It seems like all of a sudden, German/American trance jock Markus Schulz has become a huge deal in 2008 in the scene – a big name to (almost) contend with the big 5. He’s keeping the promotional campaign rolling with the release of Progression Progressed – a remix album of his recent LP, Progression.
Tiësto’s fave Mat Zo kicks things off with a suitably chunky remix of I Am, driven by a big double-studded bassline, whose toughness is juxtaposed by scalp-tingling, twinkling top end synths. Variety is inherent, with Genix flipping the script with a turgid, grit-filled tech-trance rework of Fly To Colors, before Lemon & Einar K deliver a similar vibe to Zo’s remix on their version of Daydream, only with the dials turned up to 11 – huge rushy synth scales and snare-topped drum rolls creating a full-on big room vibe.
Agnelli & Nelson can’t save Perfect from its tediously clichéd vocal, but it no doubt cuts the mustard in the live arena with its simple, driving bass tones, and the usually excellent Nig Chagall delivers a fairly unremarkable reworking of Cause You Know. Mark Otten however, does a fine job injecting some sex factor into On A Wave, pitting tasty percussion against a seductive, undulating bassline, laying sprightly pianos in the breakdown underneath the sensual, breathy vocal, and teasing us by dropping into proggy depths after the breakdown, before unleashing the full intensity of the track. Very nice.
The CD loses its way a bit hereafter, with little to write home about alas. But there’s enough quality here to justify a purchase for trance fans and DJs alike (it’s unmixed) – and if you’re a Schulz fan but haven’t picked up Progression yet, then you’ve found yourself a bit of a bargain, as the original album is included on Disc 2.
Tracklisting:
CD1
01. I Am (vs. Chakra) (Mat Zo Remix)
02. Fly To Colors (Genix Remix)
03. Daydream (vs. Andy Moor) (Lemon & Einar K Uplifting Remix)
04. Perfect (feat. Dauby) (Agnelli & Nelson Remix)
05. Cause You Know (feat. Departure) (Nic Chagall Remix)
06. The New World
07. On A Wave (feat. Anita Kelsey) (Mark Otten Remix)
08. Let It Go (Monogato Remix)
09. Lost Cause (feat. Carrie Skipper) (Mike EFEX Remix)
10. Daydream (vs. Andy Moor) (Markus Schulz Coldharbour Mix)
CD 2
01. I Am (Markus Schulz vs Chakra)
02. Spilled Cranberries
03. On A Wave (feat.Anita Kelsey)
04. Lost Cause (feat. Carrie Skipper)
05. Mainstage
06. Fly To Colors
07. Let It Go
08. Sla9
09. Daydream (feat Andy Moor)
10. Perfect (feat Dauby)
11. Trinidad To Miami
12. Cause You Know (feat Departure)
13. Cause You Know (Is This The End) (feat Departure)