Here we have the follow-up to last year’s release from Above & Beyond’s alias featuring the beautiful vocals of Justine Suissa. Any album associated with Above & Beyond, you know what to expect - big vocals and uplifting melodies - and this album does not disappoint.
The opening track, Jaytech’s masterful remix of If I Could Fly is a very strong production that is followed by the ever-impressive Michael Cassette’s transformation of Come Home. This is then followed by two new names to Anjuna - Andy Duguid (working his magic with On The Beach) and Gareth Emery (Lonely Girl) who remodel these songs very well. The second half of CD1 is full of Above & Beyond Club mixes, and show how the originals lay the foundation for some very effective, peak-time uplifting trance tracks. The standouts amongst these are Breaking Ties and Sirens The Sea - both commanding vocal compositions.
The seconds CD starts of with the same light tone, although Andrew Beyer’s take on Secret is a substantial variation on the original, nd Hungarian duo Myon & Shane 54 add a tech aspect to the album with their remix of Just Listen. This is followed by a truly pleasurable 10 minutes of electro-driven material as 16 Bit Lolitas tackle On A Good Day. Michael Cassette then gets his second remix on the album with a very first-rate up-tempo rework of Miracle. This is followed by second remixes of Sirens Of The Sea (Sonorous) and Breaking Ties (Duderstadt), with Sonorous giving this respected track a dark make-over and Duderstadt bringing some far-reaching synths and calm electronics to the table with his endeavour.
The double album closes with remixes of popular tracks - Above & Beyond’s chart-gracing remix of Satellite, Armin Van Buuren’s take on the fantastic Sky Falls Down and a Clue Blue Water re-rub by Ferry Corsten. The final track on the album, Beautiful Together (Signum Remix), is an exciting remake of the original and a fitting way to finish the album.
With some big names on this remix album and 9 specially commissioned tracks, this was never going to be a bad album, but I was pleasantly surprised as it surpassed my expectations. There’s a very good all-round mixture of tracks, but there has to be place for a special mention to Beautiful Together (Signum Remix) and Sky Falls Down (Armin Van Buuren Remix). A must-have for any vocal or uplifting trance fan.
[LISTEN TO & BUY THIS ALBUM IN THE PLAYER BELOW]
Tracklisting:
CD 1
1. If I Could Fly (Jaytech Remix)
2. Come Home (Michael Cassette Remix)
3. On The Beach (Andy Duguid Remix)
4. Lonely Girl (Gareth Emery Remix)
5. On A Good Day (Above & Beyond Club Mix)
6. I Am What I Am (Lange Remix)
7. Breaking Ties (Above & Beyond Analogue Haven Mix)
8. Miracle (Above & Beyond Club Mix)
9. Ashes (Oliver Smith Remix)
10. Sirens Of The Sea (Above & Beyond Club Mix)
CD2
1. Secret (Andrew Bayer Remix)
2. Just Listen (Myon & Shane 54 Remix)
3. On A Good Day (16 Bit Lolitas Remix)
4. Miracle (Michael Cassette Remix)
5. Sirens Of The Sea (Sonorous Remix)
6. Breaking Ties (Duderstadt Vocal Remix)
7. Satellite (Original Above & Beyond Mix)
8. Sky Falls Down (Armin van Buuren Remix)
9. Clear Blue Water (Ferry Corsten Remix)
10. Beautiful Together (Signum Remix)