Ferry Corsten feat. Betsie Larkin – Made Of Love
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Ferry is back with a track which has made it onto nearly every trance playing radio show around, featuring on ASOT, TATW and GDJB. "Made Of Love" is a track featuring the vocal talents of Betsie Larkin. Ferry returns to his Trance roots with this record, something that should please many of his fans. Here is the verdict:
Original Extended Mix
We start off with a soft edged bass line and kick, a sweep comes in with some vox, effects thrown in to build what feels like it’s going to become a full on energy fest. Next a familiar arrangement, that which we’ve heard in Ferry’s previous track "In the Dark" comes in. A melody slowly develops after and I instantly remember where it’s come from too, another of Ferry’s old tracks, "Sweet Sorrow". Imagine the backing of one and the melody of the other and you’re pretty much spot on. If I wasn’t any the wiser I would think this is a mash up. We get vocals at the 2:05 point; in typical Ferry style they sound soulful / sexy edge without being overdone. At the 4 minute mark we get the break, the backing drops putting the vocal into the limelight, emotional and grandiose in its presentation. We are sung out of the break before full instrumentals take over, creating a sense of drama about them. We get a second small break at the 7:20 mark before the track slowly subsides out.
I’ve seen this track hyped by many and I will have to apologise to some but I’m not going to be one who’s caught up in all the glamour. This is a well constructed mix from Ferry, but it’s one I also feel is lazy and is lacking in originality. The references to past tracks are quite startling and for that it loses marks, many will not find this as fresh as they perhaps should because of it. Well produced but try harder next time Mr. Corsten. With that criticism aside this is still an effective track with a gorgeous vocal and gets an 8.5/10 from me.
Super8 & Tab Remix
We start off with a slightly deeper bass line, a little more compression has been used, it sounds fuller and this is a good start. An electro sound comes in at 1:25 to give this a much fresher feel. Super8 & Tab seem to be heading more in that direction ever since "Elektra". A good deal of energy is developed by the midway points but there seems to be something lacking for me, a cutting edge of sorts as although it’s sounding nice the track doesn’t seem to break out of its shell much. At 3:50 we get a nice synth break down, vocals matching the melody nicely. 4:30 a typical Super8 & Tab melody leads us out with a building kick to lift us. The melody is soft and carries emotion well. This is clearly aimed at being melodic rather than a club killer but I think it would work nicely for both scenarios. This is a smooth mix with a good groove thanks to the extra touches from the duo. At 6:50 we get that filthy bass line again. A good all around track which is on par with the original, 8/10.
Duderstadt Progressive Remix
There seems to be a very particular sound when we hear Duderstadt doing a progressive mix, this one is much the same, simple percussion, almost minimal but with a good atmosphere built through sweeping pads and synths. Lots of sweeps and white noise to give it an out there edge. Synth stabs coming out at 1:55 along with the vocals. They sound surprisingly good on this backing and seem to complement each other well. At the 2:55 mark we have full flow, the chorus and synths overlaying them to add impact. Quickly dropping off and building up again till we are thrown back in at 3:53, chopped vocals and an extremely proggy sound coming through. Not enough happening to raise the energy levels but for a set build-up this would be a useful track. We are lead out in a style that resembles very closely what you’d hear in an Inpetto track. The track is fairly average when compared to the rest of the record, taking that into consideration I would only give this a 6/10; it’s fairly average although a good choice if their proggy style is right up your street.
Push Remix
Now onto a mix that I couldn’t make any predictions about, the Trance legend remixing one of the latest from another star, what will we have? The answer is something close to the original but with a slightly darker sound. Push is obviously a fan of the vocals as they come through loud and clear throughout, synths being the weapon of choice for atmosphere building. He’s kept most of the original melody intact; the percussion is good although fairly standard. We get a lot of vox during the main break including a neat effect, unable to determine whether it is one or two effects included, sounding like we have some piano but some electrified strings too, no matter what it is we have a neat inclusion that adds emotion to the section by the bucket load. Afterwards we have a more familiar old school Push sound leading out. At 4:21 we have a brooding atmosphere building and I am beginning to realise just how much he has put his mark on the track. It’s an interesting direction he takes the record in, with its dark sound and vocals I’m a fan, I think this works well as an alternative. 7/10
Bobina Megadrive Vox
The most original start of them all, tribal like percussion which immediately appeals, a hat soon adds to what we hear with a distorted vocal sweep at the minute mark followed by some piano. Soon the pace builds up with a techno / dark wave like synth build up. At the 2 minute mark we get some more kick and drive, it’s impossible to know where this mix is going next as it’s surprised me so far, this is outside the box from Bobina, there is no mould to speak of. Vocals are given at 2:20 and the track steadies a bit. The bass line is a bouncy one matching the energy of the vocals well, at 3:20 we have a deep break, with graceful drops of piano to help the mood, the tempo is never dropped fully and the momentum is kept throughout. At 4:16 we get that unique melody leading us out as well as the unique kick and percussion. This would be a great mix to shake up any set while injecting energy; it’s quite off the wall while still retaining appeal. At 5:10 we get a second break, this time with some guitar to add yet another feel to the track, piano dropping in shortly after. Atmosphere bursting out with the flurry of layers we have, this mix is deep, energetic, and full of ideas and would take any floor by surprise. Top marks to Bobina for letting the ideas flow and for being brave enough to try them out on such an anticipated package. Not all of it works perfectly but it’s fresh and I like that, an 8/10 for him.
5AM Dub
Stating off much in the style of a Ferry Fix mix, this would be classed as the Instrumental Dub, we get some vocal chops replacing vocals this time around but with a similar groove as previous. This is a stripped down back to basics Trancer which you’d expect to have heard from Ferry quite some years ago, the production is clean. At 3:15 we get the break which without vocals is even more disturbingly familiar and suffers from the same problem as previous. That melody is an old one to my ear, for fans who haven’t heard "Sweet Sorrow" this won’t prove to be a problem. However to more seasoned Trance fans this will feel more like a 2009 mix of the song than that which is supposed to push the boundaries and make track of the year. Ferry’s production skills are great but that doesn’t make up for the lack of originality again. 7/10
The two dub mixes offer no substantial differences to their vocal counterparts so I shall refer you to the vocal mixes if you wish to get a taste for them.
Conclusion
A record which while at a good standard doesn’t break into unchartered territory or define an iconic record that Ferry has produced so often in the past. We get typical Ferry here and for many fans that is just what they’ll crave. I feel this is somewhat of an opportunity missed for the man to really stamp his mark down once again and to show the industry just how Trance should be made and developed. Good production skills are shown here by all, the ideas however apart from the Bobina Mix were in a somewhat short supply, leading to the record feeling somewhat limiting. The Original, Super8 & Tab Rix and Bobina Megadrive Vox are all worthy of adding to your collection but if you’re looking for track of the year, I don’t think you’ll find enough in this release to warrant that title. Another good addition to Ferry’s already extensive catalogue but not much more, worth a listen.
For more info related to Ferry Corsten and Betsie Larkin check out the following links:
www.ferrycorsten.com
www.myspace.com/ferrycorsten
www.facebook.com/FerryCorsten
www.twitter.com/FERRYCORSTEN
www.betsielarkin.com
www.myspace.com/betsielarkin
Reviewed by: Darren Honour
