Customer Reviews

DJ in the Mix 3 (Dig)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Solid stuff from trance icon ATB! Nearly 3 months after this 2 disc set was released in ATB's home country, Germany, it gets a US release. Thankfully it even got a release here, as ATB DJ in the Mix 2, released in Germany a little over a year ago, never came out here. #1 was a 2 disc trance staple that I am sure most of you owned back then. He upped the ante each time, providing a near perfect track selection on 2, but the mixing in a few spots was a bit shaky. Here, he checks in with another stellar track line-up, and a much better mixing effort, to release the best of the DJ in the Mix series so far, and the best 2 disc trance mix this year.

ATB picked some of the best vocal tracks in trance, along with some great instrumentals. Just to prove how good at selecting tracks he is, a lot of the ones he chose for this one, are just now coming out on other DJ mixes, even though this was released 3 months ago, and these tracks are still quite fresh.

He starts the mix off with his excellent new male vocal track, Summer Rain. I never really liked Tiesto's UR and Without you Near, as male vocals tracks to me have to be really perfect to sound good, however they fit really well into the mix and don't mind listening through them. Disc 1 has some stunning instrumentals including Giuseppe Ottaviani's Linking People, Mark Norman's Touch Down, and my favorite on the disc, Jonas Steur's Silent Waves. Solarscape's Alive and Headstrong feat. Tiff Lacey's Close Your Eyes offer some superb female vocal trance.

Disc 2's standouts include Mirco De Govia's Vital Spark; ATB's own remix of the track Fever by a new artist, Shifted Reality, that it appears he produced (listed as ATB music productions); the mostly forgotten original version of Luminary's Wasting, which I like much better than the Andy Moor mix everyone is using lately; and the Funabashi remix of Hiver and Hammer's Fusion.

He really keeps proving that between his myriad of good artist albums, huge collection of hit singles, and 3 excellent 2 disc trance mixes, that it's hard to pick a better all around trance DJ than ATB.

If you want the best single disc trance mix of the year thus far, which unfortunately hasn't gotten a US release, it's Monster Series Vol. 1/Germany, by Ronski Speed. It actually came out in late 2005 and it's a great mix. Other 2 disc trance mixes you should check out are SolarStone's Destinations, George Acosta's All Rights Reserved, Tiesto's In Search of Sunrise 5, and although I haven't heard it yet, with the track selection I have seen, it looks like Armin may give this one a run for it's money as best 2 disc mix of the year with State of Trance 2006. Check my review there when that one comes out.

I bought this based on reviews here and glad I did! It's solid danceable uplifting trance. If you like Armin you'll dig this.

My first ATB cd and i love it. my fav tracks are "Summer Rain"
"Amsterdam" "Without You Near"(this track has some of the best melodies and vocals i'v ever heard) "Alive".
Anyway cd 1 i think is better if your into more vocal trance.
And cd 2 flows different its more smooth.

Basically this is mostly melodic trance. If your into something harder check out george acosta or christopher lawrence.

Andre Tanneberger (ATB) has been at it for 15 years, both as a studio producer and a crafty mixer. The sounds of his work have morphed from an original formula of minimalist beat loops and uninspiring vocals to world-renowned anthems (Seven Years) and now into a more ambient, reflective style. This is typically the trend of a life-long musician. It's happened to Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren and Paul Van Dyke as well.

That's not to say ATB's German club-inspired origins have faded. There remain many interesting excursions into our genre's core and what most easily distinguishes it from all other facets of music: unique synthetic effects interlaced with captivating vocals. In this release both shine remarkably.

The quality of the recording is superb. You literally feel as if you're in a temple of some sort watching the world through music. Moments of high energy are used appropriately as "bridges" or "breaks" between softer tracks. DJIM3 excels at including energy without compromising mood and turning the album into a club riot.

This is an astounding 2-CD set, and a memorable favorite of mine. The sound is distinctly German. You'll hear many tracks totally devoid of vocals, which is fitting considering the name "trance" implies elements of escapism. We listen many times simply to get away from noise.

The music fits beautifully with scenery and climate inherent to Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona. Listening to both discs while cruising the desert was a daily ritual for over a year.

The release of DJIM3 didn't seem to be heavily promoted, as the album sneaked its way into music shelves during the summer of 2007, also a year that 2-CD sets began to reemerge as the standard for mix releases.

"Summer Rain" instantly became a hit single rightfully present on both discs, first as an ambient introduction and secondly as a 136 BPM club mix. Both discs, from start to finish, are superbly fluid and captivating. Tempo shifts and mood changes are frequent but timed expertly. This is not music I would typically run or lift weights to, but more fittingly elect to play while driving. It doesn't trigger particular energy nearly as well as serving as a guide for daydreams and relaxation.

Where this art shines specifically is through its fantastic utilization of vocals and rare track selections. The particular remixes of "Without You Near" and "Amsterdam" are unforgettable. The Alucard remix of Solarstone's "Alive" has to be one of the most uplifting trance songs I've ever heard. Jonas Steur's "Silent Waves" is a stunning track as well.

One has to marvel at ATB's diverse skill sets, professional approach, unique sounds, and essentially limitless potential both as a studio producer and mix creator. The quality of this release is remarkable.

Highly recommended and beautifully done.

4.5 stars actually, the compilation is very good, some of ATB's best work, however note that there is only one song by ATB on the cd (summer rain). Still a great trance mix, had I not heard Politics of Dancing, 2 by Paul Van Dyk, this cd would be a definite 5 stars.

Excellent mix compilation, music for all tastes in trance music. Awesome!!

ATB doesn't disappoint! His choice of songs, and the way and order he introduces them is exquisite to the ears for the trance lover.

Trance superstar ATB is a gifted musician. Ever since the club anthem "9 PM (Till I Come)", I have been hooked to Andre's catchy guitar riffs, meaningful choruses, and creative hooks. ATB is not thoroughly known for his DJ skills as much of his production skills. I admit that I was slightly hesitant about purchasing this mix, because I was not too impressed with "DJ in the Mix 1", which was released in 2004. The mixing was excellent on the previous mix, but the song selection was a little weak. Other than PVD's "Time of Our Lives" and the four ATB tracks/remixes, I lost interest in most of the songs. On "DJ in the Mix 3", Andre definately learned from his mistakes. The tracks are some of the freshest trance anthems and vocal tracks from the past year or so, as opposed to using some older and outdated tracks like on Volume 1. Disc One, which I believe is the stronger of the two, begins with the new unreleased ATB single "Summer Rain". The track is excellent and sounds very mature for ATB's production credentials. Other excellent tracks that stand out on the disc is Giuseppe Ottaviani's hypnotic "Linking People", Above & Beyond and Andy Moor's collaberation "Air for Life", the more upbeat Tiesto "UR" remixed by Junkie XL, the club hit by Markus Schulz and Gabriel and Dresden "Without Your Near", Mark Norman's "Touchdown", and "Close Your Eyes" by Headstrong. On to Disc Two, which is a little softer and slower than Disc One, but still has some upbeat and impressive moments. Some highlights on the mix are "Open Your Eyes" by Nalin and Kane and the slower mix of ATB's "Summer Rain". The mixing on "DJ in the Mix 3" is superior, which I did not expect because I usually do not think of ATB as a DJ. The mix keeps you going and tuned in from start to finish, especially on Disc One. Now I see why ATB was voted the #9 DJ in the world for 2005.

In the start of his appearance with 'Movin Melodies' I think that ATB has really come a long way. I had folowed him for a little while with his originals and remixes for about three years after his first album release and lost interest when I thought that he was stuck on one particularly 'ATBish' style. I thought that everything that he had sounded too much alike, maybe adding a few more sounds here and there. But then I bought his first 'DJ In The Mix' CD released here in the USA. It was a good one, with some tracks I had never really heard of. After that CD I had pretty much given up on him.

But while I was scouting for a new mix CD I came across this new release and decided to try him once more. Boy was I impressed!!! I think this mix CD is a brilliant 'comeback' for my negativity in that period of time mentioned and it is now an essential to my collection! I recommend everyone to buy this album - well worth the price and I doubt anyone that is a trance fan will be disappointed!

Good job ATB! Keep up the awesome work!!!

With this being a live, in the mix, it usually takes about a whole cd to establish a groove and warm up. With that being said, the highlights on cd1 are Tiesto Ur, Luminary Amsterdam, Mark Norman Touch Down, Jonas Steur silent waves & Headstrong close your eyes. The whole second cd is phenomenal. It took me some time to warm up to the atb sound, as this is my first atb release, but the flow is clear on the second disc.