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I have been listening to this set for over one year now, and I do agree with most that Disc One leaves much to be desired. Hosever, Disc Two is one of the best minimal/ethereal sets I have heard. While in 2002-2003 many global DJ's began mixing lighter, their trance descending into minimalism (see Dave Seaman's Renaissance: Desire) Tiesto continues to create melodies that permanently etch themselves into your brain. Holden's NOthing (93 REturning REmix) is a tune that never seems to escape me, and Tiesto provides the finest mix I have heard of it yet (second best mix, see Holden live at Space Miami 02-15-2003). Throw on top of this As the Rush Comes, Beautiful Things, and Requiem for a Dream, and it is easy to see why Tiesto is one of the premier DJs in his field. Whether these songs are already established in others' playlists, or they are just emerging into the arena, Tiesto provides the slickest mixes continually. Tiesto does one thing better than any other DJ around: melody melody melody. If you like inspiring notes to go with your beats, he is the one for you. Also check out In search of sunrise 3: panama and you cannot be without Mage vi: live in amsterdam.
This is one of the most satisfying offerings in Tiesto's series. Songs are carefully chosen and mixed to build to big epic climaxes. Tiesto also keeps a dark moody vibe throughout much of the journey that's very effective. The first 25 minutes of Disc 1 are almost entirely rhythm and beats. Vocals and melodies are used sparingly when they finally show up, but they become dramatic moments in the sound landscape when they appear. Great music for driving through the city at night. If you like Trance that's heavy on rhythm, sound textures, and ambience, you'll love this album.
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.