liya’s I Dive, Passenger 75’s Contact, and Kyau & Albert with Stoneface & Terminal’s We Own The Night – all wowing the opening minutes. Conscripting filmic strings, vibrant drums, and dreamscape harmonics, they form the gateway to an uplifting atmospher. The tech-ish recoil of Arty’s Believe In Me, Rank 1’s electro-grinding Floorlifter, and the hyper-uplift of The Way You Want from flying Finns Super 8 & Tab creates lyrical captivation from Betsie Larkin. As Lange’s skilled hand master-crafts the tone, the pulse rate spikes again as Alchemist from Tomas Heredia and Rikkaz’s The Great Migration shape its climactic minutes.

Naturally, Lange’s TranceNation comes fully loaded with a wealth of his own exclusive, purpose built production and remix material. In and amongst the trance highways and progressive byways of the mixes are his 2013 rebuild of Follow Me, as well as the smash Destination Anywhere, and IMO, a future massive tune Unfamiliar Truth.

Nearly over sixty minutes had passed and the second half of the remix picks up on the tech-ier side of trance. It marks another launch point as The Man Who’ll Save The Earth’ from Alexx Rave, ilan Bluestone & Jerome Isma-Ae’s infectious collab Under My Skin, and Mark Eteson’s Aventus blaze the trail. The shattered stabs and riffs Heatbeat’s #BOOM live up to its title, while Ferry Corsten's F The Bull$h1t  is the shit and no definitely no B.S., and LNG's downright ballistic Harmony Will Kick You In The Ass spy the stratosphere. Rex Mundi’s Seek & Destroy intermixes a more minimalistic prog-trance sort-of to the flow, before hitting the final straight. Orjan Nilsen’s heat-seeking Violetta, Hold That Sucker Down, and the sublime mash-up of Supernova and Afterglow (merging Shogun and Ana Criado & Ronski Speed’s latest productions) see to it this second mix breaks into the upper atmosphere.

Personally, these mixes meet my hunger for a familiar and genuine yet a not-so commercial sound of my beloved sub-genre of dance music. The second disc mix, in particular, made me feel I was an astronaut embarking on my first trip to space. As I take off the ground and break into the atmosphere, it leaves me high and floating in space with the rest of the heavenly bodies so majestic yet seemingly tranquil - just like how trance makes me feel as always.

Track list:

Disc: 1

1. I Dive - Yahel & Liya

2. Contact - Passenger 75

3. We Own the Night - Kyau & Albert with Stoneface & Terminal

4. Our Brief Time in the Sun - Lange

5. All Around You (Feat. Myon & Shane 54 & Aruna) (Alexander Popov Remix) - Cosmic Gate

6. The Way You Want - Super8 & Tab

7. Floorlifter - Rank 1

8. Believe in Me - Arty

9. Crossroads (Feat. Stine Grove) (Estiva Remix) - Lange

10. Love Again (Andrew Rayel Radio Edit) - Andy Moor & Betsie Larkin

11. Unfamiliar Truth (TN Edit) - Lange

12. No Substitute for You (Andy Duguid Remix) - Bobina & Betsie Larkin

13. Alchemist - Tomas Heredia

14. Destination Anywhere - Lange

15. The Great Migration - Rikkaz

16. Absolute ResuRection (Lange Mashup) - Planet Perfecto Knights vs Craig Connelly

17. Follow Me (Feat. The Morrighan (2013 Rework) - Lange

Disc: 2

1. Man Who'll Save the Earth - Alexx Rave

2. Omega - Tangle & Matuesz

3. Sirio (Feat. Simona Barbieri) - Lele Troniq

4. Sirio - ilan Bluestone & Jerome Isma-Ae

5. Aventus - Mark Eteson

6. Mars One - Stephen Kirkwood

7. Leave Me Behind (Feat. Invi Tado) - Alex Larichev

8. #BOOM - Heatbeat

9. F the Bull$h1t - Ferry Corsten

10. Storm Chaser - Cosmic Gate

11. Seek & Destroy - Rex Mundi

12. Harmony Will Kick You in the Ass (Chris Schweizer Remix) - Lange presents LNG

13. Arigatou - Daniel Kandi & Jack Rowan

14. Supernova Afterglow (SaF Mashup - Lange Edit) - Shogun vs Ana Criado & Ronski Speed

15. Violetta - Orjan Nilsen

16. Downtime - Stuart Mclellan

17. Hold That Sucker Down - Lange

What do you think???

Album Review: Anjunadeep 05 Mixed by James Grant and Jody Wisternoff

Anjunadeep 05 has finally arrived after a few release date push backs!   I have been eagerly anticipating this album for quite some time, and have now had a few weeks to listen, re-listen, and assess this massive compilation. 

For those that don’t know, Anjunadeep 05 is the fifth installment in a series of compilation albums; these are done more or less annually by both Anjunadeep and its parent label, Above & Beyond’s Anjunabeats.  This year, putting together the two mixes are none other than Anjunadeep label boss James Grant and the legendary Jody Wisternoff, who debuts as an Anjunadeep compilation mixer with this beautiful outing.

Since this is a fairly lengthy album, with the two mixes clocking in at a combined two hours and forty minutes, I decided to stick with my usual style of writing -- it is best and most fun if I would just throw on the mixes non-stop and basically commit to writing a running commentary about the music as it progresses over the 29 tracks. 

James Grant's mix officially takes off with this fourth track in the mix called Back To Love from Bekwith feat. Catherine Porter. Porter’s infectious vocal addition on top of an anything but boring melody really ups the tempo of the mix in a traditional deep house way: with a dark yet energetic groove. The mix then goes into a very liquid-groove for a few minutes, with songs blending together to form a musical fusion that lulls your mind into serenity. Dusky's Nobody Else, an absolute favourite on this compilation, is a massive deep house track that is bordering minimal yet still melodic in nature. With several weeks as the #1 song on Beatport’s deep house chart, it is no surprise it has made it’s way onto this compilation. Between this track and the previous Bekwith offering, Anjunadeep 05 is starting to fire on all cylinders. Fifty five minutes through this thing and WYV AUW CHU has become another favorite on the mix. Tom Middleton's catchy track title is an attention-getter and boy, it is worth the time you will give it. The tune is slick, and the vocal usage is interesting when compared to the name of the track (WYV AUW CHU = without you, duh!), and the groove is just intoxicating.

Andrew Bayer, obviously is one of my absolute personal favourite dj/producers. His It’s Cool remix sees Bayer join forces with the man behind this entire mix, label boss James Grant. The song is extraordinary - or it could possibly be that I am just biased. The vocals are infectious and really set the tone of the track, along with those powerful piano chords behind it. The track has been featured on Group Therapy numerous times in the past month, and I have been in love with it ever since hearing it for the first time several weeks ago. 

Suddenly, the first half of the mix concludes. I noticed that I was too zoned out to say much about the Solarity (Dusky is at it again! The duo used to go by the name of Solarity, and they dusted off one of their older tracks specifically for this album) track; all I know is that the mix ended beautifully, and I couldn't wait to get into the second half.

And then suddenly it's time for the second half, on which Jody Wisternoff has reshaped/retouched/edited almost every single track. The only thing I am aware of going into this side is that the reworked Alchemy will be one of my favorite tracks, no exceptions. I know that this is very biased, again. But trust me, you'll listen to what I'll play and you'll love it - that's all you need to believe in. 

As the last tune from the James Grant mix fades out, it's now time for the legendary Jody Wisternoff. I've been a fan of his works - I only follow a few acts on the deep, melodic house sub-genre and Jody's one of them. I am just thrilled he is debuting as a contributor on this slick collection. 

His mix kicks off with his remix of Ich Lass ́Dich Nicht Zurück from The Peacemaker Project act. The opening track is definitely solid! The saxophone melody later on really reminds of mild James Zabiela tracks, which are amazing for just that reason. This Jody Wistermoff edit of Lane 8′s Be Mine is one that fans of Anjunadeep will be quite familiar with, as it was showcased in a minimix preview some time in June. The dubby fun Wisternoff describes as being his edition to the track is indeed wonderful, and is a key highlight to the range of sound that can be found on Anjunadeep.

Once more the mix takes off on an understandable lull, which is in no way a bad thing. Jody is taking us now on a journey with this mix, and part of that is including tracks that perhaps blend a little more into the background of the experience, as opposed to popping out. It’s ridiculous how many layers every song has. This sentence is being typed after a re-listen of the second side.  So many little bits and pieces pop out at me after running through this again.  Small, almost pad like percussions that rattle through This Way went unnoticed during listen one, but now pop out at me and envelope the track in an entire new layer of sensations. We Are Heroes is enticing and infectious. The first time I heard of this track, and Pete Josef commands a soulful and sultry voice that is just slick and polished.  The bassline and drum pattern are dirty. Again, the mix takes off -- some form of Dusky is everywhere on this compilation, and Kuza by Alfred Taylor is just another example of the strong production coming from one or both of that duo (FYI -- Alfie is one half of Dusky).

Finally, here comes Alchemy. I have looked forward to hearing Jody's take on this rather heart wrenching, earth-staggering A&B original. It receives a deep house rework that does the original justice in every way. Jody gives the classic track a darker undertone that still perfectly highlights Zoe Johnston’s beautifully haunting verse. The trancey feel of the original is completely replaced with a deep house vibe that even takes on a dubbish tinge in its synth usage halfway through. It’s glorious and easily one of the crowning tracks of this compilation. 

As it looks, I glazed over some, paid way too much attention to others, zoned out here and there, but in the end, I came up with the conclusion that this is one of the best albums of the year in terms of enjoyability. Whether or not you are into this sort of style/sound of house music, I guarantee you will find the compilation generally pleasing at the very least.  If you dig deep style intertwining with melodic beats and piano chords, this compilation is for you. 

The negatives against this compilation are very  few and far between, and they mostly center around the fact that deep house simply isn’t a genre for everyone. There are lulls in the mix. Some tracks on a 29 track outing are simply going to be less interesting than others.  On the other hand, I am quite confident that music fans from every background can find tunes that they absolutely love here.  And this is the brilliance of Anjunadeep; some variation of the deep house sounds found on this album will resonate with people from all walks of taste.  

Noteworthy tracks include

Track list:

CD 1 / James Grant

1. Croquet Club "Cardigan" 

2. Vincenzo & Aram "Let Go"

3. Andrew Bayer & James Grant "Living"

4. Beckwith feat. Catherine Porter "Back To Love"

5. Universal Solution "Yukon"

6. Universal Solution "Osheen"

7. DAVI "The Time Has Come"

8. Jody Wisternoff & Jonathan Mendelsohn "Out Of Reach" (Alfred Taylor Remix)

9. Dusky "Nobody Else"

10. DAVI "The Bay 6"

11. Tom Middleton "WYV AUW CHU" 

12. Dusky "Mr Man"

13. Matt Lange feat. Tania Zygar "Way You Know"

14. The Presets "It's Cool" (Andrew Bayer & James Grant Remix)

15. Solarity "Symbols" 

CD 2 / Jody Wisternoff

1. The Peacemaker Project "Ich Lass´ Dich Nicht Zurück" (Jody Wisternoff Remix)

2. Lane 8 "Be Mine" (Jody Wisternoff's Deep 05 Reshape)

3. Skanna vs. Jody Wisternoff "This Way"

4. Jody Wisternoff feat. Pete Josef "We Are Heroes" 

5. Alfred Taylor "Kuza"

6. Beckwith "Townsend Sling"

7. Above & Beyond feat. Zoë Johnston "Alchemy" (Jody Wisternoff Remix)

8. Rashid Ajami "Coming For You" (Jody Wisternoff Remix)

9. Kahwe "Driving Me Wild" (Jody Wisternoff's Deep 05 Reshape)

10. Leftwing & Kody "Deep In" (Jody Wisternoffs Deep 05 Reshape)

11. Meramek "Feeling"

12. Jody Wisternoff "Macbeth"

13. Matt Lange "Only You"

14. Andre Sobota "Move Into Tokyo Dawn" (Jody Wisternoff's Deep 05 Blend) 

Comments appreciated....

Album Review: Ben Gold - The Sound of Garuda: Chapter 3

The Sound Of Garuda has always been one of my most look forwarded to mix compilations. The first Sound of Garuda was released in 2009, with Chapter 2 following it 2 years later. And now, another 2 years have passed and another new mix compilation is set to be released.

The Sound Of Garuda: Chapter 3 that was released last May 2013 was mixed by rising star Ben Gold. Garuda label head Gareth Emery has passed on the mixing responsibilities to one of the rising stars in trance, that is Ben Gold. Gareth had previously mixed the first two Sound of Garuda mix compilations, but felt it was time for the reigns to be passed on to someone who is helping to bring the name of Garuda to brand new heights. That is exactly what Ben Gold has been doing and he could not be more excited about it either

The compilation is packed with gems by Gareth Emery, Ferry Corsten, Ashley Wallbridge, W&W, Arty, KhoMha and more.

I felt honored when Garuda approached me to mix the 3rd chapter in ‘The Sound Of Garuda’ series. Being the next ambassador of this compilation after Gareth Emery makes me really proud, Ben Gold said.

With my repititive listening in the past few weeks, the weaving of the mix takes the listener through a flashback of unforgettable tunes that are sure to ignite memories of sandy beaches and strobe-induced nights on the dance floor. I am glad to be following this compilation because I could relive the euphoria that can only come from the sound of the world’s best trance and progressive artists.

Track list:

Disc 1

Juventa – Bitsmash – not exclusive

Ben Gold – Where Life Takes Us (Juventa Remix) – exclusive

Ferry Corsten – Rock Your Body (Arty Rock N Rolla Remix) – not exclusive

Emma Hewitt – Rewind (Mikkas Remix) – not exclusive

Ashley Wallbridge – Yin-Yang – not exclusive

Luke Bond – 1UP – out May 20

W&W & Ummet Ozcan – The Code – not exclusive

Thomas Ulstrup – Disco Fever – exclusive

Mark Eteson & Luke Bond – 4 Days Out (Tom Fall Remix) – not exclusive

Russ James – My Mind (Rafaël Frost Remix) – exclusive

Ben Gold feat. The Glass Child – Fall With Me (Tom Fall Remix) – not exclusive

Lange & Audrey Gallagher – Our Way Home (Noah Neiman Remix) – not exclusive

Eximinds – Mainbeat – not exclusive

Fast Distance & Rikkaz – Cruise Control – not exclusive

Ben Gold – Amplified – exclusive

Disc 2

Gareth Emery – Layers – exclusive

Eximinds – Ganesa – exclusive

Ben Gold – Mesocyclone – not exclusive

Ben Gold & Tritonal – Apex – not exclusive

Rob Naylor – Yes – exclusive

Solis & Sean Truby – Meerkat – exclusive

Fisherman & Hawkins – Apache – not exclusive

Gareth Emery – Tokyo (Ben Gold Remix) – not exclusive

DJ Eco – Borealis (Solis & Sean Truby Remix) – not exclusive

Skytech – Out Of Nowhere – not exclusive

Raneem – Carousel – exclusive

KhoMha – Vapor – not exlusive

Ashley Wallbridge – Mumbai Traffic (Ben Gold Remix) – exclusive

Craig Connelly & Christina Novelli – Black Hole – exclusive

Lee Osborne – Beautiful Trouble – exclusive

What do you think?

Album Review: Andrew Bayer - If It Were You We'd Never Leave

April 22, 2013 was when the best album of the year (IMO) so far was released on Anjunabeats. And unless you are an Anjunabeats devotee or trance geek, you probably missed it. 

Andrew Bayer’s If It Were You, We’d Never Leave is a monumental album for electronic music.  With all the recent surge in news regarding the staying power of the dance music scene, the so called 'EDM bubble' and the constant chatter revolving around DJ’s having little to no originality in their Beatport top 10-laden sets, Andrew Bayer’s career-defining album is a breath of fresh air.  Even though it has been released for quite some time, given the current commotion about the necessity for innovation in electronic music, I felt it appropriate to revisit, hype up, and dissect this absolute masterpiece of an album, along with introducing those that are not familiar to the genius that is Andrew Bayer.

A major contributor to the Above & Beyond’s powerhouse label, Anjunabeats, he is perhaps best known (currently) for his massive trance tracks i.e. Anjunabeats favorites Keep Your Secrets featuring Molly Bancroft, In and Out of Phase featuring Kerry Leva, and England have solidified the Washington D.C. native as a major player in the trance world.  Bayer’s tracks have received consistent playtime on the likes of A State of Trance, and of course, Above & Beyond’s Group Therapy radio. Considering this, perhaps the most interesting observation about this phenomenal producer is that his two studio albums, It’s Artificial (2011), and the album headlining this article, If It Were You, We’d Never Leave.

With influences from hip hop, hints of glitch music (glitch-hop), downtempo beats, and ambient music, this album is a step away from everything that has begun to define electronic music. There are no bangers, yet there are tunes that pop out at you with incredible emotion.  There are no pointless tracks that simply take up space for the sake of taking up space.  There are no generic formulas being followed.  If It Were You, We’d Never Leave is a sixteen track experience, a journey through a rocky, post-apocalyptic, yet serene, tranquil landscape on the surface of Andrew Bayer’s mind.  It's good to note this is not an album you play to light up the dance floor, but one you listen to warm your soul with the full range of human emotion.

I won’t be reviewing and describing every track in great detail in this piece, as that would be doing the album an injustice. It is not meant to be listened as sixteen separate pieces of music. But rather I can try and take you on a journey, get you to places, imagine lucid elements as how this masterpiece did to me. While tracks such as Lose Sight, You Are, Need Your Love, and Echo are phenomenal as stand alone tracks, they are exponentially more impressive as pieces of an intricate journey that spans the entire album. 

Andrew Bayer has mastered the art of sequencing his music in order to achieve a roughly one hour long electronic symphony. The slow, fairly mellow yet dark glitched synths, coupled with a piano melody found in Opening Act meld into the even darker, urgency building, glitch-hop-esque Doomsday. The track oozes of true feeling. One can almost reach out and touch the sense of doubt, anger, and uncertainty that’s wrapped tightly around the track, like an enshrouding veil. All of a sudden, the veil is every so slightly lifted; the urgent build up dissipates, and a slight reassurance builds as female voice quietly begins to echo over a still foreboding piano on It’s Going To Be Fine.  The feelings of doom and urgency, so carefully crafted in Doomsday, are slowly swept aside, as Bayer conveys a sense of reassurance to the listener.  His progression of emotion can really be seen in this track. The beginning still carries the feelings that were created in Doomsday; however, by its end, as it progresses into Let’s Hear That B Section Again! (one of the noteworthy tracks and a personal favourite), there is almost none of it remaining. The grittiness of the opening two tracks are completely swept away. B Section is completely devoid of a drum beat. Instead, it conveys its message of calm with inorganic sounds and scratchy, oscillating, harp-like synths.  The listener is finally brought to the first true single of the album, Lose Sight featuring Ane Brun. An R&Bish (Andrew Bayer’s twist), poppy, uplifting track with a catchy drum beat, acoustic guitar chords, and an absolutely ingenious, yet simple, piano melody that can’t help but stick with you.

As Lose Sight wraps up, one can only smile that the journey is only a third over, and another eleven tracks remain. I don’t want to ruin the experience of forming your own little world with the building blocks that compromise this one hour long masterpiece, so I will leave it up to you, to listen to the rest of it. It is incredibly difficult to describe with words exactly what  Bayer is employing throughout this album, in terms of a specific sound or synthesizer. The organic chimes in tracks deeper in the album, such as All This Will Happen Again, transport the listener to an open field on a sunny afternoon, somewhere in the world that Bayer has so carefully constructed.  The harshness and dance floor-geared themes that are all the rage in EDM production these days are nowhere to be found, yet their influence can still ever so slightly be felt, thanks to Bayer’s mastery of blending his entire range of ability.  It is an experimental, unique, album that illustrates the abilities of a true master of audio at work, as he tries to tell a story through a never before heard combination of sound, melody, and composition.  

As I mentioned in some of my blog work, this unique blend of genres/styles that are often unheard on the mainstream is not for everyone. However, if you decide to keep an open mind and expand the boundaries of your musical palette, then please listen away. What I've written above will start to make more sense when you listen to the album and read my blurb at the same time. You will not be disappointed. One simply doesn't get the same experience as listening to every minute of this Album-of-the-Year worthy piece of music. Get out your favorite pair of headphones (preferably hi-def), sit back, and relax.  Let the music wash over you until you never want to leave. Welcome to the world of Andrew Bayer.

Some snaps from Andrew's Facebook page prior to release of this album. I included these snapshots as they were true to testament about the album. He wasn't just hyping it up or what, he was just telling the simple truth:

Album Review: Above & Beyond - Anjunabeats Volume 10

Mental is probably the best word to describe Anjunabeats Volume 10. It was mixed by Above & Beyond features 30 exclusive tracks from Arty, Andrew Bayer, Norin & Rad, Jaytech, Super8 & Tab, Maor Levi, and many more, as well as the brand new instrumental anthem from the trio - Walter White.

As we all know, Anjunabeats is one of the strongest dance music labels in the world today and all their compilations can be taken as proofs why is it so, that they belong to one of the most respected music companies. We probably wouldn’t find too many similarities between the original Anjunabeats Volume 1 and this year’s Volume 10, but how could we? Music has changed so much during the last 10 years, yet Above & Beyond still keep up the pace and may it be them as DJs/producers or the whole Anjuna label, it’s really something to bow to!

Disc one kicks off in a more emotional way with A&B’s own Small Moments, beautiful instrumental track which takes you completely off this world, especially when you combine it with a deep video or those visualizers on Windows Media Player. What comes next, is a favorite of mine for 2013 so far and I’m talking about Audien and his Wayfarer. It is something that puts a smile on your face from the first beats, throwing your hands up in the air spontaneously and of course a bass line that will get you up from your chair. What surprised me at first but insured me when I looked at the track list was track 7. Jaytech comes in with a new banger Inception. Usually a contributor for the Anjuna's deep house sister recording company, it's refreshing for this artist to finally break through the trance side of his genre.

Above & Beyond came up with a new track for this compilation as well. Walter White shows us how a deep and emotional breakdown should look like. However, the rest of the track is a bit strange. I understand that everyone is changing thanks to the scene, but I don’t think this is the right way for A&B. However if there is someone who definitely goes hand in hand with the scene today, I believe that Maor Levi is having the best time of his career. Having a track on this compilation is a great honor for any producer, but Maor has three tracks on this disc and that definitely proves that he delivers! ALWAYS! May it be in the calmer sounds of ethereal progressive or a bit rougher league of bass lines, this guy produces only the best - all these are worth listening: his collab with Boom Jinx and my fave female trance vocalist Ashley Tomberlin When You Loved Me; the remix on Liquid Love which is a great rework from the Tri-state album; and the ever-emotional Holding On. If someone asked me what I liked the best about disc 1, I would have to say that it is this track along with Ronski Speed and Syntrobic's tune called Pink Skye where it features the haunting voice of Renee Stahl.

  

Disc 2 and the half second half of the compilation is picked up by Andrew Bayer with his new tune called England. I’m not really sure how to feel about this one, though it sounds very housey yet even a bit commercial it still brings originality with itself and many other good factors as well. Knowing that Bayer has two sides of his artistry - the more commercial ones we hear on the Anjunabeats collection and the more artistic side which is what his artist album is about. L.A. by Super8 & Tab could be my favorite track off of tdisc 2.  It sounds a lot like their older more progressive stuff like Helsinki Scorchin.  The use of the small vocal synth in this track is mesmerizing.  It accompanies the bass lines and uplifting melodies perfectly.  Then after building for over two minutes the main bass lines kicks and L.A. is taken to new heights.  Aldo by Norin & Rad is another new track we are able to listen to.  It is a more up tempo trance track featuring some heavy bass lines with euphoric drops. Sinai by Ilan Bluestone is another great track.  While not completely new, this track really stands out to me on this album.  Ilan Bluestone is still an artist on the rise globally and this track is what I think can break him through to the next level.  Sinai is an amazing euphoric track with an incredible use of percussion along with vocals. May it be the exotic vocals, melodic synths or the piano parts.  is a beauty that deserves to be heard more than one time.

Nitrous Oxide teams up with 7 Skies to create something very magical together. “Right On“ is a perfect combination of strong synths we all wish to hear on a good party and a pure melody created on a piano. The instant changes in this track between the heavy parts of great beats, strong synths, and the emotional piano parts, emotions backed up by a massive drive, yes, definitely a great tune!

Next up is a track that is truly beautiful in it’s album mix, but on the contrary gets a completely different coat in the club mix. Black Room Boy from A&B is the track I’m talking about. While repetitively listening to it, I somehow discovered that the bass line is a complete floor killer and started singing along with the track in a matter of seconds. I always thought of myself as a Black Room Boy - if you get my drift.

I would like to say that Anjunabeats Volume 10 is one of those compilations that shouldn’t be thrown away by trance crowd for not being a clear trance album. My opinion is that this compilation is a very special piece that has to be heard with a calm mind, good mood, and most of all, if you want to listen to it and feel happy, you should forget about the never-ending 'war' of styles which is going on in the scene. Just sit back, press play and enjoy the music.

What do you think????

Official Video: Mariah Carey - Almost Home

Mariah Carey releases the official video to the Oz, the Great and Power soundtrack Almost Home.

In the video, Mariah dons a long black ensemble standing on a basin of water to create that symmetry thus elongating her body to make her look slimmer. Not only her singing style on the song was different (and that's pretty refreshing), her usual flirtatious antics and movements were also repressed and almost absent.

What say you lambilys?

Album Review: Alicia Keys - Girl On Fire

Alicia Keys is back with her fifth studio album Girl On Fire. The Alicia we find on Girl on Fire is much removed from how we left her on 2009’s The Element of Freedom, a rumination on the death of her grandmother and the break-up of a relationship. This album still remains my favourite and IMHO, the best AKeys work of her career.

Girl On Fire being the first album of her 30s, Keys is now married (to producer-rapper Swizz Beatz) and the proud mother of a young son. And understandably, the record takes this as its centre.

For all its big beats and stellar collaborations (and there are many: Frank Ocean, Emile Sandé, Darkchild, Babyface and Salaam Remi to name a few), the core of the album is Keys’ remarkable voice and simple songwriting.

The tone is set by the piano introduction, a sombre reflective piece, and then the defiant, nose-thumbing Brand New Me which makes Keys’ stance clear when she sings: “It’s been a while, I’m not who I was before.”

Girl on Fire is classic Keys at her most commercial that contains her signature vocal belts that catapulted her to superstardom.  The beautiful, sensual Fire We Make, a duet with Maxwell, is all muted horns and synth bass, a textbook quiet storm. The more you hear this track, the deeper you fall in love with it. Tears Always Win, co-written by Bruno Mars, is a convincing soul/gospel pastiche, played with a small band.

Not Even the King, written with Sandé, is probably the key track. Shorn of all bangs and crashes, it is a straightforward piano ballad, and although exploring the well-worn analogy of how being rich in love is better than all the world’s money (“Your arms around me / Worth more than a Kingdom”), it is strangely and sweetly affecting.

The credits say that Girl on Fire was “conceptualised and produced” by Keys. When you look at other artists of a similarity, you know that she hasn’t just dropped in to record with the latest producers.

As a result, Girl on Fire is a smart album, at the very least maintaining the high standards set on The Element of Freedom. It showcases her as a maturing performer and keeps her there or thereabouts alongside Beyoncé as the world’s leading contemporary stylist of mainstream RnB.

Noteworthy tracks include Girl On Fire, Brand New Me, Tears Always Win

Track listing


What say you?

Album Review: Christina Aguilera - Lotus

Christina Aguilera treats us with her seventh studio album Lotus

As she mentioned, this album is fun-filled, and she didn't care if it had hits-material. Of course, we'd believe that - right?

With the recent 'tragic' sales performance of Bionic, I feel Xtina was forced to go back to basics - and by this I mean succumbing to the commercially manufactured artist formula. This is the very same formula that brought her stardom to begin with.

I've been listening to the whole album for almost two weeks now. Let's backtrack for a minute… It is not a bad album, per se. It is a competent mix of great vocals, blue-eyed soul ballads, and trendy dance-influenced pop. There are no actually horrible songs.

She collaborates with Alex da Kid, fame and pop super-producer Max Martin. She's also commissioned her The Voice peers Blake Sheldon and CeeLo Greene. Noticing a pattern? After the commercial failure of Bionic, Christina seems to be hungry for a hit, and yet Bionic is actually a better album than Lotus.

One of the album's highlights is the power ballad Blank Page co-written by Sia; the track Light Up The Sky has that LSS effect; and other ballads Sing For Me, Empty Words, Best Of Me who all have been re-hashed from her previous works but still nonetheless a good listen. 

Army of Me was described as the successor to Fighter, but the song lacks the same passion and angst. Let There Be Love could be described as an album highlight with its Max Martin-produced wall of synths, and has that American EDM sound written all over it but the song feels like it came a year or two too late.

Your Body, the lead single from the album, is another stand-out Max Martin produced pop track, which I truly felt was a very catchy track and deserved to be the carrier single. As for Just A Fool, a surprise and delight hit from Xtina and The Voice co-coach Blake Sheldon. The chemistry was just there, the vocals, the whole feel of the song brings a lot of hope for the album's struggle for success. 

IMHO, I feel she is no longer a step ahead of her contemporaries, as she was with 2002’s Stripped and 2006’s retro pastiche Back to Basics. She’s trailing behind, desperately trying to hang on to the heels of her more successful peers. Which sometimes lead me to think that she is commercially misplaced - always next to someone, always being compared to. To date, I feel she doesn't have a solid identity as an artist as compared to the likes of Madonna, Mariah, Britney, etc. Don't get me wrong though, she is a great artist but I think she's reached the plateau of her artistry.

Having said that, Lotus is largely forgettable. While the songs are "good" they aren't as great - nothing that could stand alongside Stripped or Back to Basics. Everything felt like a second-place rehash - from album covers, to messages of the song, and even her voice sounded struggling for power.

Track Listing




What do you think?

Album Review: Universal Religion 6

One of the most sought after compilation has just been released – Universal Religion Chapter 6, mixed and compiled by no other than Armin van Buuren, who is riding on the highs of his Invasion Tour as well as celebrating his 550 episode of A State Of Trance. Unlike the last two chapters, this was recorded live at Club Privilege in Ibiza.

Catching Ibiza’s magic is a task that only the most experienced musicians can complete. AvB is one of them. Through his Universal Religion series, he’s captured the summer since 2004, landing a mix compilation that burst with exclusive highlights. In 2012, he lands the 6th Chapter of ‘Universal Religion’, recorded live during the A State of Trance Night at the world-famous Club Privilege and including artwork by world-famous Dutch artist Joseph Klibansky.

UR6 makes you part of these special happenings with two live recordings. It makes you feel the energy of the crowd, lets you hear their screams for more, as well as bringing you a selection of exclusive and custom-made tunes and remixes by some of the world’s most talented producers. Tracks by Protoculture, Orjan Nilsen, Aly & Fila, Jorn van Deynhoven, A.R.D.I., Solarstone, Andrew Rayel, and many more.  Including the brand new Armin single, ‘I’ll Listen’ and many other premieres, It is the timeless musical memory of 2012’s summer season

I love trance and AvB is undeniably one of my favorite DJ/producers, but I've been a bit disappointed lately by some of his material -- probably too much commercialism going on that to a point it becomes the so-called Top 40 EDM. Still I cannot deny the fact that he is one of the best crowd-driver in an event filled with blissful ravers just wanting to get lost in the arms of trance. So I was still hopeful about this compilation. Having given it a listen, I've concluded that by any standard, this album represents a triumph in trance music. If you're on the fence like I was, I for one can attest to this album's excellence throughout. If you're new to trance and looking for some good music in the genre, well, you can't do better than this album. If you don't like trance, this one might win you over.

Noteworthy tracks include: Fire Island, Aeon of Revenge, Relict, Perpertual Motion, Infinia, Full Disclosure

Track list:

CD1

01 Andrew Rayel feat. Jano – How Do I Know (Armin van Buuren Intro Edit)

02 Andy Duguid feat. Shannon Hurley – I Want To Believe

03 Blake Jarrell – Barbados

04 Solarstone with Aly & Fila – Fireisland (Future Disciple Remix)

05 Armin van Buuren feat. Ana Criado – I’ll Listen

06 Abstract Vision & Elite Electronic vs Broning – Relict

07 Protoculture – Perpetual Motion

08 Ørjan Nilsen – Burana

09 Beat Service – Fortuna

10 Andrew Rayel – Aeon Of Revenge

11 Skytech – What’s Wrong (Skytech Stadium Mix)

12 Stoneface & Terminal – Green Velvet

13 A.R.D.I. – Premonition

14 Matt Davey – Believe In Me

15 Jorn van Deynhoven – Headliner

16 Sasha Carassi & Mikael Jonasson – Void *

17 Armin van Buuren presents Gaia – Status Excessu D (ASOT500 Theme) *

* Armin van Buuren Mash Up

CD2

01 Alex M.O.R.P.H. – Eternal Flame (Original Breaks Mix)

02 Omnia – Infina

03 Richard Sebastian – Full Disclosure

04 Jaytech feat. Steve Smith – Stranger (Kyau & Albert Remix)

05 Juventa – Metamorphose

06 Faruk Sabanci – Elveda

07 Daniel Kandi – 3 Strikes UR In

08 Dash Berlin feat. Emma Hewitt – Like Spinning Plates (Alexander Popov Remix)

09 Paul Webster feat. Angelic Amanda – Time (MaRLo Dub Remix)

10 Tomas Heredia – The Witch

11 Andy Moor – K Ta

12 Richard Durand & Protoculture – Pleasure

13 Matt Bukovski – Retrospection

14 Aligator feat. Daniel Kandi – The Perfect Match

15 Mark Burton – Understatement*

16 Sunlounger Try To Be Love *

17 Neptune Project feat. Polly Strange – The Inside

* Armin van Buuren Mash Up

Thoughts please--

Album Review: Jaytech - Multiverse

Hailing from the Anjunadeep stable of international DJs and producers, Australian-born Jaytech (James Cayzer) is redefining what can be done with the building blocks of trance music. He has taken the reigns as A&R co-director at Anjunadeep, continually deconstructing founding band Above & Beyond’s uplifting vocal trances and rebuilding them with a jolt of emotive , melodic European House, and a total disregard for genre-defining boundaries. 

Jaytech delivers the freshest tracks on his weekly podcast, and now he challenges producers worldwide with the grooves of Multiverse - his second artist album.

The male vocals on Labour of Love feat. Nathan Grainger and Stranger feat. Steve Smith, and the all-encompassing synth scales of New Vibe and title-track Multiverse would fit nicely within Above & Beyond’s world-renowned DJ sets. Rabbit Raiders and Epsilon flirt with these soundscapes, then turn up the pace and electro filters to highlight Jaytech’s subtle bad-boy charm. This electo-edge is the focal point of Through The Maze” feat. Serenade, which for full effect should be performed live with a retro instrument

Jaytech attempts to reinvent the mousetrap with Innovation feat. Nathan Grainger. The 21st century sounds have to work around the bouncy boy-band melody and half-spoken lyrics: These feelings I have are so true/ just want to share this day with you. This miscue is soon alleviated with the dense Rossa Corsa-esque dreamwave on Diode. A classically trained pianist, Jaytech layers complex run of synths with psychedelic whispers that vibrate through your eardrums.

Multiverse lets the listener down easily, with both of the last two tracks hitting at a seemingly below 100bpm. Ample space between notes allows for total appreciation of Melody Gough’s soft vocal pleas on Blue Ocean, escaping the speakers with a delicate trip-hop touch.

At a relatively lengthy 13 tracks and over 70 minutes, I had the urge to skip back to the most pleasing tracks. But Multiverse is a cross-genre adventure that is best explored in full.

Noteworthy tracks include Diode, Blue Ocean, Multiverse, Coda

Track list:

1. Everglade (feat. Serenade)

2. New Vibe (Album Version)


3. Rabbit Raiders


4. Labour Of Love (feat. Nathan Grainger)


5. Epsilon 

6. Innovation (feat. Nathan Grainger)


7. Through The Maze (feat. Serenade)

8. Diode


9. Dr Device

10. Stranger (feat. Steve Smith)

11. Multiverse


12. Blue Ocean (feat. Melody Gough)

13. Coda

Your thoughts???

We Are The EXCEPTION

When I got this news I got so excited that finally, my country, The Philippines will get to have our own Ultra Music Festival or Creamfields!

So here's the press release with it's accompanying promotional video.

=============================================

Exception Music Festival Manila, Philippines, November 2012

Make way for Exception, the Philippines’ first electronic music festival.

(Manila, Philippines) Elsewhere around the globe, world-famous DJs share the stage with fellow superstars, music fans band together in endless thousands, and a spirit of no-holds-barred fun powers the entire scene. This is what an electronic music festival is all about, and this is what the Philippines has yet to witness.

To take the Philippines into the Next and higher level we proudly presents Exception Music Festival, an event that brings together different music stars, with different music Genres both foreign and local, in one massive event.

We are uniting everyone under one massive REAL Music festival, Taking a cue from the biggest dance festivals worldwide like Creamfields and Global Gathering in the UK and Ultra and Electric Daisy Carnival in the US, Exception will gather hordes of party-goers in one gigantic outdoor location, its ground set to shake with a whole day’s succession of trance, house, progressive, electro, pop, rock, and a madcap mixture of all of the above. And in the tradition of those same festivals, rules will be gleefully thrown to the wind in the name of fun. That’s Why its Called EXCEPTION, as you know there is an EXCEPTION for everything. 

On its first year, Exception will boast three different stages. The House Stage: that will feature house music maestros and the biggest brands: Ministry of sound, Hedkandi, Housexy  will electrify the audience. Meanwhile, The LIVE Stage acts such as Live Pop – Rock bands ( local & international, Live performance, Tribal, Live PA and More are bound to set the second stage on fire. The third stage ( MAIN STAGE ) will be a stadium-sized spectacle starring the event’s headliners of the Biggest Names in Trance & Progressive : Line to be announced soon Each stage will be mounted with state-of-the-art light and sound systems, and the entire venue will be bedecked with cheeky paraphernalia in true clubbing and Music fashion.

Exception is a trailblazing concept in the Philippines, as it aims to debut the country to the global dance community as a new festival destination. Besides uniting Manila’s electronic music fans into one cheering, hollering congregation, it will draw in dance denizens from all over the country and even all the way abroad.

Be part of the first Exception Music Festival on NOVEMBER 2012 , where the music is never-ending and the rules are nonexistent. For this event, make an exception: dress however you want, act however you want, and be as foolish as your fearless young souls desire.

WARNING:

DON’T YOU EVER THINK ABOUT MISSING THIS

http://exceptionmusicfestival.com

Album Review: Madonna - MDNA

Madonna's 12th studio album MDNA offers some familiar futuristic EDM sound with a touch of Madge. This could sound like her previous work Hard Candy, when all artists at the time were aching to be Timbalandised. As Madge is known to cope with trends very well and can transform into what is relevant, she manages to score an album with today's sound - electronic dance music. Working with producers like Benny Benassi, Martin Solveig, Ray of Light collaborator William Orbit, among the few, Madonna proves yet again why she has the staying power in the business. However, for fans as myself, I feel the album does not deliver a seemingly come-back attempt from a 4-year hiatus, and also that hope for a Ray Of Light ish smash album also dissipated. 

The concept of MDNA, in reference to MDMA drug, or an abbreviated version of Madonna, or Madonna DNA rocked my brain for a couple of months. Those months I have anticipated that she will deliver an in-your-face album to all of the princesses threatening her of her Queen of Pop throne. But to no avail, I feel that she wasn't able to do so. Perhaps with album sales, she did prove her loyal following. But as a loyal follower myself, I feel she has again succumb to the pressures of the post-GaGa pop world. I was hoping she would be setting new trends and not trying to prove why she is the queen. Although some good tracks were produced, there are no tracks sounding they could pass the test of time. But it might be too early to judge so let's see.

On a lighter note, I want to highlight some of the tracks that are worthy listens: Gang Bang sounds like a sequel to Revolver and its video could only be aptly directed by Quentin Tarantino; other tracks like I'm Addicted (where she repeatedly sings MDNA then it turns out to be MDMA in the end), Turn Up The Radio, I Don't Give A comply to today's standard of what an EDM-inspired track should be. Another track that sounds like her previous hits: Beautiful Stranger for I'm A Sinner; and Ray of Light for Beautiful Killer. Do check out the deluxe edition, as it has some great add ups.

Track list

01. Girl Gone Wild
02. Gang Bang
03. I'm Addicted
04. Turn Up The Radio
05. Give Me All Your Luvin'
06. Some Girls
07. Superstar
08. I Don't Give A
09. I'm A Sinner
10. Love Spent
11. Masterpiece
12. Faaling Free

Deluxe:

01. Beautiful Killer
02. I Fucked Up
03. B-day Song
04. Best Friend
05. Give Me All Your Luvin' (Party Rock Remix)
06. Love Spent (Acoustic) (iTunes pre-order only)

Let me know what you think--

Album Review: Trance Nation 2012 (Remixed by Cosmic Gate)

The annual Trance Nation compilation from Ministry of Sound Records is out now, and this time the remixes are by one of my all-time fave duo Cosmic Gate. 

Following 2011's remix by Rank 1, this compilation shows no slowing down from it's predecessor. Expect ergasmic tracks from Trance giants like Sander van Door, Tiesto, Above & Beyond, and from new contingents like Andrew Bayer, Arty, and Mat Zo all wrapped up with a bough on it by Claus Terhoeven (a.k.a. Nic Chagall) and Stefan Bossems (a.k.a. DJ Bossi) collectively known as Cosmic Gate. Compiling some of their favourite producers, remixers, and artists over a 2CD release, Nic & Bossi perfectly capture the future sound of the genre. The duo explains: "It’s an honor for us to be mixing this international, established and influential brand mix series by Ministry Of Sound and be the next ambassador after respected colleagues and friends like Above & Beyond, Andy Moor and Rank1!"

One note worthy track that really caught my attention and ear drums is Cosmic Gate and Andrew Bayer's track Nothing Ever Lasts. The said track headlines the first cd. This 2-CD goodie is such a good listen you wouldn't even realise that two hours had already passed just by listening to it. It then ends with a CG classic Fire Wire 2011 remix (that can also be found on CG's Back 2 The Future Remixes complilation)

Track list:

CD1:
01. Cosmic Gate & Andrew Bayer – Nothing Ever Lasts (Extended Intro Mix)
02. Jerome Isma – Ae - Speed
03. Nic Chagall & Duderstadt Feat. Relyk – Alone With You
04. Cosmic Gate – Crushed
05. Boom Jinx Feat. Justine Suissa – Phoenix From The Flames (Maor Levi Remix)
06. Sunleed – Rasalhague
07. Temple One Feat. Neev Kennedy – Love The Fear (Tom Fall Remix)
08. Mat Zo – Bipolar
09. Emma Hewitt – Colours (Cosmic Gate Remix)
10. LTN – Ordinary People (Anhken Remix)
11. Abstract Vision & Elite Electronic – Always Exotic
12. Alex Kunnari Feat. Ben Andreas – Taste The Sun (Tom Fall Instrumental)
13. Space Rockerz Feat. Ellie Lawson – So Out Of Reach
14. Matt Davey – Castaway (Daniel Hairston Lonely Road Remix)

CD2:
01. Cosmic Gate with Myon & Shane 54 and Aruna – All Around You (Extended Intro Mix)
02. Ost & Meyer – Scarlett Heaven (Dan Stone Remix)
03. Ummet Ozcan – Cocoon
04. Tiesto – Flight 643 (Nash & Pepper Remix)
05. Cosmic Gate & Arnej – Sometimes They Come Back For More (Stoneface & Terminal Remix)
06. Above & Beyond – Formula Rossa (Nitrous Oxide Remix)
07. Cosmic Gate & Emma Hewitt – Be Your Sound (Extended Mix)
08. Cosmic Gate – The Theme
09. Kyau & Albert – Are You Fine (Arty Remix)
10. Sander van Doorn, Adrian Lux – Eagles (Album Mix)
11. Cold Blue – Coconut
12. Gareth Emery – Tokyo
13. Marcel Woods – Accelerate (Chris Schweizer Big Room Mix)
14. Cosmic Gate – Fire Wire (Cosmic Gate’s Back 2 The Future Remix)

If you have this compilation or have listened to this record, do share your thoughts--

Republiq presents: Calvin Harris (23 February 2012)

Been anticipating for this and finally I will get to legitimately wear my fly eye glasses in a Calvin Harris event. 

Last Thursday night at Republiq Club in Manila, all the Stars Come Out for Calvin Harris. I was so Ready For The Weekend and Feel So Close to Calvin that night. And now, all are just a Flashback of how fabulous that night was!

If you were there, too, share your experience--

Madonna is on MDNA

Upon hearing rumours on Twitter about Madonna's up and coming album, I felt this blood rush in me. I felt even more pumping (of blood) in my veins when I found out that she will be calling her new album MDNA. Sounds familiar eh? Need I explain further?

I am buying the whole concept -- with this pre-released album cover of having a blurry vision of Madonna, MDNA being Madonna DNA and the reference to the euphoric drug MDMA (popularly known as ecstasy/XTC) -- I'm already getting palpitations of excitement!

Guest artists that the Queen of Pop is rumoured to be working with are the sassy Nicki Minaj and rebellious M.I.A. -- this ought to be interesting as Madonna is now more open to collaboration and sharing her diva space. Contributing producers are Martin Solveig, Benny Benassi and executive producer of the successful Ray of Light, William orbit amongst others.

This is gonna be an exciting year as the Queen of Pop reclaims her throne from the Princesses.

Thoughts please--

Album Review: Armin van Buuren - Universal Religion 5

Trance lovers! We are in for another treat with the new chapter from Armin van Buuren's Universal Religion series. 

Every summer season, fans of Armin van Buuren hold their breath for two magical words to drop: Universal Religion. The compilation series, going strong since 2004, is a favourite amongst those into quality electronic dance music. This year, the fifth chapter of the beloved series has landed, recorded live during Armin’s sets in club Space on party-island Ibiza.

Armin van Buuren honours tradition and gives it a new spin at the same time. Universal Religion Chapter 5 presents two special live recordings from his gigs at Space. Let your senses be taken by exclusive tunes and remixes, feel the vibrant energy of the crowd and enjoy AvB's unrivalled mixing skills, as he introduces you to a new, musical chapter. Not only does Universal Religion Chapter 5 indulge you with two brand new AvB remixes, a new Gaia production, and AvB’s ‘Brute’ collab with Ferry Corsten, it also takes you in with the beats of BT, Shogun, Ashley Wallbridge, Paul Oakenfold, Alexander Popov, Daniel Kandi, Re:Locate vs Robert Nickson, Andy Moor, John O’Callaghan, and many more.

This series would only get better as the chapters increase. I remember from the first chapter of UR 'til the fourth, I rave when listening to this compilation. And when the fifth chapter dropped, I just couldn't help myself and burst into my signature dance step whilst listening to it in my room.

Some note worthy tunes include Vision, Space Odyssey, Falling Away, Liquid Logic, Fallen Angel, Terrace 5A.M., Brute, Counting The Points, Full Moon Party

Track list:

CD1
01 Ashley Wallbridge – Vision (Intro Edit)
02 BT & Adam K – Tomahawk
03 Gofman & Tsukerman – Darko
04 Shogun – Space Odyssey
05 Hannah – Falling Away (Armin van Buuren Remix)
06 Andy Moor feat. Sue McLaren – Fight The Fire (Stoneface & Terminal Remix)
07 Protoculture – Liquid Logic
08 Dennis Sheperd & Cold Blue feat. Ana Criado – Fallen Angel (Dennis Sheperd Club Mix)
09 Markus Schulz presents Dakota – Terrace 5 a.m.
10 Gaia – Stellar
11 Susana – Home (Daniel Kandi Retrofit Remix)
12 Mike Koglin vs Genix – Helion
13 Jorn van Deynhoven – Spotlight
14 Ferry Corsten vs Armin van Buuren – Brute

CD2
01 Andrew Bayer – Counting The Points
02 Kid Alien – The Atmosphere (Klauss Goulart’s & Mark Sixma Deep Universe Remix)
03 Space RockerZ & Tania Zygar – Puzzle Piece (Daniel Heatcliff’s Farewell Remix)
04 Alexander Popov – Elegia
05 Emma Hewitt – Colours (Armin van Buuren Remix)
06 Gareth Emery & Ashley Wallbridge – Mansion
07 DNS Project – Exclusive (Bigroom Edit)
08 John O’Callaghan & Giuseppe Ottaviani – Ride The Wave (Giuseppe Ottaviani Remix)
09 James Dymond – Gundam
10 Daniel Kandi – Sagittarius
11 Alex M.O.R.P.H. feat. Sylvia Tosun – An Angels Love (Vocal Mix)
12 Paul Oakenfold – Full Moon Party
13 Re:Locate vs Robert Nickson – Resource
14 Orjan Nilsen – Viking

What's your religion? Universal Religion!!! Do you agree?