Various – Digital Society International: Volume 1
Pin ItNot much can be said about what you can experience in this constellation of uplifting stars. You must be hearing all tech influenced tracks all around these days, but DSI is one thing that will sideline your ‘current’ Trance listening patterns for the time to come. Because this one is for those who want to dance their asses off and dig the old, Trancy roots of this genre. Banging and uplifting, this one is all set to make you fly as Matt Hardwick and Kane Nelson detonate the dance floor for us.
Disc 1 – Headliner
Disc 1 starts with an absolutely soothing tune crafted by John Askew called "Blue". The power of chopped vox and sub bass momentarily drift you devotionally. Adding up, we can also hear some choirs making it up a total beauty. If ears could dream a piece of music, it would be this.
The mixer of this Disc, Matt Hardwick introduces himself in a self-asserting title, "I Am DJ". The synthy elements carry on as if looped and as the percs tighten, we find ourselves heading towards a break down and the synths rise again. You might initially take it for a PvD track if you listen to this one as an ID tune. But heck, this one helps tighten the atmosphere!
How often it is that you come across a tune that comes as a brainchild of five people? ‘Activa vs. Chris & Matt Kid – UR (Stoneface & Terminal Remix)‘ exactly is the one and the audio hypnotics do seem to work in this one. Blame the massive remix by S&T – epic synth hooks and their delicate break down synth work – is what makes this one a dance floor scorcher!
A low-key affair, in terms of vocals, Melinda Gareh has been seen in collabs with Matt Hardwick. The vocals are the center of listening as we notice timely upliftments in her voice and the tune. There’s a slight mellowness in Melinda’s vocals that get an uplifting treatment from Matt. Then all of a sudden, the tune becomes all cheery and goes full throttle.
Welcome to the tune that sounds variety, lots of variety in one single track. As my listening elevates with Disc 1, Andre Glensk’s "Monday Reflections (Mekk Remix)" introduces me to a whole new, unfazed style of Trance – with a breakbeat infused break down! The impeccable sequencing throws your emotions up and down as the synth rolls carve the ‘Digital Society‘ mood.
Sequentia duo gets highly progressive with "Infinite Horizons". Knowing the melodic potential Sequentia caps, this one slightly perturbs my listening, something which I can easily give a miss to. Either I found it unusually emotional to handle, or the melodies did not provoke my earbuds.
Disc 1 touches its melodic peak with Darren Tate’s "Destination", which fell into the highly-able hands of Mr. Akesson – a remix that turned this subtle beauty into an epic Trancer. However, the DSI version sounded low paced when compared to the original. Heavy percs and vocals start it up and set up the melodic tension – to a tingling piano break down accompanied by extending vocals and pads, till Akesson decides to let go and we come across a classic break down. This one immerses you somewhere, some sort of celebration.
Times are going great for Temple One. For the one whose remixes are pleasingly noisy and connote pure euphoria, "Moonlight Madness" by AF Project only sounds better with Temple One’s blessings. The moment you start listening to the beats, you know its Temple One. The start leaves you in a deep state of unconsciousness as the mayhem of pads get a new lease of life with a peculiar, intense, very G&D-styled synth – that stretches and stretches your listening pleasures, higher and higher. Lose into this one, folks!
Up next, Redstar comes buzzing with his "Long Way Home" that sounds like a complete synth-led analog beauty. Banging and progressive, this is how it sounds besides uplifting builds. But it somewhere fails to draw my Trance spirits.
"Central Park" by 7 Skies & Static Blue has been there for a while, play listed by top jocks in their radio shows and there’s no reason we don’t see it getting a feature in this bomb of a compilation. With high anthemic qualities, this one slightly comes as something you’ve already heard of. Blame the uplifting nature of this tune with an inclusion of passionate guitars and the same bang-bang standards. Yet, we can cheer up to this one if you like Hard Melodic Trance.
Talented fresher David Newsum got a feature with "Spank Bank" – something that could bring up dance floor turmoil. As soon as the tune starts we see a clever escalation in the bass line. A sorted progression and uplifting arrangements of synthage cordons it well with a squeezy climax and drum rolls.
Giueseppe Ottaviani in his remix of Tom Colontino’s "Metro Retrograde" broods out a moody delicacy. Some Trancy and tingling synths begin the track until the break down, which sees a dark, cold synth letting out an indescribable vibe. The tingling synths come back in play and march the climax with fitting expressions.
The last track of Disc 1 comes as a vocal one featuring Josh Money’s heavy vocals and a pounding remix by Will Holland. "All Up In My Head" by Abdul Bayyari is a tune that runs amongst various female vocalist dominated Trance society and yet manages to claim its emotional niche. It very well remains glued to the Disc’s uplifting roots with its melodic and paced up nature. The break down is orthodox and the exposure of pads parallel to the vox with Trancy synths. It does help in opening up on the dance floors. Amazing tune, amazing vocals!
Disc 2 – Resident
The first track of Disc 2 starts with a remix of Activa called as "Epiphany" by MK-S, where it appears as the mood-setter of sorts.
A layer of synths flow and get joined by a peppy bass line that runs for a moment and as the track seems to open up, it mixes into Redstar’s "Awakening" that I’ve explained earlier to have an Estiva styled synth work – elongated and completely stretched lending out a voyagic feel.
Sort of strange a tune getting two features in a compilation, the difference is, the other one is a remix and the fact that we have already heard it as S&T remix might give this one a goer. That’s because the S&T remix is addictive with that pleasant synth, which is missing here in the original track. Yet, if you have your choices sorted out to this one, it’s a good one!
The next inclusion takes this Disc to its powerful peak as Sean Tyas comes in play. When I first heard it, I thanked my Trance stars; it was not the usual Tyas banger! Suckers of emotional big room tracks are going to love this one and be in for a surprise as Mr. Tyas, like always, sounds at his uplifting best.
The DS-R groupie seemed obvious after Tom Colontino makes his presence felt again in the remix of Tiddey’s "Tayyla" strictly sticking to the compilation’s groovy mood. Saddled by too much uplifting tracks, I almost find myself in the stratosphere and this one pushes me up further with its refined anthemic qualities. (Can anyone see me flying it space already?)
The same, the same I see happening to me while listening to Reverse’s "Distant Destiny" and I take no time to analyze Disc 2′s nature that has me depleted me to my ears. You feel no difference in the succession at one point.
Welcome Temple One with "World Beyond" – now that’s a tune when I can openly sway myself underneath the naked skies and forget my worries for a while. But haven’t I already lost my aural virginity to this exclusive one in 2008? Then why a lil old inclusion to this compilation? I ask myself while I move, but as the mood of this Disc has it, I go ahead with my listening.
Overdosed with uplifting mood, I levitate on my chair and give an ear to Aled Mann’s "To The End (Last Man Standing Remix)". Epic title, epic melody – but come-on, Disc 2 mood starts dissolving somewhere beyond my levels of listening. The same bang-bang and the same melodic inputs are a tad bit too much.
The Disc 1 opener, John Askew returns with "Fade To Black", where a rapid flow of synths recharge you and you feel a hurried lineage of synths pepped up into your ears. The tune also maintains its code of being uplifting and progressive at the same time. It’s a great listen at this point, where you can atleast feel your energy levels swing up and down along with the music.
Disc 2 gets better with Activa’s solo production "Rise Above" – something that starts all charged up with percs and fades out as the angelic vocals reveal and then again, get into full flow. At one point you can make out, what you are heading in for – a true Activa synth blow out that plays after a mild break down. Add some angelic vocals to it and you are in for a real dance floor dinner.
Kane Nelson’s "Red Trigger" is a simple feature, where the listening is at its energetic best. Bringing out a slight arousing overture from banging sounds, Kane succeeds in producing a beauty. Note the dance-worthy post break down synth job, it’s uber cool!
Randomly titled, but beautifully produced "Bored Of You, Bored Of Me" by John Askew has a dreamy core with a banging outline. Yes, the heavy beats guide you to a lush, dreamy break down – just the need of the moment that brings your hands-in-the-air moment.
The next tune "Epicentre" draws a dramatic open-air feel in its sounds. When the break down arrives, we can hear a female vox mounting, a point where the track sounds relaxing and then the teensty synths blast off with refined kicks.
Disc 2 has been closed with one of my favourite tunes: Bryan Kearney’s "You Will Never Be Forgotten (Activa Remix)". And I cannot imagine a perfect ending of this DSI saga any better. Activa has pumped in his genius into this track, making it a highly-danceable record. This dance floor torpedo picks up massively post break down, when the rolling bass line mixes itself with unsettled synth work that has impromptu reactions from me because of its rhythmic approach. The same continues as what I can take as a ‘lead comeback’. Huge one!
Conclusion
It can be concluded that the Album has some real gems, but at a certain point you can smell things being overcooked, specially somewhere in Disc 2 – Resident. Variety is the spice of life and as the Disc promises to be energetic and uplifting, I’ve just one nitpick: Why does it not come up with a Warning sign, ‘coz it has hell lot of explosives featured in it!
7/10
For more info related to Matt Harkwick check out the following links:
www.matthardwick.com
www.facebook.com/djmatthardwick
www.myspace.com/matthardwick
Reviewed by: Apoorv
