Customer Reviews

Nightmusic 1

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I had my first introduction to "The Thrillseekers" (aka Steve Helstrip) after hearing his Stargate 009 Radio Broadcast, and I was blown away, immediately looking to seek out an official release by him.

The man under the alias of "The Thrillseekers" has made one hell of a mix cd here. It is fifteen dollars for two discs of insanely good trance with so much range. An astounding breadth of trance sub-genres becomes mixed and beat-matched within this compilation in such a way that I find myself not regretting in the least the fifteen dollars the album cost me.

Solarstone's Destinations V.1 was, simply put, a 'decent' album; it did not live up to the hype that I had heard. The Thrillseekers' "Night Music V.1" was released on the 'Water Music Dance' label (as was Destinations V.1) and I did not know this until opening the disc when it arrived. I was put off at first, expecting to encounter the same let-down I had experienced with Solarstone's effort. Regardless, I popped the disc into the player.
What a choice that turned out to be!

What was projected was atmospheric & sometimes Balaeric trance purity; crucial twists & turns save this album from being cast off into the realm of trance mix obscurity. Fairly enjoyable vocals (of which I am not normally a fan) along with a lack of the decidedly played-out "four on the floor" kickdrum produced a classy style to this mix. The Thrillseekers has the ability to lay down some *sick* bass lines/grooves and transitions at the most precisely needed moments.

I highly recommend this album to anyone who listens to anything from Sasha to Ferry Corsten to Armin van Buuren to Hybrid to Above & Beyond. It's pretty much an impeccable venture for Helstrip, who has built himself quite the peak to surpass with his next effort.

Buy it. Seek a thrill; you'll find one. Check that - you'll find many.

~Lex

I've got a LOT of trance in my collection (Van Dyk, Digweed, Sasha, Van Buuren, Collins, etc), but recently I've kept coming back to The Thrillseekers CD. A good mix of speeds volumes and rhythms. Not so repetitious that your head wants to explode with boredom. Some great vocals in there as well and of course some obligatory cheese. A solid effort and both CDs continue to hold up after numerous listens.

This album has a great flow from track to track which defines any good trance album. The highlights on disc one are tracks 1, 5, & 6. The Thrillseekers exemplify solid trance here. A little Paul Van Dykish on Summer Sessions. Definitely worth the price for a double disc.

I bought this CD yesterday and I would just like to say this is one of the BEST trance double discs I have heard. There are no fillers tracks here; every track is from the top drawer. With the likes of Ferry Corsten's Who's knocking to the ever vocal uplifting tracks 'Sincere for you' and 'Calling your name' this disc is an essential to any fan of uplifting trance.

...we all need a break from the sun-and-beach melodies that seem to clog the trance genre nowadays. This it is - looming on the horizon like some sort of monolithic epic, with nothing but a cold, black shot of some windmills in the middle of nowhere staring you in the face; you'll get chills just putting the disc in the tray. In what will surely be remembered as a hallmark year for trance music lovers, Steve Helstrip delivers a double disc effort that is head and shoulders above the rest. From the moment disc one plays, the vibe is cold and spacey, almost desperate, but not lifeless. Battered between the funked-up abusive bass of Andy Moor, and Ferry Corsten's droning low frequencies for the few vocal cuts, disc one just explodes with devastating impact on tracks like "Skyform - Infinite" and the over-played destined-to-be-classic "Haylon - Starfighter" (the hypnotic offbeat synth is incredible). The pace is unrelenting for the rest of disc one, though not in the usual sugar sweet uplifting trance fashion - the whole disc has a stark, incredibly bleak feel owing a lot to the track selection. Dripping wet, cold, starving and shaking like a sick heroine addict that ran out of black-tar relief, you'll be left begging for more.

Disc two contains a mix of productions that Helstrip had a hand in creating. A much less draining affair, but one that will doubtlessly give you some relief from the cosmic radiation of disc one, disc two is a great mini-catalogue of The Thrillseeker's work to date. Variety ranging from tastefully retrained hook of AvB/Tiesto classic "Alibi - Eternity" to the dramatic swells in "Witness of Wonder - Emotions in Motion" through bouncing and soft melody of pet project release "Hydra - Affinity" disc two serves as a testament for Helstrip's talent for working both sides vinyl press.

A must have release for 2006, Nightmusic V.1 is a bold statement to all the detractors and naysayers longing for trance of decades past. Steve Helstrip is on the forefront, pioneering a bridge that spans the gap between the future, present and past. If it gets to be too much, just remember you can always go back to the sun and the beaches.

- rkshw

This is the first review I've ever written on here but this album is so good, I had to do it. This 2 disc collection is perfect. Its the best trance album I've EVER heard, and I listen to a lot of trance. Disc 1 is pulsating, intense, vibrant, and melodic trance that takes you on a journey. Disc 2 is a little bit more laidback, but still has some hard beats and epic build ups. I am a huge fan of Tiesto, Van Buuren, Corsten, Van Dyk etc and this album is better than ANYTHING those guys have put out. Any fan of trance needs this cd! I could go on forever, I bought this the day it came out and still havent put it down. AMAZING.

What can I say? My review title really says it all, for this excellent mix will take your mind on a mesmerizing 2+ hour journey and after you reach the end you'll want to start all over again.

I listened to CD1 twice through and was thoroughly impressed, but after listening to CD2 late last night I was absolutely awed. I have over 200 trance cds in my collection and I must say that CD2 is possibly the best mix of melodic and progressive trance, with splashes of lush anthems thrown in for good measure, that I have ever listened to. The first 5 tracks will prepare your mind for tracks 6-9, which bring you completely under Mr. Helstrip's hypnotic spell. You will think you are coming to during track 10, only to find yourself induced to hypnosis once again by track 11. In track 12 you are brought to consciousness by Jan Johnston soothingly "Calling Your Name" (some might consider this a somewhat cheesy closer, but I thought it was a good way to break the spell and bring you back to reality). Excellent track selections and flawless mixing make it the best cd of the year, if not the best cd ever.

In all fairness I should say that I just received a copy of Cosmic Gate's release "Back 2 Back: Vol. 2" that has rave reviews, with some calling it "the best high energy trance compilation ever recorded." So I am anxiously anticipating immersing myself in another highly acclaimed album to see if it will live up to its reputation. But until I can echo their sentiments, Thrillseekers Nightmusic, Vol. 1 is on the top of my chart.

PS Since writing the review above, I have listened to "Back 2 Back: Vol. 2" twice, and IMHO it doesn't hold a candle to "Nightmusic, Vol. 1." Unless you are a hardcore fan of really "hard trance" (which dominates CD2 of that release), you too will favor the "melodic and progressive trance" of Thrillseekers.

The mixing is great as well as the tracks, both cds are really good. This compares to my ISOS collection as well as my ASOT collection. I would recommened this to anyone who really enjoys good trance and can appreciate a great mix as well.

If someone were to tell me that I had to choose one and only one CD to keep with me for life...it would be this one. This CD makes the top of my list and I don't think any other CD will ever take its place. It takes you to another world. Its pretty much about as near perfect as a trance album can get. Between the variety of songs and the stunning blend between tracks, it seems more like a trance symphony rather than an album...

CD1
1. By Your Side - The Thrillseekers: 4.5/5 - Great opening track. Good vocals from Gina Dootson
2. Air For Life - Above & Beyond Vs. Andy Moor: 4.5/5 - Excellent transition from track 1. A popular song that's a classic
3. Who's Knocking (Ferry Corsten Remix) - FB: 4/5 - Good song but vocals from Edun are a bit over the top at times
4. Piiska - AR52: 5/5 - Wonderful "super saw" sounding melody to this one. It marks the beginning of the soul for this CD
5. Alone - Kay Stone: 5/5 - Excellent!
6. Infinite - Skyform: 5/5 - When I first heard this track I didn't want it to end. It is kind of repetitive, but I find that a good thing because the sound is that good!
7. Starfighter - Haylon: 4.5/5 - Hypnotic beat from this track. Love it
8. Blossom (Haylon Remix) - Summer Sessions: 5/5 - The track is called blossom and that is definitely what it does
9. Zonderland (8 Wonders Remix) - Acues & Elitist: 5/5 - If only it were longer
10. Second Day (Martin Roth Remix) - Jose Amnesia Vs. Serp: 5/5 - Nice hardcore club beat going on. Feels like an immersion of sound
11. A.K.A. - Sander Van Doorn: 6/5 - Absolutely brilliant "robot/computer" sound from here! Definitely my favorite and very intense!
12. Shibuya (Got Drums? Remix) - Orkan: 5/5 - Beautiful! Another hypnotic beat that I can't get enough of
13. Lyteo (Rank 1 Remix) - Mr. Sam: 5/5 - Hard trance sound here at it definately works. Love that lead sound
14. 1:1.618 - Mike Koglin: 4/5 - Great song, but it seems that whatever it's building towards never comes
15. Behind Silence - A Force: 3/5 - Cheesy vocals I think. Good track but definitely not conclusion material

CD1 Overall: 4.5/5 - Great CD. Strong intro builds towards the core which lasts from tracks 4-13. Very rarely do those "good sections" last that many track in a row. I saw where Helstrip was trying to go with the finale, but it seems weak to me and for that it loses points.

CD2
1. Square One - Pulser: 5/5 - Beautiful intro. Starts quiet and gradually builds the entire song leading into track 2. Wonderful!
2. The Morning After - 8th Wonder: 5/5 - The Morning After is a wonderfully appropriate title as it seems like waking to a beautiful dawn
3. Eternity - Armin Van Burren: 4.5/5 - Great!
4. Sincere For You - Lange: 5/5 - I normally hate vocals but I really do love whoever sings in this. Song was designed for the vocals and that's the way vocals should be used
5. Surreal - Free Radical: 5/5 - Heaven! Very fast-paced
6. Emotions In Motion - Witness Of Wonder: 5/5 - Literally, Emotions In Motion
7. Mr. Blue - Usual Aspect: 5/5 - Not as intense as the past few tracks but definitely fits
8. Safe To Dream - Evolve: 4.5/5 - Another not-so-intense track but has a nice "alien" feel to it
9. Affinity - The Thrillseekers: 5/5 - Some cheesy vocal sounds but the sounds definitely make up for it
10. Can You Feel (What I'm Going Thru) - Matt Schwartz: 4.5/5 - More cheesy vocals at times but not all the time here but a great track none-the-less
11. Sublime - Ferry Corsten: 5/5 - Love the Sound!
12. Calling Your Name - Jan Johnston: 4/5 - Good song. Cheesy vocals...again...but only sometimes. I think a much better conclusion than disc 1

CD2 Overall: 5/5 - Aside from a few out annoying vocals, just about every track is awesome. Listening to disc 2 is like taking a journey somewhere on you can dream of. Very nice

This is truly an amazing CD. #1 in my book. Anyone who is into trance or who wants to get into it...buy this album! It will be your favorite!

First i have to say that disc 2 probably gets played more than anything in my collection. It's a compilation of all the tracks Thrillseekers have produced, and its unbelievable! Very deep trance, which is my favorite. I hope everyone gives this a listen, both disc are great, but disc 2!!!! If you like Markus Schulz, Matt Darey, Armin Van Buuren.