Paul Oakenfold has done it all. Be it 'discovering’ Ibiza, holding down a residency at superclub Cream (during it’s peak), playing in front of packed stadia as support for U2 or writing the score for Hollywood blockbusters, the man has been at the forefront of electronic music for the past twenty years. Here he enlists One Republic’s Ryan Tedder to provide the vocals on his latest release. Tedder’s song writing skills have already delivered chart success with Timbaland on 'Apologize’ and 'Bleeding Love’ for Leona Lewis as well as with music from his own band.
So you would expect with the pedigree of these two artists that something special would be on offer here? Well, while it falls far short of being a classic, there is a likeable side to this simple vocal track laid over a varied collection of beats. This release is launched with a massive remix package spread over two cds, one for trance and this disc which contains five house mixes which, rather confusingly, would still work during the early part of any trance set. The mix chosen to head the package by Robert Vadney is the most commercial sounding and harbours some solid production. While DJ Lynnwood’s 'Make a Move remix’ laying a simple cut of the vocal over his stripped down squelchy beats is the choice for the cooler danceries. The other mixes are best avoiding as they offer nothing new.
Having listened to the trance mixes elsewhere it’s clear that the vocal works better in the spaced out breakdowns of the genre. So, if the hi-energy sound is more your thing, then the trance package would be a better purchase.
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