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In Search Of Sunrise Vol. 6 Elements Of Life
In Search Of Sunrise Vol. 6 -
Track Listing
Disk 1La Hacienda - Es Vedra |
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Disk 2New Dawn - Steve Forte Rio |
Brief Review
A mediocre effort by the man dubbed as the 'King Of Trance'. There are several stand-out tracks on the album but the sloppy mixing and lack of set progression drag this CD down to a disappointing score. This is certainly not Tiësto's best work, nor is it his worst. The CD will not stay in the memory of fans for too long leaving Tiësto wondering where he went wrong with this one.
Full Review
For anyone who is new to Tiësto; the man has been known and quite rightly so for his epic trance and euphoric 'hands in the air' anthems that got him his superstardom 'god-like' image. When you're that high up and have that much power it's easy to see why artists such as Oakenfold have sold out and gone for the mass appeal rather than reward the loyal fans who have followed the artists since they began their career. Tiësto, however much you respect or like the man, have to admire what he's done for the music industry.
However, saying that it's ironic that the style that got Tiësto his 'god-like' appeal is hardly evident in his latest mixes and cds. That's not to say the man has sold out; it's simply stating that this is the "transition" period all artists go through. Do you sell out and get more money and in return a hell of a lot more fans? or stick to what you're doing and reward the loyal fans?
In Search Of Sunrise is, in my many respects, the complete opposite to what the Magik series offers. It's a chilled out, mellow 2 CD pack that is ideal for sitting on the beach with a martini and watching the sunrise. But is this really Tiësto? I can't help but think his new style has been influenced by, in my opinion, the greatest trance artist of the moment Armin Van Buuren. Listen to 'A State of trance' and then listen to this cd and I guarantee it will sound exactly the same. Same type of track listing, same feelings throughout the tracks and seamless mixing (although it would be due to everyone using computers to mix seamlessly nowadays)
In Search Of Sunrise 6 has always been a 'summer' cd and considering many of us didn't actually have much of a summer when this was released in the UK, the CD has possibly come in the wrong year.
The CD starts, as it usually does, with a chilled out Balearic track that builds nicely into the best track on the cd 'Contact by Glen Morrison'. A progressive number that slowly builds and builds until you find yourself nodding your head with one hand in the air. An excellent track to start a CD off with. A real mood setter.
Unfortunately for Tiësto, it's all downhill on the first cd from there. 'Don’t belong', 'Summerfish' and 'Madras' are all relatively mild tracks that should have been played nearer the beginning as they fail to show the true nature of what Tiesto is capable of.
The CD picks up slightly with a beautiful track 'searching for truth' by The Veil Kings which you cant help but feel has 'ARMIN VAN BUUREN' written all over it. The track listing goes up and down from here, as if Tiësto couldn't decide whether to go back to the mellow tunes he delivered in the middle of the CD or drop in a few euphoric tunes. From here onwards you find yourself wondering exactly what Tiesto was trying to accomplish from this CD. For a man who has been deemed 'the master of progressing a set', this really does sound sloppy. The CD then ends with another mellow, beautiful tune, 'Lonely' by Reeves.
Looking back at the first CD the tracks that really cut it were, strangely, the progressive house tracks and not the trance tracks. Which is bizarre for the man who is responsible for awesome trance sets. I was left feeling slightly confused after listening to the first cd as to what exactly Tiësto's intention was with his journey that he portrays so well in his cds; almost, but not quite, to the same effect as Sasha.
The 2nd CD, like the first, starts very, very well with a chilled out trance melody that continuously rises until it goes into 'what you need' by Nic Chagall which is a fairly average tune, nothing substantial to note here.
The cd once again takes a step back and goes into a more relaxed, chilled out tone before slowly picking the tone back up into more 'electric trance' territory. Synth-induced bleeps and vocal samples as well as some tracks which, in my opinion, seriously do not suit a 'summer chill-out cd', including the electro track which seemed to be everywhere in the summer of 2007, 'Arguru-Deadmau5'.
Sticking to this style of electric trance, Tiësto reaches into the bag and pulls out the best track on this cd 'Falling-First State'. A chillingly euphoric track that has some amazing effects and instruments over some awesome vocals.
Once again, after an amazing track, the mood dips back down again into a fairly mellow trance track, but good none-the-less 'Fall to pieces-Jonas Steur'. It falls even further into chilled territory with 'Mercury Room-Tom Cloud' before picking it back up for 'Chase my rabbit' and then dips again for the last track.
So all in all, the 2nd cd just cuts it as the better cd but once again you find yourself wondering what Tiësto intended with this cd. Hints of the Magik Series are shown throughout both cds but, just like mainstream cds, there seems to be no thought to progressing the set and no 'journey' which Tiësto has delivered so effectively in his previous cd installments.
I didn't enjoy this CD as much as his earlier work. Is this due to his style that emulates so closely the man who pulls off chilled trance so well; Van Buuren? Possibly. The one thing that really struck me with this cd is Tiësto's tracklisting. A strong tracklisting, I'll give him that, but the way the tunes have been meshed together seems sloppy. The mix between progressive house and trance is seamless, as expected, but this most certainly doesn't even come close to his best work.
However, saying that, I didn't feel the emotional euphoria I usually feel with all of
Tiësto's work which, in my opinion, is what music is all about; and what DJs are their for.
Tiësto didn't cut it for me this time, which is a shame for a man who you expect so much from.
Elements Of Life -
Track Listing
| Ten Seconds Before Sunrise Everything - Tiësto and Jes Can you feel me - Tiësto and Julie Thompson Carpe Noctum Driving To Heaven Sweet Things - Tiësto and Charlotte Martin Bright Morningstar Break my fall - Tiësto & BT In The Dark - Tiësto and Christian Burns Dance4Life - Tiësto and Maxi Jazz Elements Of Life He's a Pirate |
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Brief Review
Tiësto's commercial tendencies creep into his latest CD 'Elements of Life' with an interesting blend of gorgeous vocal tracks and mediocre instrumental tracks. The vocal tracks really shine through here on a CD where the tracks that don't have vocals are better left off altogether. An average track that is sure to appeal to some people but hardcore trance fans are best left to steer clear of this.
Full Review
Tiësto starts off his 'Elements of Life' CD with 'Ten Seconds before Sunrise'. A big-room trance anthem that slowly builds with strings and orchestral vocals. A strong track to start the CD off with.
'Everything' follows Tiësto's recent form with vocal tracks; introducing a euphoric beat, a building chord scheme and gorgeous female vocals.
'Do you feel me' is another track that uses female vocals but this time it isn't up to the same stabndard as 'Everything'. The synth used is very good and the breakdown is equally as appealing but the track just has mediocre written over it after the excellent first 2 tracks.
'Carpe Noctum' captures Tiësto's recent 'electric trance' releases with a progressive beat and echo-induced industrial synth sounds. The track is very dark and builds nicely, leaving you with tingles down your spine as the track continues to rise and rise before dipping back down into just a drum beat before rising once again.
'Driving to Heaven' changes the mood and tempo of the CD thus far completely with a more 'In search of sunrise' bassline and backing beat. The track is very laid-back and chilled until the drum beat kicks in, slightly rising the tempo of the track but the bassline and chopping female vocals just don't fit well with the drum beat and, in my opinion, would have worked a lot better with a slower drum beat as opposed to a trance-heavy drum beat.
The CD then dips into 'Sweet things', a mediocre vocal-heavy track that hasn't really got a purpose on the CD in my opinion other than to act like a filler. The synth and bassline are good though, as you would expect from Tiësto but the vocals don't do anything for the track. This is arguably one of the weakest on the CD.
Changing the tempo and style of the CD once again, Tiësto dips back into the progressive style of his recent productions with 'Bright Morningstar' which sounds more like a Sander Van Doorn or a Simon Patterson track than of Tiësto's trademark trance sounds. The track is very progressive, as mentioned earlier but doesn't have the 'Oomph' factor to make the tune a stand-out track.
Tiësto then collaborates with BT with 'Break my fall'. A gorgeous male-vocal trance track that is easily one of the best on the CD. Tiësto produces a relatively average euphoric trance track which the vocals compliment perfectly. If the track was an instrumental it wouldn't be as powerful and strong as it is here. This is an excellent tune which definately deserves credit.
'In The dark' is the second tune from 'Elements of life' that gained commercial recognition. The vocals are brilliant here and like 'Break my fall' really help the track. Although being slightly commercial, the track is still a good one and enjoyable. Not one of Tiësto's best tracks but not a mediocre track either. The beat is typical Tiësto style and echoes the rest of the CD's style. The synth used is also equally as good as the vocals and helps to elevate this song.
'Dance4life' is the most recognizable song on the CD, introducing the vocals of Maxi Jazz from Faithless, mixed with an 'electric trance' style. The synth used is arguably distinguishable as having not been used in any track ever before, helping to lift this track to one of the best on the CD. The song was made with the intention of being used as a charity song, helping people deal with Aids.
The next track on the CD 'Elements of life' is, in my opinion, one of the strongest instrumental tracks on the album with the use of a euphoric trance synth and bassline and a rising chord scheme. The breakdown is excellent and is possibly the best part of the this track.
The final track on the CD is one of my favourites and arguably the best on the CD. 'he's a pirate' is an enjoyable track that uses samples from Pirates of the Caribbean. The influences of the film are evident throughout the track and really makes this a clever number that will no doubt be remixed several times into different genres. The track is definately a big-room anthem and features one of the best build-ups I've heard in a long time.
At the end of the CD I was left with both a sense of enjoyment but nothing worthy of being 'classics' for years to come. With such classics as 'Adagio for strings' and 'Lethal Industry' featured on Tiësto's earlier CDs, its a little surprising that, in my opinion, there isn't anything on this album that matches the quality of Tiësto's earlier work.
The tracks that really stood out on the CD were those that featured vocals, which is a surprising twist from Tiësto's earlier masterpieces where his work really shone through the instrumental tracks. The commercial transition seems evident from this CD, with the instrumental trance anthems falling flat compared to the vocal-heavy tracks.
However, saying that 'He's a pirate' was definately one of the standout tracks on the album alongside several other vocal tracks but don't expect anything here to make you sit back after listening to it and say 'Wow....that was amazing'
