Customer Reviews

Tranceport 2

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Like the first Tranceport, mixed by Paul Oakenfold, Dave Ralph's Tranceport II is a great addition to any trance lover's collection. Perfect for those who like to throw on the headphones and float off into another dimension, and just as good for those who like to club all night. Unlike Oakey's mix, this is a two CD set, with the second disc being a little more clubby than the first. Tranceport 1 is in my opinion the best STUDIO mixed trance compilation ever, so I cannot say this set is better than it's predecessor. However, this CD comes mighty close. If you are into Sasha, Digweed, Nick Warren and Oakenfold type mixes than this CD will get plenty of playing time in your deck.

OK-- This disc isn't the reason I spin trance, Dave Ralph is -- and while this mixCD set doesn't at all do his live talents justice, it is still an exceptional album.

Disc one is by far the more interesting of the two discs. Here, Ralph works a very dark, deep, and sophisticated groove throughout, building a stellar vibe that comes extremely close to his live sound. The CD is not dominated by big snare roll breakdowns and high-pitched squawking melodies. Instead, there is a bassy, at times even breaky sound that grooves over and under instead of through you. What really makes this CD so wonderful though, are the little surprises. Three tracks of trance and then SLAP! a little Luke Slater style techno. Deep, almost scary Baseline Track from Medway, then PING! soothing, melodic bliss via Resistance D.

Disc two, while not as innovative, is still outstanding. It opens with "Move!" which is perfectly placed (unlike on Sasha's Ibiza GU mixCD) and rolls very cleanly over into "Madagascar." "But wait!" (you say) "Isn't Madagascar more of a closing, disc-ending type of track?" Perhaps... But here is just tickles you to remind you that, hey! it's dance music, and it's supposed to be filled with energy. And it goes from there. This CD has more of a "progressive," and melodic feel than the bassier rhythms of the first CD, but sprinkled with Dave Ralph's signature style. Build-build-build-ahhhh-GO! You just got to love it.

OK....Well my last review of this CD was a little premature so I need to redeem myself. This is one of the best trance CD's out right now.....Disc one is great, but a little slower. The second CD.....OH WOW! IF you want some off the hook club trance, this CD is one for you.....It is in my CD player non stop when i'm in the mood for trance. Oakie is the man, Ralph is filling the shoes just fine.

Some people bash this disc because it "lacks energy." What these people fail to realize is Dave Ralph takes the next step, and doesn't just throw together a bunch over overblown beats that makes it easier to dance to.

He gives this music texture and depth. It intertwines and loops and creates a scene, something your average hyper-energy speaker-blowing stuff just can't do. This is a mellow album, one you can relax and unwind to, and its an enjoyable listen, but thats really all its good for.

I admittenly like mellow music as much as the high energy stuff, as I was into drum and bass way before trance, but you recognize good music when you hear it, and I hear it in this.

Dave Ralph is Dave Ralph. He is not Paul Oakenfold (In my opinion the best Dj on the planet). But so what? Hes still one hell of a DJ and Tranceport II is an excellent album. To put it rather bluntly, Tranceport II is a lot more mellow than tranceport I. UNLIKE TRANCEPORT I, there are few songs on here (with the exception of "Toca Me") which youll instantly like after listening to about 15 seconds of it. This CD does however really grow on you: the first time I listened to it I was so sorry I spent money on it. Now however I really really enjoy it. Anthem lovers should learn to appreciate a mellower side of trance. Its often more rewarding. 5-9 on CD2 are just wonderful: Ralph ends with a Fantastic buildup! Peace

this is the second installment of the famed transport series that was started by the infamous Paul Oakenfold. As sequels go, some are good and some aren't. There will NEVER be another tranceport like Oakey's, however, this is a good mix. I wasn't sure, since it was so old and I've heard most of the songs well, whether to give it 3 or 4 stars. As a follow up it is good. The format is extended to two discs and Oakenfold's influence is a big part of this compilation. This disc significantly differs from his later offerings (e.g. naturalized). Dave Ralph has moved into the world of minimalist trance that started with Digweed's Los Angeles release, which imho is still the best. As for this selection, if you like the older trance and a good dose of euphoria, then I would get it. If you want the latest music look elsewhere as you may feel this selection is dated with played out tunes. I give it 4 stars because I like uplifting music and having recently listened to renaissance one with Sasha and Digweed I feel that though this comp. does not approach the greatness of that set, it does give me a better feel for how the music was mixed and hence the 4 stars. please rock the vote and happy listening :)

There are two subgenres of trance that have emerged over the last decade. The first is what I would consider anthem or drama trance - big blow-ups, lots of dynamics, uplifting and energetic. The second is the resurgence of highly repetitive, mind-numbing trance.

While Oakenfold took us through exstatic anthems in Tranceport 1, Ralph goes for the loop-laden modern trance experience in this album. I must admit that I'm no fan of this style of trance and I regret purchasing it when it first came out just because it had the "Tranceport" name on it. Long, loop-heavy songs (or in this case an entire album) are great for clubbing, but they are annoying to listen to while sober and at home (or in my case at work ;-P ).

This album is definitely geared toward the deep trance fan, and not the trance anthem fan. If you're looking for anthem, check out Trance: ASC and Trance II - they're much closer to Oaky's Tranceport. -tN

Let me first say that I bought this CD a year ago, and I only recently began to appreciate how complex and rich this release is. I always thought that this mix was more of a track-selection highlight CD, like Oakenfold's first Tranceport. I listened to this a few times when I first got it over a year ago, but I virtually discarded it for the last few months. But, in that time, trance and house have educated me in the ways of how to appreciate this beautiful sound they call trance/progressive house. I would urge this CD only for the educated and experienced trance listener because it (for some reason I have no clue of) can not be listened to in the same way as its predecessor, Tranceport 1, is listened to.

This mix only has a few track that can be listened to individually like Madagascar by Art of Trance and Toca Me by Fragma (isn't it terrible what they did with that rubbish they released recently called "I need a miracle" based on Toca Me?). Anyway, the mix must be listened to as a whole because the CD tries to establish tone and style before highlight tracks complemented by other tracks. Each CD seems to build and build until it leaves you with the feeling of having experienced an uplifting, mellow, futuristc dream of trance that is called Tranceport II. I like the GU's more than any other series because they try to establish a tone on each CD rather than separate tones for each track. Tranceport II builds like a constantly accelerating ride in space, mellow as it is accelerating. Its only flaw is that the mixing is sometimes awkward. The mixing is good, but sometimes DJ's must place tracks after particular ones to maintain a certain tone. When Ralph moves to tracks like Toca Me and Arms of Orion, it leaves the listener a little befuddled in terms of why the tone of the mix shifted so fast, like the tone on cheezy compilations changing after every track. Overall, though, these awkward shifts occur very few times and only slightly detract from the mixing and quality of the CD. Once again, I urge you to really gain an appreciation for trance and house before you listen to and try to enjoy this jem. Hopefully, Tranceport 4 will follow up on Ralph's work rather than follow in the monotonous steps of Collins' Tranceport 3, which sounds like a tornado in an antique shop before trance.

This CD is unbelievable. I thought the first one was great, but this one takes it one step further with beats you probably haven't heard before and a selection that keeps you interested.. I love trance, but will admit that sometimes, it can be a little repetitive and boring, but somehow Ralph has injected excitement into his set while avoiding the anthems we are all tired of!

the CD Tranceport 2 is the latest of the Tranceport series. Dave Ralph blends in a mixture of Euro Trance with a blend of a UK style. The style is a very good one I might add. For all you Euro lovers Eyal- Dreamcatcher, Art of Trance- Madascasgar (Ferry C Mix) and basically all of CD2 is your liking as for CD1 it's a blend of tracks that have no euphoric melody. Although CD1 is my fav a lot of you will like more of CD2 since it has more club bumping beats. But if you do buy it check out CD1 Andy Ling- Fixation, X Cabs- Infectious 99 (Evolution Mix), Resistance D- Feel High are a few of what the CD1 has to offer. CD2 is also great you can totally groove to this CD either CD1 or 2. Dave Ralph is truely Americas finest jewel...his mixing style totally get's Euro lovers into a new feel for a different style. Check out the new Tranceport CD coming out by Sandra Collins the release date is kind of not set but when it does come out I'm sure it won't disappoint the Tranceport series