With so much good music out there at the moment it’s becoming difficult to write a review that distinguishes the more dynamite stuff from the less deserving. This is not just limited to dance music – it’s all music. The reckoning is that it’s down to the tools. But I think it’s also down to the artists too. Some of my earlier reviews pointed to a new breed of producer creating a unique bounce in trance music that collared the best from other genres whilst maintaining the basic principles – sexy melodies, big beats and roaring breakdowns.
Anjunabeats vol 7 is an example of this in its prime. It’s all about the beats, the bops, the moods and the melodies. And believe me the album’s got it all. ‘Just like the rest of them’ I hear you cry. Yes but this one’s got something more – space.
What the f*** am I on about? Well, there’s a whole range of sounds in this mix that seriously make you head feel like a cave. It makes everything sound bigger, better and braver. A movement that hasn’t really existed before. Not to this extent anyway. Unfortunately this is nowt much to do wit ‘DJ as my northern mates would say – it’s about the producers. But you don’t really care about that right?! So after the intro - on with the review.
Disc 1 is the more mellow, but to be honest there aren’t many differences between the two in terms of pace. It kicks off with sullen minimal beats blending smooth rounded pads and house-like stabs. There’s a hint of funk to it too for those of you that like your '70s. Brassy – nice! The first track that really deserves a mention is Pacific by Oliver Smith, and with it comes the space I’ve been harping on about! Repetitive as it is, the distant piano builds octave by octave swelling with the warmest melody I’ve heard in ages. You can imagine it being played over the final scene of the film, Shawshank Redemption – bliss.
Next - and this is by no means a coincidence - is Cadence, by none other than Oliver Smith. What a corker – a bit nastier (in a good way) on the uptake but some great strings and a fantastic lead. The break is short, the build is smooth and the drop is massive. Awseome.
The mixing is strong – more blends than drops. A&B have clearly opted for efficiency over excitement, leaving the track selection to speak for itself. If I could describe disc one in one sentenced-simile, I’d say its like being at a beach party, in the chill out area on an island in Greece surrounded by gorgeous women having drunk too much redbull but feeling tired. Make sense? Thought not…
The second disc is a beauty too. It's good to see Mike Koglin on the track list (vs P.O.S) with the opener - Autumn. It’s a decent track. A little more techy than the last with a little more pace. But the movement is still there. Nice work. There are a couple of great tracks on disc 2. The best is heavily electroed-up. Some serious chained, layered basslines – you can’t help but bop your head. Big breakdows with lush synths, beautiful pianos, and fizzing builds fill the mix, and that old school trance leads that come in from nowhere. The rest of disc two has been done before. That’s not to say it’s poor – far from it – it’s pretty damn good actually. But I’d go with Disc 2 anytime.
Artists to look out for are Dennis Shepherd, Anhken, and the ever-even-better Jaytech. And I’m sure we’ll see a lot more from Oliver Smith. [One of our favourite trance comps of the year in the office - Ed]
Tracklisting:
CD1
Answer42 feat. Belinda Frank “Pink Houses (Vox-Dub Edit)”
Boom Jinx & Jaytech “Milano”
Boom Jinx & Andrew Bayer “To The Six”
Oliver Smith “Pacific”
Solarity “Terminal 6”
Dirty Vegas “Tonight (Above & Beyond Mix)”
Reeves “Call of Loneliness”
Oliver Smith “Cadence”
Velvetine “Safe”
Cold Blue “Mount Everest (Dennis Shepherd Mix)”
Anhken “Green Line”
Above & Beyond “Anjunabeach”
Paul Keeley “Paper Jet (Bart Claessen Big Room Remix)”
Mat Zo “Nuclear Fusion”
CD2
Mike Koglin Vs P.O.S. “Autumn”
Sunny Lax “Misgrey”
Nitrous Oxide “Aurora (Sunny Lax Remix)”
Mat Zo “Default”
Mike Shiver & Aruna “Everywhere You Are”
Super8 & Tab “Irufushi”
Cold Blue “30 Degrees At Midnight”
Lange pres. Firewall “Wanderlust”
Nitrous Oxide & Adam Nickey “Moon Dust”
Adam Nickey “Callista (Stoneface & Terminal Mix)”
Daniel Kandi “Venice Beach”
Activa pres. Solar Movement “Eclipse (Mat Zo Remix)”
Dan Stone “Fahrenheit”
Cold Blue “Downhill”