Reviews (10)

Euro at it's best
Scooter offers what only a few have been able to synthicate. There is no that a person can compare Scooter with anything else. With such tracks as Nessaja, Posse..., I shot the dj, and many more, this cd delivers Scooter at its best. All of the songs on this cd are backed up with many requests on radio stations and hundreds of requests to Scooter. Possibly the best music ever.

Golden
First of all I would like to thank Scooter for their great pure hard core sound. It's something that I have been looking for a long time. It's filled with unmeaningful lyrics that just seem to make the songs all better. I love it!! Ramp, nessaja, i shot the dj, how much is the fish, and the others are a must have in your music collection!! I highly reccomend it to everyone that enjoys to be the one with the cool beats comin' out of their speakers.

They started in 1994 and they're still on the case!
When you think dance, you should think Scooter. No exceptions. From 1994 till the present, they've been a constant powerhouse in the techno scene. And this CD does a great job of showing off their greatest hits.

"Pushing the Beat" is the US Edit for the CD "Push The Beat For This Jam" which was released in Europe. The CD features hits from the "second chapter". The second chapter is the time-period where Scooter was with their second keyboardist, Axel Coon, along with all-time members H.P. Baxxter and Rick J. Jordan. However, this chapter ended with the song "Nessaja" which is actually not made with Axel but with Scooter's 3rd keyboardist Jay Frog.

Fom "Nessaja" to "How Much is the Fish?", Scooter's most popular beats keep coming harder than ever. Classics like "Posse! I Need You on the Floor!" make this CD an absolute masterpiece. After "How Much is the Floor" comes some brand news tracks from the Scooter crew. "Greatest Beats" and "New Years Day" come from the tracks "We Are The Greatest" and "F*ck the Millenium".

One of the tracks entitled "Sunrise (Ratty's Inferno)" has a story behind it. In Europe, many DJs see Scooter as a joke unforunately. Scooter saw this and made up another artist called Ratty. Under this artist name, they released the track "Sunrise (Here I Am)", one of the greatest songs ever. Seriously. The song became instantly popular and people wondered who this group was. When the music video was shown for the song, three rats were shown. Three Rats = Three Members of Scooter. There is no doubt this is Scooter, but few still refuse to believe it. Many still own the song with no idea it's Scooter. This song is the Instrumental Edit for the song and is still as great as the original.

The hits continue with great songs like "Habanera" and "Loud and Clear". The hidden track turns out to be one of the best songs Scooter ever made. The track is "Ramp! The Logical Song", a cover of Supertramp's classic. Listen. You'll love it. Guaranteed.

This CD is a masterpiece. And since this is the only Scooter album you can find here in the States, go and experience the greatness that is Scooter.

SCOOTER!!!
this is an American version of 'Push The beat for this Jam (2nd chapter)' it's an amazing cd, includes all the great single tracks and the club mixes ALSO INCLUDES BONUS TRACK :)

Missing some of the best
I really would like to give this CD five stars but unfortunately it is missing some of the older songs that were good songs such as Hyper Hyper. All around a good CD though. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

An Irresistible Mix CD from the Former Thunderpuss DJ.
Chris Cox is one half of the now-defunct remixing team of Thunderpuss, and he's easily one of the best DJs specializing in highly energetic, mainstream-friendly dance music. Equally talented as a producer, remixer, and DJ, Cox can spin rings around the hilariously overrated Louie Devito. His latest mix CD, titled with tongue in cheek "12 Inches of Cox," is an insanely infectious trip through high energy disco with a few touches of glossy house. Thunderpuss' own instrumental, "Head," is a brash rush of energy so flaming, the groove will give you third degree burns. Pete Heller's sensual mix of Daft Punk's "Faster, Better, Harder, Stronger," is a fine excursion of dark twisted house, while Pete Rauhofer's mix of Narcotic Thrust's "Safe From Harm" and Chris Cox's own "I Believe" are guaranteed to fill up almost any club dancefloor. Of course, Cox couldn't resist including at least one Thunderpuss remix in this CD, so we get Inaya Day's "Can't Stop Dancin'," the disc's closing track. Pity that Cox and former partner Barry Harris decided to call it a day for Thunderpuss, for they were among the few DJs worthy of my time and money. But if you want a reminder of how good Cox is, then pick up this winning mix CD.

Deep, Dark and Delicious
Chris Cox rocks the box with this fantastic mix project! Don't believe the haters in the other reviews, this is one CD that belongs in EVERY trance/dance collection! Take this advice in good faith from another Trance DJ...Me!

Don't buy it
This is a poor album. Don't waste your money, there are much better DJs out there.

12 INCHES IS WAY TO MUCH !
If you are looking for the PARTY CD to have this holiday season... give Chris Cox's 12" a try and you would have no need to beg for more, I can assure you of that. Some serious remixes never heard before and some old tracks that are just classic. Really good!

Chris Cox (Thunderpuss) is a great DJ and this is a great CD
Amazing - seriously amazing. Chris Cox is one of the best DJ/Producer around. This CD is full of must have records - each one is a must have. One of the real standout tracks is the Thunderpuss & Barnes track "Head" - I hear you can't get this track anywhere else. This CD will be in my CD player for a long time. ... Read more

Album Description

Aussie edition of the electronica/dance star's 2003 albumfeatures exclusive artwork. 13 tracks including 'SimplyBeing Loved (Somnambulist)'. Festival/Mushroom Records. ... Read more

Reviews (319)

Sonically Astounding
as a longtime BT fan, its been quite interesting to watch his evolution from decent trance artist to full blown production superstar. this cd marks a true crossroads for him, and while those who are looking for a hard trance album will certainly be disappointed, i think anybody else will be pleasantly surprised.

the one trademark of BT that i like the most is his absolutely meticulous approach to music. that has never been as apparent as on this cd. he builds every synth and atmosphere from scratch (one synth line in this album took him 3 days!), and every nuance contributes something to the whole of the piece. the guests on this disc are a little surprising (rose mcgowan, some dude from nsync) but their contributions are a little generic and neither add nor subtract from the sound. this album is very textually based, with lots of acoustic instruments to pair with BTs electronic experimentation. i could see how the hyper futuristic production could not be for everyone...its still very dance-oriented, but more in a popsong format than trance. those fans that liked BT's "satellite" will love this album. finally, you've got to love the guy for thanking in his liner notes the thugs who threw him in his friend's trunk at gunpoint and robbed his studio during the making of this album.
buy it you wont be disappointed

Another Multi-Genre Masterpiece!
BT once again has brought us something that chooses to expand our horizon and expectations with current electronic music. In this album, as with MISL, BT writes many songs that just can't be pinned down into a single subgenre - some containing either an eclectic sound or others just inventing new genres in themselves. However, if that doesn't do it for you, I guess the best way to describe the stuff you'll encounter would be a mix of trance (since, after all, BT was one of the pioneers of that particular subgenre), breakbeat, 80's rock, progressive, and acoustic rock songs. Yeah - it is quite the variety and you wonder how in the hell it will come together, oh, but it does come together EXTREMELY well due to BT's long history of classical music training (since the age of 4) and his expertise in programming and digital audio. My song recommendations would be Knowledge of Self (very similiar to MISL's Mad Skillz Mic-Chekka), Paris (a semi-trippy progressive style track), Last Moment of Clarity (Has a lot of roots in BT's ESCM days), and Dark Heart is Dawning (Similiar to MISL's satellite, but more emotional). This is a great CD and I would recommend it to anyone!

Emotional Technology
Every electronic fan knows that BT is almost indisputably the finest producer in electronic music today. It is his love and his obsession and that comes across in every thing that he does. On the original UK version of Movement in Still Life, BT unleashed a truly incredible track in Satellite as an outro to the album. It featured tricked out guitar, electronics, organic percussion, and BT's very own singing. Now... after an amazing album exploding with deep trance, house, sick new school breakbeats, and some of the best production ever recorded, Satellite's eclecticism was like a breeze of fresh air.

Enter Emotional Technology, or as I like to call it Satellite 2. Sure he has the breakbeat/rap number and the dance tracks (a few of which are decent), but any listener can plainly tell BT's focus on this album is on these disgusting regurgitations of Satellite. He croons and he woos the ladies with his deep thoughtfulness and obscure rants. However, he is not Justin Timberlake or John Mayer and the result is... well frankly, embarassing. Throw all of these songs away and we are left with a handful of dance tracks and a breakz diddy.

Knowledge of Self is a pretty phat song to throw on in the car and drive fast to. I was ecstatic when I saw that Guru was being featured on the track, but was expecting him to spit a verse, which he never really does. I couldn't help but think this was a less exciting rehash of Smartbomb. As for the trance tracks, the music would be extremely impressive minus the vocals (which render nearly every track on here unlistenable.) The exception and the highlight of the album is The Great Escape. The vocals grate a bit on the nerves after repeated listens, but are used sparsely. BT really goes to town on this track and occasionally you will find yourself actually wondering if what you just heard actually happened and how anyone could produce such sounds. This is the BT I know and love, sappy love songs are not.

BT should follow this album with an "Ooops" and get back to a sound that he helped invent instead of trying to run with the 'poppers'.

emotional tranceology
i don't see what the negative fuss is about. no doubt BT is still the mastermind in his genre of music. though he has become more experimental from his earlier works of Ima and ESCM, he is getting better and more composed with his sounds. although i would like to hear more trance instrumentals, i still think that this cd is good. i have been a long time fan of BT and got hooked to all other trance artists since then. his music just brings you into a realm of relaxation and comfort from all your troubles. Force of Gravity is a song that really stands out on this record. really great loops and effects and overall really well sung by JC Chasez. i absolutely dislike boy bands but his vocals really set a deep mood for the song. anyway, don't doubt this record, if you are a long time fan of BT or you just heard about BT from scores or some random commercial, i suggest you dish out a few bucks to listen to this cd. put it in relax and enjoy. if you are new to his sound also definently check out his older collections from Ima Escm and also the R&R and 10 Years in the Life.

Another masterpiece...
Artist like BT come into the world with such understanding of what music is, it's kind of scary. BT has never been shy towards his production techniques or abilities and in Emotional Technology he let loose. This record is filled with those excellent glitches and bumps he has made so famous, rounded out by an all-star team of collaborators. Rose McGowan, JC Chasez and Jan Johnston make an appearance in Emotional Technology. Almost all the songs in the record are a downtown club's dream. Songs like "Superfabulous", "Somnambulist" and "Knowledge of Self" deliver steady and energetic sounds that fill up the air, while the more chilled-out tracks like "Dark Heart Dawning" and "Animals" show a different side of Brian Transeau. With Emotional Technology BT has created an effective, polished, fun and engaging record that lives up to the artist we have come to know as BT. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Very poor
I was very dissapointed with this. The strong structure of the songs is pretty weak. What the other reviewers think is good about this one is beyond me. I do agree with another reviewer concerning the mr.deviant CD "Techno Obsession". At least that has power and some solid song structure....this "Techno Party" just falls flat

Adrenaline pumping
This is a decent collection of techno tracks that are perfect to keep you rockin' and your adrenaline pumping. A good techno compilation is hard to come by these days and this one is the best new release out there. If you dig this CD, then I must also highly recommend mr.deviant's "Techno Obsession" - now that CD is SLAMMIN'!!!!

Rockin' Compilation
The "Party" in "Techno Party" is exactly where this album falls in the midst of similar various artists compilations. It's a really rockin', pumping beat, aggressive mix of techno music, perfect to keep you awake while working out, hacking on your computer, etc. I have to give it three stars because, as good as it is, a compilation techno album like this one that isn't groundbreaking simply doesn't have the lifespan to merit a higher ranking.

AwSome!!!
J'adore ce CD ! Moi qui vient de france et ben je peux vous dire que c'est le genre de bonnes Musique que vous entendrer en Boite !!! C'est Trop une BOMBE!!!

The right CD for that adrenaline rush
I've really enjoyed this CD. I've listened to it many times over, usually when I'm working out or studying. It keeps the adrenaline high and the blood flowing. Looking forward to volume 2. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A combination CD-DVD set, Global acts as a handy greatest hits collection of Paul van Dyk's wildly popular brand of shiny trance, featuring two previously unreleased tracks along with a mix of his best-known work. While he's justifiably famous as a DJ, it's really van Dyk's production, filled with shimmering electronics and relentlessly upbeat rhythms, that sets his recorded work apart from the pack. His knack for catchy hooks turns songs like "Another Way" from 2000's Out There and Back into swirling epics designed for jolting the dance floor into glowstick overdrive. Of the record's two previously unreleased tracks, "Animacion" sounds more like Van Dyk's recent work. The other, "My World," with its speedy, early-trance-house feel, may have sat in the back of Van Dyk's record crate for years. The DVD includes live footage, interview snippets, fan testimonials, and a 5.1 surround-sound mix. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (48)

delicious and delightful!!!
Paul Van Dyk is a producer for the more uplifting sounds of trance and this compilation of Paul's own tunes. They have been specially remixed for this album, and the dvd is very enjoyable. The DVD that comes along with the disc is nice to watch and can be put on as background music for a party. At any rate, the music is highly enjoyable and shows people how active PVD is as a producer/music writer. So if you like PVD this is a great album to by to get some of PVD's greatest hits on one continuously mixed cd. If you prefer a mix cd, then I would suggest his Ministry of Sound release called "The Politics of Dancing" which I prefer better, hence the 4 star rating. Enjoy!! rock the vote :)

Eye Candy for PvD Fans!!!
You may want to call this album Best of Best for PvD or maybe a bridge album for his next new album to be released in Fall 2003. In any rate, this album consists of music that made Paul van Dyk spanning past 10 years of his career and highlights very well about his taste in Electronic Music. As you can see the tracklisting of this cd is all well known PvD tracks. So anyone who wants to find out who PvD is and his music, this album will be able to grasp what PvD is. But for those of you who are already dying fan of PvD: like me, the cd part of this album is moderately pleasing. I'm pretty sure that most of PvD fans have all of his music and what you are probably more interested is his DVD production. PvD cd contains two tracks that weren't available to us. Animacion (too many PvD fans thought this song was Suzann but it wasn't.) is soundtrack for Zurdo (Mexican Movie) so it was only available in Mexico (I don't know anywhere else, maybe in Germany.) My World is PvD's past production that wasn't able to see the light due to his legal battles with his former label. So these two tracks seems to be the ear teaser for PvD fans. But it's the DVD part of this album that gives PvD fans the smile. This DvD was sequenced and mixed in 5.1 Dolby surround so the sound and clarity of this DvD is amazing. The order of this DvD is exactly same as Cd's tracklisting and motion videos are all footages of his fans, travels, gigs around the world. This DvD will give you insight of Paul's world that we all like to be part of. Some of the statements that were made by the fan were over exaggerated due to their hysterical excitement of the PvD's aura. Also, there are handful of parts (by fan) that will crack you up. But over all PvD's hard effort and sweat can be felt through his DvD and it will not be disappointing in terms of your expectation of this DvD production. In conclusion, new Paul van Dyk's fan will get to know him better and old PvD fans will get their eye candy...=]

Perfection Reached !
A MUST HAVE ! Excellent Compilation of best PaulVanDyk's best Tracks. Can't resist it, even if you've got most of the songs on it! W O R T H I T for music alone, visials ... are ok.

Ausgezeichnet!
I couldn't be any more proud of PVD. It has been 10 years and some of us have been with him all the way. He's the sort of DJ that brings a sort of ecstacy (no pun intended for the Ravers) to the dancefloor. He's the king of his genre and from Berlin too!!! His presence, his trance, his hutzpah is uncomparible. The DVD on the other hand is a perfect visual of what trance and club really is and if you notice, no ones downing amphetamines! There is a better definition and with a mix of different cultures and club scenes it makes the DVD a collectable for all Trance-lovers. I live in Berlin, I've been to America, and Paul Van Dyk is universally loved. He's not going anywhere for the next ten years. Wir lieben dich, Paul. Meine Schwester willt dich zu heiraten;)

Wow!!!
Both the CD & DVD are wonderful. Not too fast paced here. 'We Are Alive' and 'How We Used To Live' are the highlights here! I love Paul's work with Saint Etienne, and I've been looking for the video for so long - and here it is! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Nice Unmixed CD Full Of Hits
The first CD from the world's largest mainstream dance award ceremony, Dancestar Radio Hits 2004 features one floor-filler after another. 5,000 people attended 2003's award show in Miami, 800 million watched it on television worldwide, and Dancestar's licensing department seems all the stronger because of it. These are all big hits from the mainstream side of dance, there's no cheating there, but they are unmixed and almost all presented in their shorter "radio edits". If that doesn't matter to you, dig in. Plenty of the tracks appropriate pop tunes and turn them into giant anthems. Angel City cop a bit of Ready for the World's "Oh Sheila", LMC use U2's "With Or Without You" as a foundation, and Dannii Minogue takes the better part of Madonna's "Into the Groove". The influence of electro and electro-clash is strong with Benny Benassi, Tocadisco, and Ferry Corsten all adding some much needed grit to the collection. Punk Division's take on the White Stripe's "Seven Nation Army" and the Crystal Method's "Born Too Slow bring the disc to a rocking and stomping finish.

A Collection Of Dancestar's Popular Hits!
"Dancestar 2004" is a collection of popular hits from the recent Dancestar Awards. This collection does include some pumpin' tracks such as LMC Vs. U2's "Take Me Away To The Clouds" (which features U2's hit "With Or Without You"), Linus Loves Feat. Sam Obernik's "Stand Back" (a housed up version of Stevie Nick's 80's smash hit), Boogie Pimps "Somebody To Love" (a cool house version of The Jefferson Airplane's 60's psychedelic hit),Angel City Feat. Sara McAllen's "Love Me Right (Of Sheila)" (which is based on 80's group Ready For The World's hit "Oh Sheila"), Armin Van Buuren's stunning trancer "Burned With Desire", Motorcycle's "As The Rush Comes", Dannii Minogue's "Don't Wanna Lose This Feeling" (which uses Madonna's 80's hit "Into The Groove"), Crystal Method's "Born Too Slow", Orange Factory's "Intoxicated" plus more. An all around nice collection of house, progressive and trance from Ultra Records. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

where's techno on here???
If I could give this cd 0 stars, I would. Just by looking at the artists on this compilation and then looking at the title of the CD tells you how much "The Happy Boys" (whoever they are) know about electronic music. Most of the tracks on here are House, Trance, and little elements of Progressive House. If you wanna listen to techno, listen to WestBam. Now they are writing music that really is techno. And trust me, there are other compilations out there that are way better and are mixed properly. DON'T SUPPORT "THE HAPPY BOYS".

this is TRUE techno!
A music fan from Brooklyn, NY you don't know what you are talking about this is true techno, and that cd you recomended Jeff Mills' Exhibitionist Mix? that ain't techno thats just music people use when they are about to do a magic trick, thats just background music.

Rock Your World
Well, it may move it a little...
This one is better than Vol. 1 but still contains some filler. Hardcore techno fans will enjoy it, but it's no classic. If you dig hard and powerful techno, then I have to recommend Mr.Deviant's "Techno Obsession". Now that, will Rock Your World

The best damn CD ever
Techno party 2 is a really cool cd. I would recommend this cd for everbody who ever listened to techno. This is gonna' rock your world!!

Lots of trance and dance, not much techno...
I think calling this disc "techno party" is pretty misleading. None of the tracks on this compilation is anywhere near the genre of techno.

These are all trance, hard house and dance cuts, but for some reason these "marketed for America" releases all have to be called "techno" as if anything with a fast dance beat is techno.

If you are looking for techno you should look at Jeff Mills' Exhibitionist mix. Now that is real techno, plus it's made by a nice chap from Michigan.

Engage. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

One of the best albums of all time!
A wonderful variation and compilation of songs from Moby to Maxwell. It's such a peaceful album to listen to that I even listen to it while I study. If you like music by Enya, Dido, Moby, Jill Scott, Maxwell, etc., then you'll love this album.

great for an evening in
I thought that the mixture of mellow beats on this cd was great. I had bought this after buying the television soundtrack to Roswell, and was suprised to find out that more than a few of the songs were the same. If you are looking for songs to sing and drive to, buy Roswell instead. However, if you are in more of a chill-out mode, this album is the better buy.

Nearly Worthless.
For those who already own chillout collections from Ministry of Sound, Hed Kandi, and Naked Music, there is absolutely no reason to get this disc. Sony Music jumps on a bandwagon that's already getting stale with this collection of downtempo grooves. For the most part, the songs in themselves are pretty good, but we get predictable artists like Moby, Massive Attack, and Deep Forest who have already appeared on countless other discs. If a label is going to release an album of this nature, then it should dig deep and include rare quality tunes that may be underexposed. To its credit, it DOES have Jill Scott and Maxwell, giving this disc a welcome, soulful slant. But a couple of other tunes are questionable. What's music from the film "Titanic" doing here, for example? I can't say that this compilation is a bust, but it does almost nothing to separate itself from the rest of the other chillout CDs that are rapidly filling up record store bins. It's chillout with a corporate twist.

It is fairly good but bland at times
I bought a copy of this album about two months ago when I saw a commercial on television advertisement for this album which at the time was not available in stores for the public. I bought a copy over the website. At the time, I thought this compilation was excellent but after I bought the German import of a similarily titled chillout compilation, my mind has drastically changed. I found the German import to be more compelling to listen to than this album. First and foremost, I could have lived without the tracks by Jill Scott and Maxwell. Not that I didn't like the songs but they sounded so out of place on this cd while Sade's "No Ordinary Love" was perfect with her silky smooth vocals. On this album you got the standard tracks by Moby, Delerium, Deep Forest, and Chicane, and Dido that you could find on a lot of chillout albums nowadays. Yawn! I love "Porcelain" and the Chillin' With the Family Mix of "Here With Me" but seriously, is it really necessary to put those songs on every chillout album? And "Sweet Lullaby" all over the place on new age compilations, I just want to pull my hair out from frustration. I like the song but is it really necessary to put that tired ol' song on another compilation? Surprisingly enough, one of my favorite tracks on this album is Jame Horner's "Rose" (from "Titanic"). Beautiful song, even moreso without the vocals from Celine Dion. I adored the Craig Armstrong track (w/Elizabeth Fraser) "This Love", Charlotte Church's "Just Wave Hello", Endorphin "Satie 1", Strange Cargo's (w/Beth Orton) "She Cries Your Name", and Tangerine Dream's "Love On a Real Train". Now while I liked a lot of songs on this album, there were a lot of flaws on this album. And as much as I like Evea Cassidy's version of "Fields of Gold", I didn't think it had any place on this album like the tracks by Jill Scott and Maxwell. Overall it is a good album but too bland. I rather spend a few more bucks on imports with a more diverse selection than this album has to offer. ... Read more

Album Description

The 1999 classic release gets a re-release and are-packaging! There are plenty of classic tracks here on2 CD's by the likes of Olive, LTJ Bukem, Lil Mo Ying Yang,Bedrock (aka John Digweed), and many more! A GlobalUnderground release. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Oakenfold Sucks, This cd is great
Oakenfold does a great job with this one. The selection is excellent, combining dnb and trance on the first cd, and ambient trance on the second. This cd compares with the skill used in Tranceport and Swordfish, and the Bedrock tracks are sick. Although i dont reccommend supporting Oakenfolds scene-destroying regime, this cd is worth owning.

One of Oakeys greatest mixes.
Ok, if you not into the whole drum n' bass thing on the first cd thats ok, I personal love. But it you don't, put in the second cd. This is quite possibly the best mix I've ever heard. The second is a pefect mix of GOA. It has a nice dark feel to it and it's very addictive. I guarntee you'll love this album, especialy cd 2.

One of the gems in Oakie's resume...
It's a shame Oakenfold has abandoned his acid and goa trance roots for commercialized house, pop, and generic trance. His recent slew of albums (Bunkka, Swordfish, etc.), particularly under the Perfecto label, seem to be a shameless sell-out to the American market which seems to favor overplayed anthems rather than the innovative acid beats that Oakenfold is known for in his earlier albums (Tranceport, GU 4 & 7, Fluoro, etc.).

This album is a very good testament to Oakenfold's prowess in his early years, before and during his residency at Cream. The first cd starts with tantalizing drum-n-bass that lasts well into the 2nd half of the cd. The listener is treated to soothing melodies that drift along with smooth transitions. The tracks by Omni Trio, LTJ Bukem, and LML & Richie had me hooked the first time through. The mood immediately changes with John Digweed and Nick Muir's "Forbidden Zone", kicking off the trance remainder of the set. The remaining four tracks consist of some very unique but catchy tunes that cruise along to the end of the cd...

The second cd consists of mainly acid, goa, and plain hard trance. With tunes from the likes of Taucher, Bedrock, and Astral Projection, you can't go wrong in listening to this cd time and time again.

It was very difficult for me to acquire this album as there doesn't seem to be very many in circulation (the same goes for GU 7, Fluoro, and Cream Resident). However, it is definitely worth the effort to find as it captures Oakenfold skills as a pioneering dj at its peak.

Oakenfold's Failure
Paul Oakenfold, a name that will be forever associated with A-list djs. this needs to stop. i myself have been spinning for over 4 years, and i am very irritated at crummy djs being worshipped. this release is a decent release for people who don't really know anything about electronic music or djing. the mixing is less than good, especially on cd 2, where it is downright horrible. the tracks are spun in too fast or not even at all. the selection is alright, but nothing too exciting. except for the drum n' bass tracks, the music is not intelligent in any way, and i usually like acid and goa. i have to say that the only good release from oakey is the New York GU, where the mixing is still weak, but the track selection is absolutely amazing. save yourself the money and get that one instead.

Alrighty Then...
I liked this CD a lot. I liked the Drum-n-Bass tracks on the first CD, mixed with the world-flavor and ambient-type acoustics. The transition into that Olive track is amazing. I skipped back to that several times.

As good as this CD is, I don't think it compares to other Oakenfold albums, like Tranceport, or Perfecto Presents Another World. If you don't already have those, I would recommend getting those, prior to this album. ... Read more

Album Description

Johnny Vicious presents 2CDs of the hottest dance musicfeaturing such artists as Deborah Cox, Cassius, Dirty Vegas & Jessy. After a string of hits and a #1 album in hernative Belgium, Jessy is ready to take the US by storm with her latest smash single, 'Look @ Me Now'. The extendedvocal mix is made to burn up the airwaves, while the harder DJ Philip remix will destroy any dancefloor. 24 tracks oftoday's hottest dance music in a slipcase. Ultra Records.2003. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Ultra Dance is Ultra Good.
DJ Johnny Vicious takes the helm one more time and mixes the two CDs that make up "Ultra Dance 03," a tasty selection of the latest club hits. Easily the best of the three volumes, these 2 discs are surprisingly good, thanks to its impressive tracklisting. Hex Hector gives an energetic disco twirl to the infectious "Mr. Lonely" by Deborah Cox," while the French act Cassius get remixed in "The Sound of Violence." Those who couldn't get enough of DJ Sammy's remake of Bryan Adams' "Heaven" will dig his dance cover of Don Henley's "Boys of Summer." But, for me, the disc's twin peaks are the throbbing sinister beats of Oscar G and Ralph Falcon's "Dark Beat," and the high energy anthem "Head" by Thunderpuss (Chris Cox and Barry Harris). The second disc is enhanced and features a video of the cover model dancing to Armin Van Buuren's "Yet Another Day." This video, which runs for only a few minutes, is a bit cheesy, but it's kinda cute. Unlike the last two volumes, "Ultra Dance 03" is surprisingly consistent with minimal filler and really hot tunes. If you liked 1 and 2, then you won't be disappointed with this one.

Good Cd
As one reviewer said The Undergroud Series is way better. For one the dance track on the Underground Series is far better than the Dance tracks on this album, but don't think this Cd has nothing going for it... For one this 1st Cd is mainly dance music, while the 2nd is mainly trance with a little dance vide thrown in, so I enjoyed the CD 2 more(I happen to be a trance lover), but first Cd could do without these tracks numbers: 7, 9 and 12... Those maybe good to others but they don't cut it for me and who knows probably Ultra Dance 4 will be mixed by DJ Encore & Johnny Vicious since each has mixed one version already(Johnny Vicious also mixed Ultra Dance 1)and maybe that time this series will be able to match up to the Underground Party series...
All in all is a great album to have...

Very good, well-rounded album
This CD totally rocks. While the second disk focuses mostly on beat, the first is all about strong vocals, and no one can match the talent of Deborah Cox in the Hex Hector/Mac Quayle mix of "Mr. Lonely", or the power of the chorus in Katrina Ruiz's "You're Gonna Miss Me". Several songs exhibit periods with excellent synth lines, like in Tomcraft's "Loneliness", and the trancelike rhythms of DJ Sammy's take on "The Boys Of Summer" will get your blood pumping. Drunkenmunky's "E" has its own charm and unlikely instruments. The second disk wasn't quite as entertaining or danceable, but it wasn't mediocre enough to hurt this album. My suggestion: Buy. Now.

One of my favorites
Something about this album got me hooked. At first I was disappointed because it did not have the initial appeal of "Ultra.Dance 02." The more I listened the more I liked it. I thought initially that the first disc had better songs because it was more mainstream but the more I listened the more I liked the discs equally.

There are good and bad songs on this CD and is seems that when they mess up, it's seriously bad. I really liked the first three songs on disc one. I liked Johnny Vicious's remix of iio's "At The End," Kreo's "Burn For You" and Humate's Remix of DJ Sammy's "The Boys of Summer" was my favorite section of the disc.Tracks 4 through 7 were in my opnion the worst act of the album. The vocals of Jessy, Deborah Cox, Paulina Rubio, and Katrina Ruiz got redundant after a while. Narcotic Thrust's "Two Minute Warning Mix" of Cassius's "The Sound of Violence" was a highlight track. ATFC's remix of Moby's "In This World" was SO ANNOYING! Listen to it once and your ears will cringe. I dont want to think about it. Anyway, I enjoyed Tomcraft and 4 Strings and I like Dirty Vegas's "I Should Know" but it sounds like it is sped up to more than 5% which makes it sound bad. Drunkenmunky's "E" was in my opnion annoying.

Disc two starts out with Armin van Buuren's "Yet Another Day" followed by "The Way" and Energy 52's "Café Del Mar." I liked these three songs and how well they fit together. The transition to "Head" was a bit iffy but I did like "Dark Beat." "Sweat" was disappointing consitdering it came from C + C Music Factory's smash "Gonna Make You Sweat." The vocals on this song were not sung by Freedom Williams as the album says, but were performed by the powerful voice of Martha Wash who also sung the title lyrics for SNAP!'s 1996 song "The Power." I did not like Scanners's song "What God Has Given You." It got repititive, but I did like Velocity's "Inside" and Veronica's "Love In Bombay." I loved Johnny Vicious's own "I'm Waiting" but was disappointed with the sensuous conclusion of "Sweet Dreams."

If you like club music, this CD is a good one. I loved the transitions by Johnny Vicious. This makes you feel like you are really there. My friend (who was into rock) kept thinking that it was the same song when the next song would start. That's how good the mixing is. There are some bad songs, but the good outweighs the bad by far. I am satisfied.

It grows on you
I bought Ultra.Dance 02 and enjoyed it greatly and thus bought Ultra.Dance 03. At first, I did not like this CD as much as the first but the more I listened to it the more it grew on me. There are still some tracks I don't listen to, for instance the annoying remix of Moby (Disc 1 track 9) and Drunkenmunky (Disc 1 Track 13). I also did not like "What God Has Given You" (Disc 2 track 7). My favorite tracks include the Humate Remix of "The Boys of Summer" (Disc 1 track 3), "Yet Another Day" (Disc 2 track 1), "The Sound of Violence" (Disc 1 track 8) and Johnny Vicious's own "I'm Waiting" (Disc 2 track 10) (Which I discovered is EDITED for this CD: "...stop gnikcuf with my mind..."). Despite inconsistencies, this is a good CD. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good cd!
I like this cd because the songs do not mix into each other. When one song ends it stop, then start at the next song without mixing into each other.

Snap! Rhythm Is A Dancer, is the 3:49 Radio mix.

Gigi D'Agostino: I Fly With You, is the Ba Ba Ba Radio Mix 3:40. ... Read more

Album Description

Sandra Collins is, without question, one of the most recognizable, well loved, and respected DJ¹s on the planet.With her incessant nationwide touring, massive press coverage, top selling mix CDs, and rock star persona, Sandra has developed into not only the top female DJ in America, but the top DJ, period.In fact, the DanceStar Awards (the dance music ³Grammy¹s²) made it official, awarding the 2003 ³Best DJ² award to Sandra over the likes of Louie Devito, Deep Dish and Bad Boy Bill among others.This award is the most recent accomplishment in a long list of stellar career achievements which include her award as URB Magazine¹s 1999 "Best Female Artist" (in honor she shared with Lauryn Hill), her six hour set following Moby in front of 80K screaming fans at the ¹99 Woodstock Festival, best selling mix CD¹s for Tranceport and Cream, a massively popular residency at legendary NYC club Twilo alongside Sasha & Digweed and Paul Van Dyk, and breakout coverage in mainstream press such as Spin and Gear.Recently signed to the Paul Oakenfold's Perfecto roster, Sandra Collins presents her most accomplished work to date, a brilliant 2XCD mix which builds upon her signature combination of melodic vocal anthems and darker prog material. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Sandra Collins Perfecto
(...)I have all of Sandra Collins other cds and this is by far her most mature and accomplished cd of the three. You can hear more of a progressive house style throughout this cd and she uses a slower pace which is less club orientated and arranged more for listening to at home. This cd is comparable to some of Deep Dish's most recent work and has alot of soul with seductive smooth mixes. I am a large fan of Deep Dish and Tiesto and this cd will go along side those cds and I would recommend this cd to anyone who is looking for good progressive trance or house without the epic trance build ups and cheesy club tracks.

#1 Trance dj
I didn't realize that Sandra Collins had a new cd out until I saw a couple of days ago on Amazon her new cd for Paul Oakenfold's record label Perfecto Records. I only have one other cd by Sandra which is for the Transport series. I was having a tough time deciding which cd to get yesterday at my favorite record store for dance music, the new Voodoo Child, Junkie XL or Sandra's cd. I'm glad I got Sandra's cd. I thought she did an amazing job on both discs, especially the 2nd disc. I haven't been really wild about mixed cds lately. The last one that I really dug was George Acosta's "Touched" cd. Sandra's debut album for Perfecto Records is great improvement over the Transport mixed cd she did a few years ago (which was the last time I heard her music). The material is much more stronger. Sandra's mixing style is excellent. All the songs flowed cohesively together without skipping a beat which is one of the things I look for in mixed cds. Another thing I look for is good songs. Sandra chose some really top-notched songs to remix (like Moby's "In This World" and BT's "The Great Escape"). Personally I think the second disc is a little stronger because there are more vocals and the music doesn't sound repetitive like on the first disc. Still both discs are great. They contain all the elements to what makes a great trance song like great melodies, bass heavy beats, and good song structure. Paul Oakenfold made a great move by signing Sandra to his record label. Sandra is truly one of the best djs hands down, regardless of gender.

AHHHH Yawn!!! Boring!!!
I bought this hearing good things about Sandra Collins and all, but I've tried to listen to each CD several times and it does nothing for me. There aren't any tracks on here to keep your attention, with the exception of the last track Great Escape by BT, but that time, it's too late. The track selection is quite poor, in my opinion. While they played, I kept wanting to "change the channel".

If you want to get two of the best DJ mixed trance CD's currently out there, go and get ATB's DJ in the Mix or Positive Ways 3 by Ronski Speed (absolutely the best trance mix CD in years).

absolutly fabulous!
I have been a long time fan of Sandra. Seeing her live was what sold me on her mad skills. I own Tranceport, but have to say that it did not become a disc that I couldn't live without. Due to its lack of play, I opted not to purchase Cream, I could always hear a friend's if ever the mood struck. But I have to say that this new double trouble perfecto release is what a trip through the peaks and valley's of true trance should be. I have to just say BRAVO Sandra. It seems as if the perfection of her craft was finally caught in all of its glory with this must have!

Sandra's best work to date!
I've been a fan of Sandra's for quite some time. She always puts out quality work and has proved to be one of the best DJs on earth. This CD drives that point home. Excellent from top to bottom! This is my favorite disc from Sandra yet, and is one of my favorite dance CDs I own, along with mr.deviant's "Techno Obsession".
Stop reading and click the buy now button, Sandra will not dissapoint! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

a band moving dance music forward
This album from acclaimed cinema-breaksters Hybrid almost arrived too late, with singles hitting our shores and landing on compilations as far back as 1997. Well finally it gets the American release it deserves, albeit not as future-progressive as it once seemed. Despite their adoration from top-flight trance DJs and artists like BT, their sound (and blistering remixes) proudly defy pigeonholes- but since I'm in a labeling mood, lets go ahead and call it orchestral nu-school breakbeat.

Firing out the gate with the soaring "If I Survive," Mike Truman, Lee Mullins, and Chris Healings reveal the blueprint for what is, essentially, a dance soundtrack by showcasing the Russian Federal Orchestra and the pipes of Julee Cruise. The few remaining vocal tunes are actually the disappointment of the album, partly because their hard-edged music calls for a tougher singer, mostly because the stellar backing tracks just don't need accompaniment. Hybrid achieve greatest success by mixing deep-bass breaks with contrasting strings and crisp production, as in the lurking growler "Kill City," or epic (overrated) "Finished Symphony." Other hits may sneak in some scratching ("Snyper") or what sounds suspiciously like guitar ("Theme From Wide Angle,") regardless, the focus is on making you move not wondering what movie that came from.

Asan added bonus, The Pretenders tune "Kid" - remixed and released this year by the band as "Kid 2000"- has been added. They have the tunes and the DJ cred, now it's your turn to plug into a band moving dance music forward. B+

some of the best electronic music I`ve ever heard
Out of my entire CD collection, this is one that I listen to the most, and the one that I would recommend the most to someone who is not familiar with it. I cannot stop trying to get people into Hybrid. Everybody who thinks techno is nothing but repetitive obnoxious sounds needs to hear this music.
Why? Because it`s beautiful, like good music is supposed to be. A word not many people would think of as being applied to electronic music. Yes, it makes you want to get up and dance. But it also can be very pretty and hypnotizing at many points, especially in the beautiful and simple love song "Dreaming Your Dreams". Unlike artists like Fatboy Slim who is obsessive about using vocals in very song, Hybrid is not afraid to have plenty of variety in their CD by using very different-sounding vocalists and even adding gorgeous violin sounds to many tracks. There are songs like "If I Survive" in which the vocals have a big part of the song and you are tuning in to every lyric, and then there are ones like "Beachcoma" in which you are only completely absorbed in the music.
Once you listen to the CD a lot it becomes kind of like its own universe. I really don`t know how this group does it. The CD is titled like the soundtrack to a movie, with "Opening Credits" and "Theme from Wide Angle". I can definitely picture this music being used in a really cool movie. I want to see this movie really bad. It`s a shame it doesn`t exist. That`s how much the music really paints pictures.
If you never imagined techno music could do that, you have to check out this CD.

APHEX AND KID606 are better
aphex twin and kid 606 are way better than this, this is way too boring, go buy Drukqs from Aphex twin. that'll impress you.
madkatz

Evolution
This album does seem to mark the next step in electronic music, like many of the other reviewers have pointed out. It would definitely have a great appeal to fans of already famous DJ's and projects such as BT, Way Out West, Oakenfold and Orbital, but there's also an interesting gimmick that works it's way into the album: the orchestral sound. Ok actually it's not much of a gimmick, because it fits in amazingly. Any DJ/artist who is confident enough in their music to fly over to Russia and hire a 90 piece symphonic orchestra to accompany their break-beats should deserve a listen from anyone, and trust me, that's all it's going to take. Fast tracks: "Beachcoma", "Theme from Wide Angle", "Snyper". "Sinequanon", the French rapping track did rub me the wrong way for about a year, but now I've learned to live with it. Pick up this album or even better, "Wider Angle", the extended US version, and you'll love this band. Also, get a hold of their remixes, especially FSOL's classic "Papua New Guinea" and Sasha's "Xpander". This is what the new electronic music should sound like... go out and get this.

Can't recommend this highly enough!
I'm afraid I can't speak with any expertise on how this CD fits in the body of techno music as other commentators have. That said, however, I hope that my review here will be helpful to other Amazon customers who kind of have an interest in techno music, but don't know what to try.

It's simple: try this CD. I find it intelligent, passionate, energetic without being frantic, diverse, and a little more substantive than a lot of the pure synth dance/techno music I've heard bits of. I've previously enjoyed, and still do, the music of Delerium, in both its more pure synth and techno-tribal incarnations. This is more of the same, with a little more edge. There are wonderfully diverse bits in this music, you'll find yourself picking up on something and yet also feeling that it fits so naturally into what they're doing. There's a mood of artistic surprise and yet also a sort of rightness to this music. The emphasis is on music more than vocals, but both are melded wonderfully. The French "Sine Qua Non" serves up both, with a bit of a hiphop edge.

Whatever it is that works, at least for me, in this genre of music is here in abundance on this CD. I'd sincerely recommend giving it a try. I hope you'll enjoy it as I have. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In listening to Moby's collection of early work and rare remixes, it's clear the diversity of this man's wax was in full effect long before the gospel field recordings of last year's wonderful Play came to the fore. Little pieces of dialogue mingle with gigantic house beats and snippets from sources forever unknown, twisting through songs like the downbeat "UHF" with serpentine ease. His grasp of structure was much different then, however, as these mixes can wander a bit--especially in the hour-plus worth of "Go" remixes he offers up on the second disc. Still, this is a worthy excursion for Moby fans and those who appreciate techno with a little range. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Mostly What You Would Expect With B-Sides But...
This album has some killer re-mixes and that in some cases are better than the original version. Specifically, songs like Next Is the E, Have You Seen my Baby, and Drop a Beat. It also contains one of the most jarring tracks ever in Thousand, which according to the Guiness Book of World Records, is the fastest song ever recorded. Needless to say, it probably won't be one that you would want to listen over and over to. The remixes of Go are good at first, but then they sorta become bland, but then again there are 14 different versions here. The Rainforest mix is my favorite version of Go, and the In Dub mix was my least favorite.

Should you pick this album up? Most definitely if you're a fan of Moby or of techno. Yes, there's some weak stuff here, so it's not going be another Play, Everything Is Wrong, or I Like to Score. It's more like Moby but with more filler, and it's probably a better album than about 85% of the stuff that's out there now.

I got yer Moby right here!
If you had never heard of Moby before his songs started "Play"ing in the background of tv commercials, then, you may not enjoy this album. This is older, experimental techno - an etheral mix of house, early jungle and even a bit of industrial. It is almost *nothing* like his amazingly popular "Play", which makes it thoroughly enchanting. Here we are given a rare glimpse into the life and compilation style of Moby from 1989-1993 - an interesting slice of his music, with mixes so hearty that I actually enjoy the ones covered on this album more than I did the originals.

"Have You Seen My Baby" is my personal favorite, which must be turned up to full volume and bass to fully appreciate. "Drop a Beat" also puts out some really good rythms, as Moby skillfully interweaves melody, beat and somewhat disjointed vocals, the meaning of which cannot be determined. Sit in a chair while you are listening and you will feel your body pulsing in time with the music. "I Feel It" comes full circle, using the vocals sampled in the much-loved "Next is the E" (What is the 'e', anyway?) The disc ends with Thousand, which, if I remember my facts (and the liner notes), was marked in the World Records Book as being the fastest song ever recorded. I don't personally care for it - it disturbs me. But there it is.

Disc two is a bonus, hooray! Get ready for a cool CD just of remixes of "Go!" Most of the remixes are very worthwile and are great for chilling out, providing background music mostly. A couple I skip through, but we won't tell Mister Moby that. : ) All in all, certainly a great value - two discs for the price of one.

The "Rare" album itself is not so much of a concept album like just about everything from "Everything is Wrong" on to the infamous "Play" - however, it contains some very nice techno from one of its early innovators. Moby has always stood by his convictions and made amazing music while spreading his worthwhile and unobtrusive message. You can't really help but be inspired.

Early Moby, how I love thee.
A great mix of electronic genius Moby's early remixes and b-sides. Virtually every genre of dance is collected here, from the classic rave track "GO! (rainforest mix)", the odd electronica "UHF 2", to acid-club fan favourite "Have you seen my baby (baby mix)". Also contains the fastest song ever recorded, "Thousand", topping in at an insane 1034 bpm. (I've tried to make super fast songs, but nowhere need that speed! All my programs stop at 999 bpm!). Hard, odd, but loveable, "Thousand" is one of my fave Moby tracks. Sure, some of the beats sound a bit dated, but what can you expect from dance songs made from 1989-1993? The bonus disc, I feel, is better than "Rare". I just love to play this album from start to finish, and listen to it again, and again!

BEST TRACKS: UHF 2, Thousand, Go (Rainforest, Arpathoski and Amphetamix Mixes)
WORST TRACKS: Hard to choose... none are really bad, but some do sound a bit dated, and some of the voice samples do REALLY annoy me, but nothing stands out as bad!

A near flawless collection
This is one very good collection for big Moby fans and completists.Disc 1 collects all the essential mixes of the mega-hit Go.The mix is continuous and adventurous.You can literally hear all the dance genres mixed in the tracks,Ambient,Tro-hop,Acid,House,etc.The best one I think is the Woodtick mix.Very fast and hard! Disc 2 collects some of his very hard to find or otherwise deleted tracks.Some of the tracks are better sounding here than on his Early Underground cd.Especially I feel it,Have you seen my baby?,and Next to the e.Best tracks on here I think.Overall it is a good set to have if you don't want to hunt down the singles separately and spend lots of money.

A marvelous collection well-worth buying
What a fantastic mix of spirtiual, hard-core, dance, and other types of Moby's vast array of fantastic music. The Rare disc is simply fantastic, a great disc to put on and listen to all of the way through. Although not all of the songs shine, there are quite a few stellar examples of good techno. The first two songs, Voodoo Child and Next is the E are amazing (listening to the varying left-right play through headphones sounds awesome) and the track that was spawned from E, I feel it, is equally awesome. The last track, the fastest song ever recorded, seems to conjure up different images for every person that listens to it, and is a perfect example of how a few simple beats can make a fantastic song. In between there are a few other good songs (although I am not as big a fan of Moby's more hard-core songs), specifically the songs where he uses simpler beats and notes in a very moving way. The Go disc is a great addition to the already great Rare disc and i love to just put it on and let it play and play. If you are a big fan of Moby you have to get this disc, if you want this as a follow up to Play you may want to try another disc first. ... Read more

Album Description

THE NEW ALBUM FROM AMERICA’S FAVORITE TRANCE DJ/PRODUCER!

The winner of the "BEST DJ" award at the DANCESTAR USA 2002 AWARDS, voted #5 in BPM magazine’s "AMERICA’S FAVORITE DJ’S" list for 2004, and ranking #35 on DJ MAGAZINE’S prestigious "TOP 100" DJs list of 2003, Christopher Lawrence is recognized the world over as one of the preeminent trance DJs.

With the release of ‘Un–Hooked’ Christopher Lawrence’s production skills continue to unfold, revealing an album laced with progressive trance anthems like "Shredder" and "Cruise Control" alongside down tempo gems such as "Filmer". ‘Un–Hooked’ bristles with energy and passion from the onset, serving up enough melody and nuance to captivate even the most discerning listener. Drawing on tracks co-produced with seminal trance/techno producer Chris Cowie of legendary Hook Recordings fame, ‘Un–Hooked’ is sure to catapult Christopher Lawrence into the upper echelon of original electronic music artists.

A continuous mix of original material. This CD is playable on all audio and digital formats. ... Read more

Album Description

King of all he surveys when it comes to the trance world,Judge Jules has been (and remains) one of the mostimportant figures in modern dance history. It's thereforefitting that he's at the helm for Ministry of Sound's'Trance Nation Anthems' collection. A triple CD set, thecompilation calls in all the biggest trance hits of thepast decade alongside a smattering of current club & chartsmashes. CD one & two feature a wealth of trance classicswhilst the third CD - entitled 'Gone But Not Forgotten' -is named after the popular section from Judge Jules' BBCRadio 1 show in which he revisits dance-floor anthems. 50tracks packaged in three slimline jewel cases & housed in aslipcase. Ministry of Sound. 2003. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

5 years in 3 CDs - Epic tyune after epic tyune
A friend let me borrow these discs. They are, without a doubt, the best single source the best tunes of the last 4-5 years. You'll recognize so many of these tunes from the great Oakenfold mixes of '99, Van Dyk's essential mixes and Tiesto's studio mixes. These tracks really are "greatest hits" - I think there were only a handful of tunes on the entire set that I didn't recognize, and I'm not some sort of obsessive trance junkie that's been into it for years and years.

Jules mixes nicely and orders the tracks in a fresh, new way that really revives some of these tunes. While spontaneous live mixes will always have that sense of razor's-edge spontaneity, it's great to have all these tunes in one place.

While I'd still advise getting the original mixes on which these tracks appeared, if you're a little burned out on your older Oakey/Dyk/Tiesto/whoever, definitely pick these up. Especially if you can "borrow" them from a friend.

You must buy this!
This is definitely the best trance collection I own, and if you don't own it, then that MUST change. Seriously. Buy this or you will live to regret it. Anyway. If you want some quick advice then here are 3 reasons for buying this 3-cd set:

(CD1) System F - Out Of The Blue
(CD2) Kristine Blond - Love Shy
(CD3) Energy 52 - Café Del Mar

Those are clearly the 3 standout tracks throughout the whole collection, even though there are loads more (Pulp Victim - The World; Matt Darey & Marcella Woods - Liberation / Beautiful; Chicane - Saltwater; Serial Diva - Pearl River; Lustral - Everyime...). The mixing is very good and all the selections except for about one or two (a couple weak spots towards the end of CD1), but other than that, this 3-cd box set is PERFECT! I recommend it for anyone, trance fan or not. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Throughout his ponderous career, Richard M. Hall (a.k.a. Moby) has mutated from skinny techno antistar to vegan Christian crusader to guitar-wielding punk and back again, picking up new fans (and new detractors) along the way. Although his brand of pop music has fallen out of favor with the techno cognoscenti, you can't ignore Moby's role in bringing the European variation on techno to American shores, transforming it from the mainstay of hip clubbers into the soundtrack of suburban teenagers. And for what it was, the music wasn't bad either. This eponymous album, released way back in 1992, collects the better musical moments from his early days on the Instinct label, including memorable tracks such as the frenetic "Drop a Beat" and the serene, Twin Peaks-sampling "Go." For neophyte techno listeners seeking some historical perspective or aging ravers looking to relive their salad days, this album is a must-have. --Matthew Corwine ... Read more

Reviews (23)

GO!
This was Moby's FIRST Cd and it's very diffrent from the radio friendly "play" and "18" but still very pleasant. This album is more of a rave/house album then the elecro-pop he later made. "Go" and "Drop a beat" became big Euro hits and Moby became a big name on the charts already in 91-92. It's a great album, most are obviosly instrumental with fast beats and catchy addictive melodies, Dancable like few other Moby albums. Songs like "Yeah" and "Next is the E" are also great, simular to the other two but so are the rest also, we can clearly see that this was a album from 1992 when the rave music was huge and Moby wanted to create his sound, later on he got a more solid and personal sound though. A CLASSIC album anyway. Worth the money.

Classic Techno Album
Although he had been putting stuff out since 1989, this album can really be considered his first album. Unlike Play and even I Like to Score and Everything Is Wrong, this album is 100% pure techno. So, don't be expecting another Play with this one; however, this is IMHO, classic techno. It has great slammin' tracks like Drop a Beat, Electricity, Next Is the E, Have You Seen my Baby, Ah Ah, and of course, Go, which is easily Moby's most famous early song. The rest of tracks are good as well as Moby does a great job in making this album flow from one track to the next. If you love techno and/or Moby, then this album is a mandatory selection for your collection.

Moby's Debut CD: The Anti-Aspirin
The first Moby album I ever purchased was Play, and I found it incredible. I then bought 18, Animal Rights, and Everything Is Wrong, and liked them all. So when I popped Moby's debut album into my CD player, I was shocked.

Moby's later work defies and rises above traditional techno, to create beautiful, sometimes soothing, sometimes energizing music. This CD, on the other hand, sounds like your worst nightmare out of the 80's. It's nothing but endless repetitive electronic beats paired with annoying sound effects. Only the last song on the album, "Stream", shows any promise at all.

So obviously, my recommendation would be to steer clear of this album. Unless, for some reason, you think it's been too long since your last headache.

Drop a beat
I didn't get into Moby's music until his 1999 breakthrough smash "Play". That was a pop cultural phenomenon for techno music to make the crossover into pop music back then. Since "Play", I had been a fan of Moby's. Since then I have bought his last album "18" as well as his earlier albums like "Everything is Wrong", "I Like to Score" and his self-titled album. Unlike "Play" and "18", "Moby" is pure techno music. There isn't any gospel samples used on the cd like on "Play" and "18". "Moby" reminds me more of Future Sound of London (early FSOL), The Prodigy, and Leftfield. I like the cd. It is different however I find myself enjoying Moby's more recent albums beginning with "Everything is Wrong". Still "Moby" is an interesting album to listen to because it is a contrast from "Play" and "18". I guess if there was a track that remotely sounds anything like what the public heard on Moby's last two records, I would have to say that "Everything" is that track. It does give the listener a glimmer of what to expect from Moby in the years to come. "Drop a Beat" is an okay track but I certainly can groove more to the sounds of "Yeah" and "Electricity". The music on this cd may be a lot less radio friendly but it still has a good beat to dance too. Perfect rave music if you ask me. If people are looking for something that sounds more like "Play", "Moby" isn't the album to buy. If you want to hear Moby's earlier album and to hear his techno roots, "Moby" is a good cd to look into.

Classic Moby
From the first notes in "Drop A Beat", you know that Moby's debut will be a ravin' ride from beginning to end. When I think 'techno', this album is what I think of. Hard driving beats, snarling synths and obscure samples create a perfectly crafted piece of elecronic mayhem. Moby has an excellent sense of layering and timing, and he knows exactly when to 'drop the beat' (get it?) to get an audience raving.
Highlights include the classic Twin-Peaks sampling club hit "Go" and the dark acid-rave "Have you seen my baby?", easily one of my fave Moby tracks, along with "Machete" off of Play and "Feeling So Real" from Everything is Wrong. Things slow down a bit at the end with the tranquil "Slight Return" and the organic sounds of "Stream", but all in all, Moby's self-titled debut is one powerful piece of work. While his later albums, especially Everything is Wrong, still had the techno spirit, this is techno in it's purest form. Highly recomended. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Go and buy this album now
i don't understand how anyone can snidely dismiss this album and call it "a bunch of beats." are you angry that this isn't your standard limp bizkit top selling piece of crap that's basically screwed up american music as we know it? unlike the self-centered, phony musicians of today, all whom are idolized and praised, moby plays practically every instrument known to man, and he does his own thing. i'd go through any length to see him and beck play together. but anyway, this album is gorgeous. it will make you want to dance, make love, close your eyes, and feel everything moby put into this album. before you know it, you will feel all this trance-like beauty being put in yourself.

Early Underground is everything Moby, and techno, is about.
This album rises to the top as a defining techno compilation. For those of us around the techno, rave, dance, or club scene several years ago (the turn of the 90s), Moby's music is the embodiment of that atmosphere. This album is essential for anyone interested in what "early underground" and the early rave scene are all about. This album is fantastic, I would recommend it to anyone and everyone who holds any interest in the evolution of techo, disc jockeys, the dance music culture and/or the underground rave scene.

Apprentice Moby
The music on this album may not be as complex or as polished as that on 'Moby' but it's a rich seam of early techno-period Moby tracks that you probably haven't heard before. My favourite tracks are Besame and UHF 4 mainly because they have the piano riffs (or whetever they're called) in them. A lot of the tracks could be seen as prequels the tracks on 'Moby' (Go Original Mix is an interesting listen) and Moby's learning curve can be heard when comparing these tracks to the ones on 'Moby'. The bottom line is, if you liked 'Moby' you'll like this.

Excellent
I don't see how people can not like this CD. I mean, obviously, you probably don't want to start with this if you've just bought Play or 18 and now you want to venture into Moby's past - if that's what you want, I reccomend you look at Everything Is Wrong. But a prequel to Play this ain't.

What it IS, however, is a bunch of GREAT songs, including the original Go (which everyone seems to hate except me), UHF3 (which features great early 90's piano); Voodoo Child, one of my favorite Moby songs of all time, as well as other quirks like Move the Colors and Permanent Green... even M-Four, the last track, is a great album ender. Highly recommended.

Not As Good As The Moby CD
I have listened to this album a couple of times and it just hasn't affected me like some of Moby's other stuff. I agree partially with reviewer Josh Taft (a pretty good reviewer, especially on Techno) that Moby's 2 best CDs may have been his first, Moby, and his last in Play. Where I disagree with him is that I think Everything Is Wrong and I Like to Score are just as good or better than Moby with Play being the unquestioned masterpiece. However, Early Underground is not better than Moby and the tracks on this album are not as memorable to me as the ones on Moby or Everything Is Wrong or I Like to Score or Play. I guess I have gotten spoiled by Play and since I feel that EIW, ILTS, and Moby are also solid albums this one is sorta of a letdown. Tracks like UHF3, Voodoo Child, Barracuda, and Mobility are the ones that I like the best. The version of Go here does not include the Twin Peaks "elements" that would make this song his most well-known. This version is still good, but you've been warned that when you listen to this song that it won't be the version you've been expecting or the best version of this song.

Maybe in time, my opinion of this album will change, but for now although it's a solid techno album, it simply is not as good as some of the other stuff he has done. This album is still a must-own for any Moby fan and for die-hard techno fans, but for those who are just getting into Moby's stuff you might want to borrow someone's CD and listen to a couple of tracks before deciding to buy. I don't regret buying it--it's just one of those CDs I have that I don't listen to alot. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

It's OK.
All the songs are good, but I especially like "It Is A Fine Day" by Miss Jane. I am also a fan of DJ Encore and Engelina, Ian Van Dahl, Darude, Amber, Madonna, Iio, and Linkin Park. I strongly recomend the album "Intuition" by DJ Encore and Engelina. That is my favorite CD of all time. My favorite song of all time is "Castles In The Sky" by Ian Van Dahl.

Solid
This is a very solid trance album for people used to European Club music. I myself fell in love with Trance when I lived in Madrid and this is the first US album that I picked up that can match with the imported Ministry of Sound CDs that I have. If you are a fan of Clubbers Guide to 2002 or Ibiza National, this is a good CD that will not break the bank.

Terrible
I like most trance, but this CD was full of uninteresting and banal songs. I couldn't pick one out from the other as sticking out in my mind except for "Children" and "Insomnia", which I had heard before on other CDs. Save your money.

Don't buy save your money.
This is garbage. I bought this cd and let some one borrow it i don't even care that it never got returned, actually i am glad they never gave back to me. This is Garbage with the capital "G". you may listen to it once and never listen to it again. i know once was enough for me..Save your money..Peace

well i think it is a rating of so-so
well if u were to ask me i'd say it is not THE BEST but a 3 (or somewhere in there) it kinda stinks(not all of it!)but some exept for 2 and 1 thoese wowed me ... Read more

Amazon.com

The latest disc from dance music's most well-known DJ goes for the mass-appeal jugular, offering a collection of main-room beats and remixes. Melding tracks from artists like U2, The Doors, and Justin Timberlake with his own work (credited here as "Perfecto Allstarz"), Oakenfold tries to replicate the sound of a specific type of Club, the kind that caters to beginners, where every third track is something everyone knows. It's a safe tactic for a man who has long since given up the mantle of a truly progressive artist in favor of a more ambassador/recruiter-type role. He's not lagging that far behind, though; there are touches of electro around the edges here, especially in "LA Woman" (though electro isn't exactly cutting-edge anymore to be sure). And while it would have been nice to hear a more radical reworking of "Rock Your Body," Oakenfold's choice to keep Timberlake's heavily airbrushed vocal intact gives the song an almost surreal smoothness. The unabashed populism of this mix prevents it from having any staying power, but it's immediate impact, while brief, should only further expand Oakenfold's empire. –Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (10)

TOKE AND FOLD!
He needs to stop putting out cd's.Stick to production or maybe just give it up.Performing live is nothing special either.I have nothin against the guy but, there is a lot better DJ's out there. Anyone who buys this garbadge is wack!
This cd is one of the worst compiled, selection, compilation i've heard recently. Blahhh.

Exploiting his name to remain alive
What a shame. Although I believe that nothing remains the same, I do expect that things change for the better. However, this is not the case here with Mr. Oakenfold, who had succumbed to the dark side of quick buck, mainstream commercialism with this ugly release that has great underground DJs like the late Tony De Vit & Larry Levan turn in their graves, and securing Mr. Oakenfold as the Darth Vedar of electronica.

Don't waste your money, or time.

It's not THAT bad...
Man, a lot of reviewers sure do hate this album. While it's not the terrible album people are making it out to be, it's probably nothing you can't live without. The album begins with Oakenfold's remix of Faultline's "Collosal Gray Sunshine", and two other Oakenfold tracks under the alias Perfecto All-Stars. These tracks are just bland nu breaks, there was really no reason to include all of them here.

Tracks 4-9 is where it's at on this album. First is a remix of Natasha Bedingfield's "If You're Gonna Jump". This is an excellent breaks track, much better than the first three. The only problem with this is the lyrics, which are quite possibly the worst I've heard, but the track is still great. Next is Oakenfold's Doors Remix, which is mediocre at best. Nothing special. Sort of reminiscent of Fatboy Slim.

Track 6 is Oakenfold's remix of Justin Timberlake. This is alright, but once again, has it's cheesy moments. Next is Oakenfold's own track "Southern Sun". This is an alright track, but it's poor sound quality and the fact that half the original track is missing sort of ruin this version of it. Track 8 is U2 - Beautiful Day (Oakenfold 2004 remix). This is easily the best track on the album. Track 9 is PPK's Resurection, a remix of the theme to Siberiada. This is another great track, but like Southern Sun, it is ruined by bad sound quality during the breakdown.

Unfortunately, the rest of the disc is uninteresting to me. Also, many have complained about the mixing on this album. Some tracks are mixed (very poorly, I might add), others are not. Why Oakenfold didn't choose to mix all the tracks or have the tracks be all full versions is beyond me.

In conclusion, this album had potential to be great, but is very flawed. Hopefully Oakenfold can improve with his follow-up to Bunkka, due out this summer.

Why is everyone rating this so bad?
I was amazed that almost everyone on this website hates this album. I just bought it and it's pretty good. I've always been a huge fan of Oakey, mainly because he knows to experiment with new stuff and make it interesting. There are problems with this album, but they are minimal.

For starters, like others have mentioned, most of the songs aren't really mixed together, so it's kind of hard to call this a "mix." Instead, think of it as a compilation. Another thing that I dislike is that the bass isn't what it should quite be. What I mean by that is there are a lot of high-pitched synths overtaking the bass which kind of interrupts the beats. This doesn't happen on all songs, "The Club Theme" had very good bass lines. Changing settings on whatever sound equipment you have won't exactly fix the problem either.

Oakey is obviously showing his wide variety of music that he loves, and he is the ONLY DJ to effectively mix it into a very good manner. For example, he has a remix of "L.A. Woman" that actually sounds good. It's not amazing, but it's a good song. I was also surprised to hear that "Rock Your Body" is a decent song. I hate Justin Timberlake, but I guess Oakey is the only person in the world that can make his songs sound good. Personally, I love the direction Oakey is heading. Throughout his career, he has changed styles to make the crowd keep guessing and he doesn't just stick to the same ol' formula like many other DJs.

Another great thing (which Oakey also did on Creamfields) is how he has some classic songs like "Resurrection" thrown in there. Also, "Delerium" is one of the most amazing songs I have ever heard. Jan Johnston continues to amaze me with her incredible voice. Anyways, to wrap things up, this cd should definitely be recommended for Oakey fans. Others may be turned off by the different styles and how it's not exactly mixed together. Just listen to the 30 second clips and if it sounds interesting to you, buy it.

Enough is enough
I,ve been following Paul's downfall for some time now but hoped he would make a U turn and go back to what he USED to do best. This is ridiculous, he is going nowhere like this. Pity! ... Read more