Customer Reviews

Nyana

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(28)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Dj Tiesto has, for the last 4 or 5 years, helped define the trance genre. His Magik and In Search of Sunrise mix complation series ARE the definition of what great track selections and excellent mixing (done live by Tiesto on turntables and not using ProTools like other Dj's) should all be about. Over the last year or so, Tiesto has begun to change his style that we've all become accustomed to and hence, why we fell in love with him in the first place. While this is a disappointment for some and a joy to others, this new mix album Nyana was hyped for months. Question is...will Tijs Verwest (Tiesto) take us on a Magik Journey once more like he has done so many times before?
The answer is yes, for the most part. CD1 Outdoor begins with some very German sounding techno sounds, very much a departure from what Tiesto is known for. I find the first two tracks on Nyana to be an effective slow buildup, but I'm not a fan of this type of sound, hence I think I'll be starting this CD at track 3. For my ears, Outdoor gets going with Oliver Lieb's new track called Acapulco...a nice housey anthem with some trance elements. This is a great banging housey tune, but doesn't last long (about 3 minutes...should have been longer.) Pure, uplifting trance doesn't really start until Let the Light Shine In, a superb example of epic trance and hopefully a reminder that that type of trance is not yet extinct. Shortlyy after, Tiesto's new track, Nyana, comes in which is a very good indication of his producing skills, something he's been cutting back on recently to tour more extensively. The satisfactory Tiesto remixes of Venus and Tears From the Moon are good, but I find it hard to swallow these tracks fit into the definition of CD1, which is supposed to be "harder and faster, more rave-style". Electronic Malfunction (track 11) is a complete waste of time and The Gift by Love Angel (L-Vee) is monotonous. The two closers, Urban Shakedown and Mistral, are very appropriate, if already almost a year old. All told, CD1 is mixed well, but doesn't have the same sort of emotional touch that Tiesto's previous Cd's have managed to bring out in people so well. It's not uplifting trance at all, so don't hope for that, except for a few key tracks. There's everything in this mix....techno, house, trance and a bit of progressive, which is supposed to reflect Tijs' new style. CD1 = 7.5/10

CD2 Indoor is excellent, though I still think Tiesto's previous mixed albums are superior. This CD is slower, yet has more emphasis on melody with nice vocals and new sounds. The first two tracks are nice and mellow and Andain - Beautiful Things is a great vocal anthem, which mixes into one of the best uplifting tracks I've heard in a long time called Destination by SolarStone. It reminds me of the days of 1999 when instrumental melody was dominant. U Write the Rules is great too and so is Holden's Nothing, though a bit overplayed. Forever Waiting is a nice and fairly new uplifting vocal track, as well as As The Rush Comes. Most people seem to love that track, though I have better tunes I'd rather listen to, which isn't to say it's not good. The CD never gets fast paced.....it never picks up and bangs home so to speak, but it did have the potential to do so. However, this wasn't the CD's intention. Leama's track is very nice, and the closer, North Pole, is another great example of old school trance that puts you in a trance. Overall, CD2 is very nice but don't expect it to make you want to dance...like ISOS3 released last year by Tiesto, it's more mellow and intended for background listening in nice summer weather or if you're feeling down, it will certainly lift your spirits. Tiesto NEVER fails in that...I'm quite pleased he has stayed with melodious music, whether it be trance, house or techno even...melody is always key in his selections and mixes and his overall skill, in my opinion, is UNMATCHED by any other Dj in the world. CD2 = 9/10

In summary of this very long review, this CD is certainly worth the money if you like trance and electronica as a musical genre. If you love Tiesto, I don't have to tell you to buy this because you probably already own it. I recommend it to anyone who is not ignorant about the world of electronica. I do hope though, that Tiesto will return to faster and harder trance, while still keeping it melodious and uplifting, sometime in the near future....possibly by releasing a Magik 8. Uplifting trance seems to be on the rise again after an absence and I hope Tiesto will take advantage of the talent out there. Thanks for reading and I hope I shed some light on this very well done mix by The Master of Dance.

After the magnificent "In Search Of Sunrise 3" we are treated again, sooner than expected, to a sublime session of perfectly selected and mixed trance music.

In "Nyana", three sides of DJ Tiesto, 'struggling' with what could be called a mild form of ternary schizophrenia, are perfectly balanced in one flowing session spanning two CDs:

the masculine: dark, hard, progressive and repetitive
the neutral: light, bright, synthetic and chaotic
the feminine: melancholic, mythical, eerie and melodic

The first CD, "Outdoor" showcases the masculine and neutral, neatly separated by a melodic anthem. The second CD, "Indoor" focuses on the neutral and feminine sides.

The trance genre is slowly but steadily becoming mainstream. It has been a long wait. After rock in the fifties, pop in the sixties, disco in the seventies and electropop in the eighties nothing fundamentally new has happened since. At least, ClearChannel made it seem that way. But underneath, 'deeply hidden' in the underground of clubs and internet radio, house and techno have laid the solid foundation upon which the complexity of contemporary trance has been built.

"Nyana", while not strictly surprising, proves that the genre has ripened to full maturity. The energy of "Space Age" and the "Forbidden Paradise" series, the freshness and simplicity in the "Magik" series and the lushness of "In Search Of Sunrise" and "Summerbreeze" have combined and evolved into complex music that demands initial attention but that will, like a good wine, perfectly age.

If you are open to the evolution of music, rest assured that you will be listening to "Nyana" for years to come.

This two disk compilation has had a profound impact on my life. Seriously, this album helped me through hard times and accentuated good times unlike any other prior to its discovery. I studied for a semester of Abnormal Psychology with this being virtually the sole source of music playing in the background, and I kid you not, Tiesto has a knack for putting the listener in a zone unlike any other DJ the world over. Truly great trance music validates its namesake. When you become warmly entrenched in a utopia of vivid thoughts coupled with beautiful, imaginative, clarity, all while your earthly concerns evaporate like sahara rain....:) Nice. Listening to to disk 2 as I type this review, I can't help but recall the smell of the air, the content of the lecture, and the mocha tinted skin of the wonderfully enchanting girl in my presence. To listen to quality trance with an open mind is to open the doors of ones own mind itself. It must be experienced and materialized through daily thought and action to be truly appreciated. It must be truly appreciated before one can hope to understand the magik existing under our very noses.

This Tiesto CD set is a decent purchase; although it does not live up to the level of the "In Search of Sunrise" series, it does deserve a place in your CD collection or iPod if you are a Tiesto fan.

The disks are both distinct in nature, and I find myself listening to disk 2 much more - it is more of a trance set. All of the songs fade into one another : much more than a crossfade.

The best songs are "Beautiful Things," "As the Rush Comes," and "Never" because they are all very classic Tiesto works and the vocals on "Beautiful Things" are great.

Many people have written that this album doesnt truly live up to Tiesto's mark. I would have to agree. 4 stars is what this album sounds like. The tracks are very good for the most part, they certainly sound like Tiesto. Euphoric and bright with plenty of vocals. Although the sound of the disc is fresh, parts tend to wear on you. The first disc is the best. Im not sure what would qualify as 'Indoor' or 'Outdoor' trance, but Tiesto must know, and his Outdoor disc brings the energy to this party.

The first track is a very unusual starter track, minimalist and very techy leading into Size 9's Remix of Chutney (which after dismissing that side of the vinyl when I first listened to the record, I am amazed at what a tight track it is on this CD.. just goes to show what a talented DJ can do with songs you never thought twice about). From there it just builds and entraps you. The first disc is 5 stars from start to finish, and if 17 bucks is what you are willing to pay, its worth doing so for the first set. It goes from driving to uplifting back to deep driving trance. The fifth track is definately worthy of mention.. it certainly bears Tiesto's trademark uplifting sound thrown in on a driving, moving mix. Around the second half of the disc, Jan Johnston's Venus makes its appearance. Very typical JJ, slightly cheesy vocals, but fun nontheless, a very solid track. After that, Tiesto's mix of Tears from the Moon sends another round of vocals at you. The only song I really had any quirks with on this disc was Electronic Malfunction with its computerized vocals which at best are lame, and at worst are irritating and distracting. Nothing to pull down the 5 star rating, the music in that track is very good... just should have left the vocals out.

The second disc also bears good tracks. It is not arranged as good as the first disc. Where the first disc mixed up the mood from driving to euphoric to vocal to driving, the second disc seems to just be euphoric-euphoric-euphoric. It doesnt seem to build very well, and so the songs begin to wear on you and without the lows, the highs all start to sound the same. A 3 star mix with 4 star tracks. Coming from Tiesto, I was kind of disappointed. Any other DJ might have earned 4 stars on this mix, but I would have been more satisfied if this disc had not happened and I was left with a 5 star CD and was none the smarter.

At points this set starts to sound more Oakenfold than Tiesto (but mind you the old Oakey.. Paul's not really sounding much like Oakenfold anymore.. I guess someone has to step in and deliver), but when the euphoria slams down, you know who youre grooving to. The first disc is love. The second is passable, but in the end, its the first one that is going to stay in your player.

Tiesto has never been high on my list of must-have DJs... while I can listen to the uplifting, hands-in-the-air trance sound once in a while, I'm not really a fan. That said, I thought some of his In Search of Sunrise and Magik albums were quite stunning - whether you're a fan of the sound or not, the mixing is awesome, given that all these albums are mixed live.

Nyana, though, is definitely NOT my recommendation to a person who wants to see the best that Tiesto has to offer. Disc 2 is reasonably good, but Disc 1 just lost me completely. Apart from the superlative Frank Biazzi remix of "Obsession" and the massively epic "Totem" by Planisphere and "Inca" by Medway, nothing on the CD caught my attention. It sounded like a BAD Gatecrasher, if you know what I mean - lots of energy & tidal wave breakdowns leading precisely nowhere.

Disc 2 was much better - some real melodies in the sound (example, "Beautiful Things" by Andain) with the epic trance vibe moving in a definitely recognizable progression. The shattered, metallic 93 Returning mix of James Holden's "Nothing" took my breath away - perfect placement in the overall context of the mix. By the time the disc winds to a close with Solid Globe's "North Pole", you feel much better than at the end of the first disc. Disc 2 is the redeemer - if you are a fan of the epic trance sound, you'll love every moment of it.

Overall, not too shabby. Disc 1 was pretty poor. Disc 2 was good. Stay away if you dislike open-air, epic, vocal high-energy trance. Snap it up if you like Tiesto.

Disc 1 - 2 stars
Disc 2 - 4 stars
Overall - 3 stars.

Trance lovers must always push themselves to listen to what at first seems like garbage only to know other trance lovers around them who like this new sound. Tiesto in general is no exception to this rule, in fact he happens to be hardest of the pro trance Djs to get into but when you do, no doubt you will scowering around the place for everything else he has done.

This album is along the same lines as his in Search of Sunrise series, Magik or Oakenfold's new creamfields. This is less of an artists album and more of a clubbing adventure. You have heard many of these before on his Just Be album, but here he mixes for the club.

This has got to be the best mix compilation album by DJ Tiesto yet. The mixing is top notch, track selection is amazing. Last year I was quite surprised to see Tiesto gaining the no.1 spot, beating DJs like Sasha & Digweed. But after listening to 'Nyana' I am not surprised anymore. By the release of this album Tiesto has proven that he's the best (trance) DJ in the world! This is the kind of uplifting/melodic trance that I have been waiting for. Tiesto's style of trance music will touch your heart and soul. The "indoor" CD is more melodic, while the "outdoor" CD is more uplifting/hands-in-the-air trance. All you trance fans must have bought this album by now, if you haven't then please buy this if you want to experience some heavenly music. Smile! Life is beautiful!

I've always had mixed feelings about Tiesto. I'll admit I haven't heard a lot of his work; I have Summerbreeze and I've heard part of Magik 1, as well as owning this album.

I've never cared for the straight trance on Tiesto's albums; it's always been too happy and predictable, not hypnotic enough for me. It didn't feel like trance, it felt like happy hardcore toned down and minus the vocals. I can genuinely say that he's got some good, straight trance on this album. "Nyana" is an awesome track, and others weave in and around the vocal tracks well (which I think are the real features of this disc).

Unlike the straight trance, anything with Vocals on this disc is awesome (as if you didn't see that coming from me). I would give it 5-stars if reviewing Nyana solely on that merit. Hypnotic, engrossing, and varied, each track carries a deliciously sweet flavor of it's own that will leave you with a horrible addiction to the "Repeat Track" feature of your CD player. Vocalists and vocal styles vary, as well, givng you a nice sample of the different styles and singers out there.

My only real complaint comes from track 11 on disc one, DJ Ton TB's "Electronic Malfunction". The song itself draws heavily from old-school techno (house, particularly); it samples from children's toys (the Speak-and-Spell is what I think its called) and the Windows XP default sound effects--one of which sounds out of place, and the other which is annoying since I listen for that sound effect when I'm using my computer. That, and the song itself just isn't that great and doesn't hold up to quality of the rest of the CD.

Now, as for myself, I'm heavily biased for vocal trance. There's nothing like the sound of it, period. If you're like me, you'll find some delicious music, each candywrapped with some delectable tunes. Just keep in mind the regular tracks play second fiddle to the stars of the show: vocals.

Disc 1 is awesome for some nice intense tracks while Disc 2 is a little mellow and relaxed.
Disc 2: destination and beautiful things..cant get enough of these 2 songs!

I have this cd since may 2003 and it still finds its way into my player every week.
This one is way better than tiesto's new 'just be'!