YES YES YES!!!
Source: www.inkblotmagazine.com/ rev-archive/Dave_Ralp...
Right off the bat, let’s get the record straight. I am first and foremost a total House-head when it comes to the world of electronic music, and as such, trance should be my archenemy. However, I’ve got to admit that I do have a soft spot in my heart for the stuff because I have several close friends who treat it like a religion. One of these guys once sported a Kinetic shirt that said "Give trance a chance," and although I have given him much grief about that shirt, I think that if ever there was a time to apply that slogan, it is with Tranceport II.
Tranceport II is Dave Ralph’s first full-length release, and basically, the man broke out a can of whoop-ass and kicked Paul Oakenfold’s Tranceport disc to the curb. Hell, I like Oakenfold, and Tranceport has some great anthems on it, but that is precisely why it gets such a sound beating from its follow-up. Tranceport II is two full discs of melodic, hard-hitting progressive trance (and yes it’s possible to be melodic and hard-hitting at the same time), but best of all, Dave Ralph generally avoids the tired tracks that everyone and their mother knows. Ralph also proves that he is a sick mixer, but hey, that’s bound to happen when you’ve been playing with records for as long as he has.
The first disc, "Departures," is much darker than "Arrivals," and has fewer vocals. The second track, Jam & Spoon’s "Stella" is super-dope, as is Sasha’s "Belfunk." Although both discs are wickedly mixed, "Arrivals" is a more uplifting ride. In one word, it’s beautiful. Fragma’s "Toca me" and DJ Eyal’s "Dreamcatcher" are two of my favorites, but it really is moving from beginning to end. It makes you want to close your eyes and wave your arms in the air...hey is THAT why all those trance-junkies dance that way? Sorry. I couldn’t resist.
Source: www.inkblotmagazine.com/ rev-archive/Dave_Ralp...
Right off the bat, let’s get the record straight. I am first and foremost a total House-head when it comes to the world of electronic music, and as such, trance should be my archenemy. However, I’ve got to admit that I do have a soft spot in my heart for the stuff because I have several close friends who treat it like a religion. One of these guys once sported a Kinetic shirt that said "Give trance a chance," and although I have given him much grief about that shirt, I think that if ever there was a time to apply that slogan, it is with Tranceport II.
Tranceport II is Dave Ralph’s first full-length release, and basically, the man broke out a can of whoop-ass and kicked Paul Oakenfold’s Tranceport disc to the curb. Hell, I like Oakenfold, and Tranceport has some great anthems on it, but that is precisely why it gets such a sound beating from its follow-up. Tranceport II is two full discs of melodic, hard-hitting progressive trance (and yes it’s possible to be melodic and hard-hitting at the same time), but best of all, Dave Ralph generally avoids the tired tracks that everyone and their mother knows. Ralph also proves that he is a sick mixer, but hey, that’s bound to happen when you’ve been playing with records for as long as he has.
The first disc, "Departures," is much darker than "Arrivals," and has fewer vocals. The second track, Jam & Spoon’s "Stella" is super-dope, as is Sasha’s "Belfunk." Although both discs are wickedly mixed, "Arrivals" is a more uplifting ride. In one word, it’s beautiful. Fragma’s "Toca me" and DJ Eyal’s "Dreamcatcher" are two of my favorites, but it really is moving from beginning to end. It makes you want to close your eyes and wave your arms in the air...hey is THAT why all those trance-junkies dance that way? Sorry. I couldn’t resist.
