Cosmic Gate – Wake Your Mind

2011 – trance music albums are growing on trees in large numbers this year, and as the autumn is coming, they are falling on our heads like fully grown apples. One of these apples is named ‘Wake Your Mind‘ and it has grown on a special breed of tree called Cosmic Gate. This "apple" fell into my reviewing hands about a week ago. I remember last year, how I won the signed copy of ‘Back 2 The Future‘ and ever since then, I looked very highly on this duo.

I was pretty curious about the sound of these new tracks of theirs, 14 tracks ready to get listened to. I made myself a cup of coffee, closed all the internet windows, made myself comfortable and there I was, trying to get inside the feeling of this album.

The album gets started off with a collaboration with rising star Arnej. Although I never really started to like his productions, his and Cosmic Gate’s sounds goes together pretty well, making "Sometimes They Come For More" a nice starting track, that reminds CG’s older remix of Fabio XB’s & Gabriel Cage’s "Inside Of You".

What doesn’t fit in this album though, are the tracks featuring Emma Hewitt. The second track on the album made me certain of this. I personally remember the great times of "Not Enough Time" a track from CG feat. Emma, but that one is something gold compared to "Be Your Sound" or "Calm Down". In my eyes, it’s not Emma’s fault at all, it’s just that the tracks where she’s featured, (may it be with Cosmic Gate, Dash Berlin, or all other great trance producers) sound completely the same in my ears. Her voice is great, but it’s so repetive, you see her featured on some track, and you know, how the track will sound when played, where’s the beauty in that?

Of course the album has it’s truly emotional moments too. For example, "Wake Your Mind" featuring Cary Brothers (whom we haven’t seen featured on much tracks lately) is a track with beautiful melody and makes your soul pretty chilled. But personally I would have liked a dub mix of this track more. Cary Brothers’s voices don’t fit that well. An even more emotional track is called "Never Apart", featuring beautiful vocals of not so famous vocalist Alana Aldea. I’ve noticed her sweet voice before, featured on Leon Bolier’s ‘Phantasma‘ album, very calm voice, track that makes you very chilled and happy.

What got me suprised though, was a collaboration with Andrew Bayer – very progressive sounds found its way into this album too. Once more the simplicity beats the more complicated tracks, making "Nothing Ever Lasts" a pretty nice collab with simple track patterns. Andrew’s sounds can be heard very well – great progressive experience with this one.

Album seemed pretty average till the point, when "Flying Blind" came to it’s start. I remember that moment very well. My eyes were closed, relaxed feeling all over my mind. Then the harder beat started, I waited for a couple of seconds, not knowing what will come next. The short break down came to an end, and the main melody and unbelieveable vocals of JES struck me! My eyes opened in a split second, and then? I was dancing my ass off in the cover of the night and between the walls of my room. Kept that track on repeat since than, absolute favorite of this album. For those of you, who remember the great remix from Cosmic Gate on Tiësto’s "Everything", this track will completely steal your heart. It reminds me of "Everything" in so many ways, simply said – it’s PERFECT!

Verdict

This album has its brighter and darker moments as well. It sure is far from great, yet far from terrible too. It has great tracks like "Flying Blind", "Nothing Ever Lasts", "Barra", "Never Apart", yet it also has it’s own "mistake-tracks". It’s very hard to judge this one. But as far as you ask me, I’m saying that this album is pretty average, it belongs to the better albums from this year, yet it sure isn’t a nominee for album of the year!

6/10

For more info related to Cosmic Gate check out the following links:
www.cosmic-gate.de
www.myspace.com/cosmicgate
www.facebook.com/cosmicgate
www.twitter.com/RealCosmicGate

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