The genius alias that is Oceanlab have decided to swing that unique vocal trance sound around to a new direction. A bit of history for you all…Delerium’s Silence – written, produced, reproduced, remixed, re-released – we all know it but did we all know that it was an original folk/acoustic piece written and performed by the singer in the Delerium version – Sarah Mclachlan? Full marks to those of you who did!
Did we also know that Sarah Mclachlan has had almost every track she has released over her multiple albums remixed by the likes of…Hybrid, Tiesto, William Orbit and the immense BT to name but a few? So why does this matter? Well apart from Cass Fox, there is no other vocalist (in my opinion) that has the kind of voice that makes a dance record sound like more than a bootleg. A bold statement…on the contrary the shortage of incredible vocalists that turn their talents to trance makes it all the more special when one does.
Justine Suissa (who has also featured on tracks by Armin Van Buuren and Robbie Riviera) and Above & Beyond, the ingredients of Oceanlab, manage with effortless imagination to capture such a sound that will make this album a huge hit amongst dance and non-dance lovers alike. It’s not just the sound, it’s the vocals – distinct, meaningful, thoughtful, energised at times, subdued at others. Harmonies cruise through the album reflecting the superior production and musical skills of Above and Beyond through their placement in every track. It’s a masterpiece. It really is.
Pianos and guitars mix confidently with half-time arpeggiators. Beautiful synths and pads drift through your head, filling your mind with the music’s intention – it’s a dreamy journey through excellence and it really works.
Understand from my previous rantings about vocalists – this is not a club album. It’s a mix between The Pet Shop Boys, jazz, trance, house, folk and leftfield! That’s the best way to describe it! All tracks executed with supreme production quality – blinding!
Track 1 – aptly named Just Listen opens full of energy with a panning, simple arpeggiator as a backdrop for deeply struck piano chords with a vocal over-laid – just listen – it’s not an album to make you dance, but to make you dream. There’s what seems like the original mix of the latest blinding trance track from Oceanlab – Sirens of the Sea – unique.
The first energetic injection comes in at track 6 with Come Home… you know what I could go on….just buy it and make your own minds up!
So much appeal across the broader spectrum of dance and pop music on this album. Expect some remixes of some if not all of the tracks on the album to satisfy most tastes of dance over the coming months. An inspirational and exquisitely produced vocal melange across many genres, I’d be very interested to hear other reviews but it’s certainly an album that I would buy.
Best Track:Breaking Ties (Movie Mix)