Customer Reviews

The Circuit Party, Volume 4

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The tunes on this 27-song set will certainly feel familiar to most any warehouse club-goer. DJ Peter Rauhofer really knows his stuff -- it's a nearly flawless blend of tunes which follow in his big and loud style. Riveting build-ups on songs like "Take Me, Love Me" by Friburn & Urik, Pet Shop Boy's "New York City Boy" by Thunderpuss 2000, Blue Adonis' "Disco Cop" by Judge Jules, and even Charlotte's bittersweet "Someday." Rauhofer's talents shine through on his own Club 69 production of "Twisted," and also on remixes of Jack Prongo's "Shake It," Donna Summer's uplifting "I Will Go On With You (Con Te Partiro)," and good ol' Lulu belting out "Hurt Me So Bad" (featuring that trendy Cher/Jennifer Lopez warbling voice effect). Remakes include an okay Razor-n-Guido mix of Hannah Jones doing "Was That All It Was," and a not-so-okay version of Veronica yodelling through "I'm In Love." Others notables include an updated "Situation `99" from Yaz, "Move On" from Vicki Sue Robinson, "Naked Without You" from Taylor Dane (cut too short for once), Cevin Fisher's wild "(You've Got Me) Burnin' Up," and the return of strung-out queen Lula asking for more in "Man = Drugs." There's a couple of songs that seem out of place eventhough they're nice -- Soul Searcher's R&B tune "Can't Get Enough" and Pete Heller's beautiful "Big Love." Some of this music starts to sound the same, and some are way repetetive with their unyeilding jingle, church and cow bells (like leftovers from Stock, Aiken, Waterman?), and others borrow aimlessly from past greats like Art of Noise and Lectroluv. I think this might've been a little better mix had DJ Peter Rauhofer had a live crowd before him -- I know for a fact that he can really turn it out! Still, you can't beat the price and punch of these 2 CD's in this unique series' 4th installment!

When Peter Rauhofer is on, it's easy to title him Lord rauhofer, because for instances only the music exists. Well, on this cd peter mixes for broad audiences, so its mass appeal allows everybody to find something. Its hard to imagine any DJ being able to capture the atmosphere and essence of a real circuit party; for example, to compare this cd to Peter's playing at Blueball 2000 in Philly would be unfair simply because he does such a good job playing the crowd. But as far as cd's go, this one covers a large spectrum of the house music world. Sure he appeals to more mainstream listening with his inclusion of big draw names like taylor dayne, veronica, pet shop boys, donna summer and yaz. But it is the more techno heavy songs like Disco Cop, Shake It and Monk E Dreams that set the mood. On top of that, peter does take us on a journey of the mind by slowing it down every so often, alowing us to refuel. In my opinion, songs like the trancy Feel Free and soulful Do It Properly and Big Love create the mood, preventing it from becoming just another beat heavy Cd. he even gets a little disco-happy with Can't Get Enough, and follows that with a lovely, feel good song by charlotte- Someday. all things said, its very hard to argue with any cd that suceeds in mixing the big remixers Calderone, Friburn and Urik, Club 69, Razor N' Guido, Thunderpuss and Johnny Vicious. If one truly listens to the music, its obvious that Peter tries to be all-inclusive, from the seasoned circuit boys right down to the tender and trepid. And by doing so in a smooth, flowy manner, Lord Peter prepares us for the real thing.

I was looking for new music to exercise (bicycle) to. This looked like a steal of a deal, and it is. Sound quality is excellent; the beats run consistent, and the mixes are interesting to say the least. It will be awhile before I have to look for more music to exercise with since this title has two CDs, full of non-stop energy pumping music. If you're looking for music to work out by, this should be a part of your collection.

While not exactly on the "cutting Edge", this CD is about as good as a "dance hits" compilation gets. There are several old club favorites from YAZ (Situation 99), and Vicki Sue Robinson (Move On). But it's the hot 'Thunderpuss' remix of PET SHOP BOYS' (New york City Boy), FRIBURN & URIK (Take Me, Love Me), and other newer songs that make this 2 CD package worthwhile.

The only area where this CD needs improvement is conceptual: it seems to be aimed more at the general audience for dance music than Circuit Party boys. The producers play it too safe, and this CD ends up sounding like too many other collections of great dance songs. A wilder, more adventurous set of breakbeats, loops, trance sounds, etc. would have been a big risk (and with music being downloaded off the 'net instead of bought, minimizing risks is a major consideration for artists & producers), but it would have made for a more distinctive CD -- one more characteristic of the best Circuit Parties.

Overall, though, it's an excellent effort. Recommended.

Peter Rauhofer mixes the biggest club hits here instead of the more tribal stuff he does on his live@roxy compilations. I'm a bit disappointed that the rare mix of Lulu is such a short edit, but it's great to get the essential part of Friburn & Urik's brilliant Take Me Love Me on CD-all that's really missing are the excessively long beat-only intro and outro. Disc 2 is a smorgasbord of hot dance styles, from upbeat to dark, and like disc 1, has the benefit of having basically a full length version of a friburn & urik mix, this time, Vicki Sue Robinson's Move On. Time listings are:

CD1

1. hurt me so bad (4:58)
2. Unique (5:17)
3. Friburn & urik (6:22)
4. Do it properly (8:41)
5. El techo (2:13)
6. Hell's bells (7:05)
7. New york city boy (7:54)
8. Shake it (8:21)
9. Disco cop (6:46)
10. Was that all it was (4:15)
11. Drum theory (7:21)
12. naked without you (3:04)
13. Man=drugs (4:27)
14. Feel free (2:52)

CD 2

1. can't get enough (3:18)
2. Big love (5:18)
3. burnin up (5:33)
4. be yourself (4:45)
5. Monk e dreams (9:01)
6. someday (6:16)
7. I will go on with you (6:59)
8. Encore (5:14)
9. situation 99 (6:34)
10. sound of bamboo (6:12)
11. I'm in love (8:33)
12. move on (7:49)
13. twisted (4:12)

This 2 CD compilation features the latest dance hits playing in thje clubs today. This CD features the hit song NAKED WITHOUT YOU (Thunderpuss remix) by Taylor Dayne. It also has the Pet Shop Boys NEW YORK CITY BOY. Great compilation

Here it is, the stuff I try to warn others about so they don't do the same stupid thing I did: purchase any circuit party album. Take your pic, each and every one of them is the worst that techno or dance has to offer, [boomboomboomboomboomboom] with barely a change in beat. Yes, there are some vocals, but not very good ones, the beats that are there are just awful. This is a very boring series, and not worth a penny.