Customer Reviews

Without You Near

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The only problem with this album is the huge presence of vocals. If you expect some deep instrumental progressive you are really out of way. There are many tracks in the usual coldharbour style but you got vocals aswell in many cases. This seems to be the problem with all the negative reviewers. Personally I love what he has done and the effort is evident in every single track, songs like First time are masterpieces of rare beauty.

You all are ridiculous, complaining about too many vocals. Take a minute and actually just listen to the music and the SOUND of the vocals. Yes, welcome to the world of electronica, the vocals are RARELY thought provoking. But are they ethereal and haunting? Yes. And for those of you who obviously hate vocals but love "dark gritty trance" you obviously have not listened to Ballymena which is easily one of his best songs ever, play it as loud as your system goes and give this album another shot. If that song doesn't move something deep within you, then you do not like trance music. Try Deep Dish or some deeper house music.

Are you people kidding me, this is an excelent album, yep maybe a little too much vocals but that's ok. I want to remember you all, this is an artist album. This isn't any copilation or other people's songs put together. This is the real Markus 100% I love it.

Markus Schulz, as a songwriter is impressive. This album reveals the true talent of Markus! Of course he`s an excellent dj and producer, no doubt, but this album reveals his greater understanding for music. It`s magic! After 15 years enjoying house and trance, this is great! Friends who are not into this kind of music at all are dancing at tables....it says it all!

There are 12 tracks (13 if you count a reprise of track 4), and only 4 are instrumentals. Clear Blue, which we have all heard a while back is a great track, and it opens the CD in a very shortened version. The next track is a rather slow, uneventful instrumental track. We get into Markus's splendid vocal track of this year, First Time, and it's an album edit, about 2 minutes shorter than the original version. The original gets into the vocals almost immediately, with a lot of vocal-less music in the end, while this album edit starts the vocals about 45 seconds in.

Right now, there seems to be a ton of great male vocal tracks in both trance and progressive house. Sadly, Markus's collaboration with Gabriel and Dresden and Departure isn't one of them. The Coldharbour sound is nice, but the vocals spoil it. Next, we get two Carrie Skipper tracks and Markus update of You Won't See Me Cry. I have always liked You Won't See Me Cry, and this update is refreshing. Out of the two Carrie Skipper tracks, the 2nd one is a stunning ambient/chill track, but the 1st one, Once Again, falls short on the lyrics and vocals. The background music is sweet, but the vocals really distract and don't take the song anywhere special.

Tracks 8 & 9 are instrumentals, one by Markus and Ballymena with Airwave. Neither are anything better than average, with the Airwave collaboration being a little more exciting. Track 10, another male vocal track, really isn't even mediocre. Travelling Light starts off like it's going to be one of the hottest trance tracks of the year, however that is just the music. When the vocals kick in, sadly, the track settles back down to mediocrity. Anita Kelsey, from First Time, sings on Sorrow Has No Home, but it can no way capture anything close to what was special about First Time.

The main theme here is that the vocals really come up short in all tracks except First Time, You Won't See Me Cry, and the excellent ambient track, Never Be the Same. Actually, all the vocal tracks that didn't work, would have worked much better as instrumentals, especially Without You Near and Travelling Light. There music is better than the 3 true instrumentals on here.

I really love ya Markus, and I really wanted this to be something good, but please come out with Miami '06 as soon as we pass the new year!!!! Overall, I can't recommend this, as Clear Blue and First Time, we've all heard and probably have already, and the ambient track and update of You Won't See Me Cry are just not enough to pull anyone in. The instrumentals could have been better and the vocals should have been instrumentals. There really isn't an ounce of the energy here that was so prevalent in Miami '05.

Markus Schulz's newest release "Without You Near" leaves me with mixed feelings. I can understand the wide range of reviews here on Amazon. I'm sort of neutral to the whole album.

I enjoyed the slower beats on the cd, but that's not what I was expecting to get. Actually some of the actual music on the album is quite majestic, moving and sweeping. It's that sort of epic dreamy dance that sounds so beautiful.

If the whole album were like that with minimal vocalists, I'd love it. However, the other reviewers are correct: there does seem to be too many vocals. Markus' music is strong enough to where he doesn't need that many vocals.

He's a tremendous producer and the music on here shows it. The vocals were ok for me (I can't say I disliked them, but I definitely did not love them). So overall a three-star release. Maybe worth a Used purchase but definitely not the full retail.

This is an excellent artist album from Markus. If you have followed his excellent "Coldharbour Session" Mix cd's...you know that it was only a matter of time before we would get a real artist album from this excellent trance producer and dj. Do not let the negative review already posted on this site deter you from this cd. It's an excellent ARTIST cd....and it appears that that reviewer was simply expecting another mix cd of other producers material rather than what he bought. There is a difference and THIS DISK IS GREAT! Thanks Markus for a great first offer!

I don't know what all the fuss is about with this album on Amazon. CHILL! I finally got it today and I think it's one of the best trance artist albums around.

Markus Schluz rocks my world and "Without You Near" proves he is more than just another disc jockey who can spin other peoples' tunes. He is an artist ... and a musician ... and he's a pretty darn cute dude too. I can't wait to see him spin in MIAMI again. Mmmmm.

"First Time" is my favorite track.

I can listen to this CD again and again. Awesome artis album from Markus Schulz that is apparently very underrated. A much better attempt than that of his Armada buddy Armin Van Buuren - Shivers, in my opinion. All tracks are noteworthy, my favorite being Once Again by the beutiful vocalist Carrie Skipper. This track builds up so nicely and takes you into the clouds. Another awesome tune is a collaboration with Interstate - Peaches and Cream. It follows a slow and mellow beat with very distinct bass tones that characterizes the rest of the CD. Cant wait to get my hands on Miami '06!!!

This unfortunately is the music you unwillingly listen to in abercrombie and fitch stores. A big dissapointment. I love miami 05 and i download all of markus schulz global dj broadcasts and its hard to believe he even made this cd. Besides the horrible woman vocal songs the instrumentals are weak and repetitive. Buy this if u want to share the awe of how shockingly horrible this cd is. i hope my boy does make a miami 06 that is like the first or something like the music he plays on his radio broadcasts...