Customer Reviews

Global Underground 002 New York

5 star:		(75)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Global Underground is probably one of the finest record labels around. Travelling the World with today's top DJ's, GU brings to every electronic music lover the best sets around. "New York" is Global Underground's second release of Paul Oakenfold and unfortunately this one is not as powerful as "Paul Oakenfold's Live in Oslo". The whole world knows how good Oakenfold is and this set proves it, despite its lack of energy (in my point of view). As always, the set is mixed with absolute perfection...smooth, really smooth, but the set as a whole is full of highs and lows. I mean, some of the tracks are not strong enough to keep you dancing all the time...there is not that unstoppable trance feeling in this one. If you want trance you'll find it only in the final tracks of cd 2 and in Paul Oakenfold's Live in Oslo release (this one is really hot). If you want to dance hard, don't consider this one .If you want to listen to a perfectly mixed set with tracks from different styles (jungle, breakbeat, some house and some trance), this one's for you.

This is GREAT stuff. I DARE someone to start the second side of this album and not play it all the way through. The first side is good, The second side alone is worth the price. The Global Underground Series, in a time where there seem to be 100's of electronica CD's coming out weekly all under different headings, consistently churns out the cream of the crop. Like some of the most reputable brand-names out there(Coke, Sony, Amazon.com)when this organisation launches someone (Nick Warren, Sasha, Dave Seaman)they don't miss. Paul Oakenfold is at the top of their list. The CD is edgy, reflective, energetic, and an all-around bang-up job. AND that's juss the first song Inside Your Arms. This is a musical tour-de-force. If you bought Departures you must have this. This CD will blow that away.

Paul Oakenfold's Global Underground 007: New York, now a classic in dance music complilations, is truly one of the superstar's better efforts. Whilst his recent CD releases have left many fans dissapointed, this Global Underground mix (along with his classic anthem-filled stomper "Tranceport") is one that his devoted fan base can look back on with pride.

The first disc is filled with slick, dreamy textures with some dreary overtones that make you feel as if you were walking home in the rain after a long hard day. Jamie Meyerson's ethereal vocals in "Rescue Me", Followed by the steady, smooth atmospherics of Taste Experience's "Summersault", marks the starting point of where the mind leaves the body and takes its journey. From there, the stream of consciousness is lead silkily through to Lustral's Lovely "Everytime" and Miro's "Paradise", Finally leading to Three Drives' "Greece 2000", an anthemic light at the end of a dark aural tunnel.

The second Disc, in contrast to disc 1's worldy cold sound, takes you into a warm world of sonic euphoria. Junk Project's "Composure" is a truly stunning work, both musically and in the effects it may have on its listeners. Led on with his signature grace and finesse, you will find yourself lost in Oakenfold's Personal touch up of Amoeba Assassin's "Rollercoaster", with swirling melodies comprised of sounds once thought to exist only in Heaven, and echoing vocals floating just atop of this wondrous environment of sounds. The journey ends with BBE's "Deeper Love (Symphonic Paradise)", a track whose explanation really goes no further than the title itself.

These two discs will take your mind many places. The question you have to ask yourself is : After experiencing life in Oakey's world, will you really ever want to come back?

The New York (007) installment is the best of the Global Underground series. Diggers' Hong Kong is close, but no cigar. Paul shows the world with this cd that he is the best dj in the world. One must remember that this is not a club set, but selections that paul played in recent sets, so naturally it is not banging basslines for two hours. Granted it is not as fast paced as some other compilations but it delivers in an intimate way. It is as if paul is spinning for you alone, a private set that will stimulate your senses, and take you out of this realm as only truely good music can. The first disk is a nice example of melodic trance, nice and chillin, which shows off Oakey's flawless mixing. The highlight is the close with the beutifull and uplifting "three drives on vinyl." Then, the party starts. He kicks it off with some jungle flava, and begins to take you on a TRIP!! The dreamy breaks of talisman and hudson is unbeleivable, just when you think he is going to pick it up, he drops a slow trance/ break beat record, "Composure" that will blow your mind. The eight minute long intro is a fantastic way of preparing you for the trance journey that only oakey can take you on. Every second of this track will pull at you as the slow buildup prepares your mind and body to get up and dance. From there Oakenfold plays top notch trance each track building beautifully into the next, untill the climax which will leave your jaw dropping. This is the BEST dance release to date and compiled by the man of dance himself. This cd is what got me into dance, and i will never tire of it's intricacies and spine tingling euphoria. This is a must buy for any "techno" fan and for those who are not fans of electronic music, this album will convert you.

I bought this cd without listening to it befor and I was startled about how beautyful dance-music can be! this is dream-house and trance like I ever wanted to be. simply beautyful melodies with cosy but although pushin' beats let you fly away to another, peaceful galaxy. everyone who reads this review: buy this!

Oakenfold shows that he's a master of Progressive Trance, this one's better than Tranceport, not just because you get twice as long an excellent mix, but this one's just better than my previous best Progressive Trance album.

I listen to music at various times, none of which are clubs or other such parties. I have several hours of work in the morning where it's me and the radio; I drive two hours a day; I listen to music at night with a pair of headphones while I write. All of these are long stretches of time in which to digest CDs such as this one.

This is a goodie. I know Paul Oakenfold has been around a long time but I live in the midwest in the U.S. Not exactly hip. Takes a while to get stuff and it comes in odd channels. It started with Digweed's Los Angeles at a listening station and I've been descending down the rabbit hole even since.

For those moments of lots of time with pretty mindless activity happening, this is some of the best music I've heard in a long time. Trance would be accurate, I guess because it fuses with what I'm doing and becomes something of a meditation that carries me along and away.

Disc 1 is probably one of the best mixes of any CD out there. In my opinion, there is not a bad moment on the disc. Y'know how some discs have little moments that you wish you could fast forward through or eliminate altogether? You won't find that here. It is perhaps one of the best mix sides of any disc.

Disc 2 starts out with some drum 'n bass and journeys into some of the more beautiful electronica I've heard. Time almost stops but lurking underneath is the beat and it slowly reels you back in. There is only one moment on here that I'd change with some Lou Reed sounding vocals that I've gotten used to but still could do without. Other than that, this too is about perfect.

I'm a bit out of any 'scene' but for those relatively mundane moments in life this sure adds a kick and I've begun to appreciate, even enjoy, those periods of time.

With apologies to the flower power children of the 60's, you guys had Clapton, we, the children of the 90's, have Paul.

You could play his CDs backwards, forwards, double speed, or half speed, it would make no difference, he is by far and away the best DJ i have heard. I have had this CD set for the better part of a year and a half. It still hasn't left my CD changer. I have one copy at home, and one copy in my car. I am still waiting for the day i get tired of his smooth grooves.

If you do not currently have ANY of his CDs, please start with this set..... then find out where he's spinning and buy yourself a plane ticket to wherever in the world he is. If his Cds blew me away, his live set still has me reeling. The energy and madness at one of his live sets has any club, rave or party in it's dust.

I am writing this review for one reason, i want to state for the record, that Paul feels the vibe like no other, and the trip you take with him goes higher than any CD will take you, but you can't always hear him 24/7, 365 days a year. So in the time between his sets, these CDs will give you many happy memories of his parties...... of course, untill you have another chance to see him live..... :-)

Well, what can I say. i've had this CD for about a month and to be honest with you, I had other CD's that I was into so this was kinda pushed off to the side. But last night, I decided to put it in after a good night, winding myself down. I have to admit that during this whole 2 cd set I literaly got caught into Oakie's Trance and had the ride of my life. Gotta hand it to Paul, he is the greatest DJ in the world in my eyes. This one is for the serious Trance lover.

Don't get me wrong - Oslo is good as well - but if you are looking to buy one Oakenfold UG CD - this is the one to get. The transition and song selection is smoother/better.

Also, if you have not experienced the "ultimate" oakenfold, buy this CD - Perfecto Presents Another World - This by far the best compilation he has done and is one of my absolute favorite CDs of all time. Every Oakenfold or even techno/dance fan should own it!