Dave Pearce [40 Classic Dance Anthems-Volume 2] Now here's something very different, over the last year i've been trying to get into a new genre of music, and i've picked Trance / Ambient / Techno / House / HipHop / Garage / Drum & Bass, all roll into one genre of... i don't know what to call it!, but i've been buying discs on Ebay cheap, and here's a double album that i bought that looked good, and it got its first spin today, and there's certainly good and bad about it.
Dave Pearce is a British Dance DJ, and radio presenter, it looks as though this album was put together in 1999, i like the front booklet cover, which looks like some neon blue blinds, and the Dave Pearce lettering is in neon orange.
I've had to really open my ears for this one, this type of music is not really my 'thing', and yet why isn't it?, i believe we all build up musical prejudices, therefore all the more i want to delve into areas of the musical landscape that are really quite alien to me, at one time even Classical music was very alien to me!, and yet i persevered with that, and look what benefits and love of music that has brought forth!, disc one is by far the best, it's more electronic instrumental, a Trance feel to it, somewhat veering off the beaten track, disc two is more Disco and vocal, a lot more R & B, 'safer' music if you like, here's the 6 tracks i really liked the most, and maybe to describe what the album is all about, it's easier to explain these tracks which give a great flavour.
2 Fragma - Toca Me, in Spanish meaning 'touch me', with a lovely wobbly electro 'wooden' beat, the track flowers and blossoms in a wonderful way, with synths appearing high in the treble [1:11-1:45], and going up the keyboard into a superb treble climax, and then coming in a second similar wave, reaching another beautiful zenith [2:58].
13 Balearic Bill - Destination Sunshine, out of the drumbeats of the intro, comes the main synth 'xylophone' vibes, teasing in a delicious way at first [0:08+], with a start / stop hesitation, all the more satisfying when it comes full on [0:21+], and again takes ventures up the keyboard into treble land, the 'wind fanfares' start up, and when the bass comes in [1:16-1:44] it's perfect, and after a respite, another beautiful wave hits you [1:57-2:25], it's these lovely waves that really make the piece.
14 Dejure - Sanctuary, is a darker piece, with what sounds like a deep warning klaxon, but halfway through the piece, it turns into Bach territory, with high organ fugues [1:43+], and deeper chords in the background, and a nice stomping beat at the end.
17 Moonman - Don't Be Afraid, with constantly whispered female vocals saying 'you don't have to be afraid', after a minute 'accordion' synths come in [1:15+], and the female vocals now scream out 'don't be afraid of tomorrow' [1:36], and the accordion is then given a lovely stomping background bass beat [1:43+], at the end bleeping synths come in [3:06+].
20 Paul Van Dyk - Avenue, the beginning is a lot more vague, and sounds swirl out of a melee, and congeal into some very nice ideas, there's this woodblock clacking sound [0:28+] which creates a nice rhythm, but it's the spacey and deep synth swirls that are so incredible [0:55+] like waves that fluctuate in and out of major and minor keys, and the music changes, and when these swirls come back it's like heaven [2:58+], it ends with an outro of woodblocks again [4:21+].
23 Moloko - Sing It Back, this is so much more a conventional song, with ordinary vocals throughout the whole song, sung by Roisin Murphy, there's a nice riff on the rhythm guitar, creating a background flamenco feel to the song, during the chorus the men sing 'back' like quacking ducks!, there's a nice lazy jazzy guitar solo towards the end [3:08-3:52].
I really need to listen to these discs a lot more before i can give any definitive feeling on them, i'm still very new to this stuff, but... tremendously excited by opening up a gorgeous pandora's box of delicious musical goodies!.
