Customer Reviews

Ibiza

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

Oakenfold has been slammed recently (past 2 years or so) by many of the true trance fans. He's been accused of using the same songs/sets for too long, lacking in innovation, and basically turning out stale sets. I have had the pleasure of seeing Oakenfold 3 times in the past year (which is uncommon in the states) and I must say that each set was COMPLETELY different, and he really did a great job of working the crowd. I believe that a lot of the bad reviews oakenfold has been receiving are directly related to his attempts at "breaking" the US. He's repeatedly stated that he's trying to break trance into the US mainstream, and, face it, it'll take trance with a pop-edge to do it. Hate the man for it if you want, but he's the only one with the mass-appeal to be able to pull off such a monumental task. And no matter what he's churning out, anyone who has listened to Oakenfold knows that at any given time, he could put out the most revolutionary, mind blowing, industry changing album ever put to wax. He IS the most talented DJ ever to grace the decks, he's just busy with another project. So, I give this five out of five stars. For it's purpose (popularity and the growth of trance in the US) I can't think of a better selection.

Question: WHAT IS UP WITH TECHNO THESE DAYS? Last year was such a good year but this year's such a dud. It seems even our most famous and well-respected mixers are getting lazy! Paul Oakenfold in particular. Voyage Into Trance and the soundtrack to Swordfish were all disappointments with a couple shinning through in the darkness, but this just threw me for a loop. With the exception of Jan Johnston's "Superstar", The Realm's "This Is Not A Breakdown", and the remix of Prodigy's "Narayan", CD1 was just insipidly bland and full of non-stop breakbeats. I knew from the opening song that I was in for another let down by Paul Oakenfold, which hurt me greatly because I know from previous albums that he's capable of so much more. CD2, though, is a whole other story. World Clique's "Different Signs" pulled me into a deep trance, just like his older CDs have done in the past which leads into the fabulous remix of Depeche Mode's already trance-driven "I Feel Loved." I also like the drum effects on A-Nilo's "Summer Song (Be My Friend)." The overall feel of this CD is an exhilerating high that I've since been denied of this awesome DJ since his flawless "Perfecto Presents Another World." It's also amazing how he can remix a song in which I care so little for - "Beautiful Day" by U2 - and transform it into something I can't get enough of... "Silent Words" by Jan Johnston is another one of my personal favorites (I heard rumor that she's soon to release her own album) and PPK's "ResuRection" which eerily closes with flashes of spacey sound clips.

Don't expect another "Perfecto Presents Another World" but this is definitely better than some of his more recent works....

CD 1 receives 2-stars and CD 2 receives 5-stars

Is Oakenfold, one of the most credible and world-renowned DJs, getting lazy? After listening to his latest set, Ibiza, I certainly got this impression.

It seems that in his older age, Oakenfold has fallen in love with the fader, at times just sliding it over when he wants to introduce another track rather than really making an effort to preserve the flow of the album by working together elements of each track simultaneously. Granted, there are a couple of good transitions, but more than ever, they're abrupt and to the point, and even when he doesn't just fall back on the slider, his track mixing still comes off as rather weak.

Never is it more evident than on renditions of Prodigy's "Narayan" and Radiohead's "Idioteque." While it is normal for even the best of DJs not to remix every single song on their album, these tracks appear exactly as their originals did. So when I purchased this album expecting two new renditions of these tracks, I was extremely let down to find out how many tracks were originals and how few Oakenfold remixed himself. Still, Oakenfold does manage to do a little of his own work, and when he does, it comes off well, the highlight here being his rendition of U2's "Beautiful Day."

Overall, his track selection is pretty sharp, albeit somewhat commercial, and features a couple of real gems. Danny Tenaglia's mix of Depeche Mode's "I Feel Loved" is just superb, as is the lead-in ("Different Signs") by World Clique. Even the tracks that Oakenfold didn't bother to touch, such as the Prodigy and Radiohead tracks, still come off rather well, especially if you've never heard the originals before (in which case they sound pretty good).

In the end, it's at least an enjoyable mix by Oakenfold. It's certainly not on par with many of his older works, but most mixes aren't. There is certainly enough here to be enjoyed, although I'm left with the feeling that this could have been something much greater.

The first listen to "Ibiza" I was like "uh?" but after a few spins in my stereo, I have grown to love this 2-cd set. Of course "Ibiza" has its fair share of flaws like a non-remix treatment of Radiohead's "Idioteque" which I thought would have been awesome. If Oakey can remix U2's overplayed "Beautiful Day", then he could have played the very underrated(Radiohead's)"Idioteque". The first disc is ok but too much breakbeats for Oakey's remixing abilities. My favorite songs on the first cd are Jan Johnston's "Superstar" and Prodigy's "Narayan". The remixes for those songs really captured the essence of what Paul Oakenfold is about as a dj.

The second cd is awesome. I love this disc and would have been contented if Paul just released it instead of as a 2 cd set. The Danny Tenaglia's mix of Depeche Mode's "I Feel Love" is just superb. The song sounds even better remixed but I love the original too so I can't take that away from the song itself. I even like The Perfecto Mix of U2's "Beautiful Day" and usually I hate that song with a passion. The last two tracks Insigma's "Open Your Eyes" instrumental and PPK's "ResuRection" (Space Club Mix) are just classic trance. "Ibiza" may be flawed but the good outweighs the bad in this case.

i love this man... and so do most of the beginning trance lovers out there... but the reason i love him is because he tries to spin everything... and sometimes it works and others doesnt... i got global underground, new york back in 97, and fell in love with it; over year found older stuff on the web and then newer; what always amazes me are what paul looks for in the songs that he picks and what he picks to put together... this release will NOT be liked by people who are expecting old school trance and people who are expecting music that they can dance to.. despite occasional dance track, this is more of chill out CD... what it is: paul experimenting with more sounds -- i really like the first CD -- it's mostly ambient electronic sounds, really calming and relaxing -- he even threw in an oldy -- prodigy, naryan, which has to be at least 5 or 6 years old... second cd is more dancy and upbeat; i'm not too impressed with the first 5 tracks as they remind me more of a housy feel that's a bit more generic, but starting with U2's "beautiful day" and on are some more pleasant tracks. i'm a fan of max graham and jan johnston, both of which are pretty good tracks on this album... overall, i like this album... but that's cuz i appreciate what paul is trying to do; people who are looking for old paul sounds will not find them here. this is not a "trancport" it's the next step from "planet perfecto presents paul oakenfold" -- good for chilling with friends and enjoying life...

I was highly anticipating the release of "Paul Oakenfold Ibiza." I've been a die hard Oakie fan since "GU: New York" and "Tranceport." And "Perfecto Presents Another World" was nothing short of his masterpiece.

However, upon my first listen of "Ibiza" (innapropriately titled), I knew something was amiss. Curiously absent from this two disc set were the sweeping, epic tracks that have in the past, truly "tranceported" the listener to "another world."

Replacing them were dull, trite, and tiresome cuts that were completely unimaginative and totally uninspiring; Ibiza indeed...

CD 1 begins with promise. John Creamer's remix of Nat Monday's "Waiting" and "Megatron" by Flash are the discs only true progressive moments. Track 6 crosses over into breakbeat. This style has it's place but I for one do not wish to hear it as the trance/house momentum is beginning to build on ANY CD or in ANY club. TOTAL TRAINWRECK! Oakenfold does, however, end the set on disc 1 with a very nice touch by mixing in Prodigy's darkly, atmospheric "Narayan." CD 2 disintegrates into total flotsom and "Americanized" cheez with the inclusion of Tenaglia's mix of Depeche Mode's "I Feel Loved" and the overbearing, in your face Perfecto remix of U2's "Beautiful Day." Depeche Mode happen to be one of my favorite bands of all time but I DO NOT want to hear them remixed on a Paul Oakenfold CD or ANY other "dance" CD for that matter. And as for U2, could Oakenfold get any more nauseatingly commercial by mixing this tripe? Give us all a break and leave the industry fodder on the radio where it belongs. The mix worsens with the saccharinely sweet bubble gum eurotrance of AB/DC's "The Feeling." Upon hearing it, I felt as if I would throw up...

A couple of standout tracks on disc 2 are "Sepia" by rising progressive DJ Max Graham and the Solar Stone remix of Jan Johnston's "Silent Words." These two cuts should have set the example for the entire set and not been tacked on towards the close of disc 2 in some despearate efforts at redemption.

I'm losing more and more respect for Oakenfold all the time. Perfecto, it seems, has become yet another giant record making machine, churning out remix after boring, dour remix to any listener who'll snatch it up for purchase simply because it has the Perfecto moniker attached to it. Could Perfecto be headed the way of Brittany Spears and the Back Street Boys? Let's certainly hope not.

I wouldn't accuse Paul of selling out (yet...)but If this is Oakenfold's method of attempting mass market crossover, I'll stick with the Boxed Boys at Global Underground any day...

If you want a CD set charged with industrial trance rhythms and bangin' progressive house, check out Lee Burridge's NU Breed CD. It will leave you breathless an completely astonished.

Let me first start off by saying that I am not your typical "Oakey-basher." I actually attribute alot of his earlier work for turning me on to him and the whole culture/genre as a whole.

However, this mix, as well as past works (Travelling especially, Another World somewhat) it appears he has gotten lazy in his later years. Mixing is not defined as playing a track in it's entirety and then hitting the cross-fade into the next track. Never is this more apparent than on this mix comp, where several of the tracks are in their original form, unedited, and untouched. His work in the studio is also reflective of his work live, as at Area One (which, by the way, he played several same tracks that appear on this comp.)

A prime exmaple are the opening and closing tracks of disc 1. Both tracks individually are strong own their own, but is playing out the full 9 minutes of "Narayan" necessary?

Track selection is very hit or miss here. The gems being the first two tracks on Disc 1, highlighted by the haunting vocals and tribal beats of Nat Monday's "Waiting" and the superb Hamel mix of Jan Johnston's "Superstar." Half of the tracks on both discs are vocal tracks. I must admit that as a guilty pleasure I do love Tenaglia's mix of "I Feel Loved," but seems VERY out of place in context of the mix and is not super dancefloor friendly either.

Tracks 3,4, and 5 on the second disc are downright horrible in my opinion as Oakey jumps from pop ("I Feel Loved" to tribal "Summer Song" to disco-ish? "The Feeling" back to pop "Beautiful Day" again) before closing out the 2nd disc with a slew of trance tracks which by now are not too groundbreaking or inspiring to stuff we've already heard.

The beatmixing from track to track is also pretty atrocious: "Transit" into "Narayan" seems to stick out and bother me the most as he shifts from around 120-125 BPM House to 130-140 BPL breakbeat.

If you want to check out some of his better work, in my opinion, check out Fluoro or the Goa mix, or even (a bit dated, but still a classic listen, though) Trancesport 1.

Even though Oakey is making a strong comeback with his latest album "Creamfields" (highly recommended), this album, along with Bunkka, typifies why this extrodinary DJ has received a very bad rap of late. Don't get me wrong, I love Oakenfold, but his meteoric success has the unfortunate effect of selling out artistry for commercialism. Since 2001 or so, Oakey has become more of a franchise than a DJ, selling pop remixes, soundtracks to Playstation games, and hobknobing with the likes of Justin Timberlake and U2. I can understand why many of his fans abhor him for trying to make a buck at the expense of quality.

Ibiza is substandard Oakey, with cheesey songs and average technique. It sometimes makes me wonder, if an amatuer DJ would have cut this set, would it be called "brilliant"? However, since this ablum is from Mr. O, he has to present us with a gem everytime. Anything less is cheese. Oakenfold and Tiger Woods suffer the same malaise of extreme public expectation.

I also want to take note and ask why are record labels slapping "Ibiza" on everything that is related to dance?? A once-unknown island getaway for E-trippers and Euro-candyravers is now the self-appointed Mecca of dance music?? Just because an album has Ibiza on it does NOT guarantee a masterpiece. In fact, I steer clear from any album that mentions any reference to Ibiza. Otherwise, I am in for a guaranteed chedder-fest.

I am so glad that Oakey has reinvented himself and is returning to his roots and craftmanship. Although Bunkka, Ibiza, Great Wall, and Swordfish all represent a watered-down, commercial doppleganger of Oakenfold, these albums nevertheless are an important transition period in the history of the world's most influential DJ of all-time.

If you are following the chronology of Oakenfold, do yourself a favor, get everything from 1994-2001, especially the Cream sets, ending with Travelling (excellent CD BTW), skip everything after that, and start over with Creamfields. Your ears will respect you in the morning.

I saw Oakey live recently at a Tsunami benefit. Da brotha still got it!

As a thoroughly satisfied owner of every other Oakenfold disc in existence, it saddens me to review Ibiza negatively. But as in culinary works of art, inspiring trance starts with the best ingredients, and I'm afraid Ibiza is comprised of some of the least inspiring material I have ever heard in an Oakenfold production. Much of his earlier material is so fantastic because it reaches back into music history to borrow specific pieces that even in their day were inspiring (like the "song of the siren" in Another World), and blends it beautifully into an epic mosaic of pulsing sweeping sounds. The choice of treasured ingredients like this and a marvellous sense of hi-kinetic aural beauty are what set Oakenfold apart. Ibiza unfortunately picked some contemporary ingredients which lack melodic structure, inspiration and development, so no matter how good the chef, the entree is mediocre.

Where do I start? We need to give Oaky some props for putting together this album... because it took a lot of nerve to pull a fast one on all of his fans... but he did it. And I for one am very upset. I almost feel cheated.

Oaky used to be on top of his game. He is far from the field now, and that is evidenced by not only this latest endeavor of "dance fodder" but also by his live shows. He's missing a beat, literaly. His mixing skills aren't what they used to be, and whether it is because the limelight has gotten to him, or because he may not care anymore, something has happened to the "Godfather" of the European trance movement.

I think the reason this album is not up to snuff is because the trance movement is changing itself... but Oaky doesn't seem to want to change with it, or he may not know what direction to take his track selection and his mixing. Whatever the reason, DJs like Tiesto and Van Dyk (and also Sasha, though he has kind of disappeared for a while) have moved into the top spot on the popularity chart of trance DJs.

Trance HAS changed... it's a bit more progressive. Too bad Oaky doesn't know what that means.

Oh, by the way.... PPK - Resurection is the only worthwhile tune on this album... my suggestion is that you download it.