Various Artists [Platinum Trance] 

Here's another double disc set that stretches the genre boundaries that i used to be straitjacketed with, this stuff was 'off limits' in my love of music two years ago, but i'm setting myself free from not liking certain types of music, instead of saying 'why should i listen to that type of music?', i now say 'why not!', this is a perfect double album to set as an example of why all music has great stuff within its ranks, if only you cast off the prejudice of the type of music you love, and explore outside your comfort zone, i'm excited by the new love i'm developing for new areas of music, on the whole this is bright trance, nice and electronic, and very much something to dance to, it's only my very first listen, but already i feel it's going to be a treasured set of music.

On Ebay i'm always looking out for another Trance album to advance the boundaries my recorded music library, i liked the front cover of this album, a very mechanical looking illustration, or possibly nuclear, but it goes along with the music perfectly, almost machine driven rhythms, a grey background, with a yellow wheel of some sort [a fan?], the lettering is also modern and perfectly apt for the image.

The tracks which got me really excited were 4-5, 9-10, 14-15 & 17, this makes disc one very heavy with likes, and disc two somewhat ordinary, maybe this was possibly because i listened to disc one first, and by the time i got to disc two i wasn't so wowed / taken aback by things, next time i listen to these discs i'll make sure i play disc two first, i also gave these discs a quick 'intro' on my disc player [plays the first ten seconds], and some of these intros are extremely inventive and catchy, tracks 3-6, 9-11, 16, 20-21, 25-26 & 28 sounded great this way, the very best two tracks i liked the most were 9 & 10, and i would like to give a synopsis of these two here.

9 Noire - Out Of Darkness, i can't find a music link for this, this is a shame, it's such a good track, it's a very beats driven track, nice pulsating bass at the beginning, and tap tap cymbals come in after half a minute, but it's the sharp organ sounding counterbeat that really makes the track [0:57+], and there's a knocking sound after [1:11+], reminiscent of some Tangerine Dream i've heard, it's quite hypnotic, themes come and go in waves, and it's really quite addictive, string synths come in [2:36+], and a more complex knocking rhythm starts [2:51+], it's nicely layered, there's variations and slightly quiet phases, which bring in a heightened awareness when the old louder rhythms start up again, there's a female speaker within the track, and this gives it a sort of vocal focus, and slots it in nicely with the title of the track. 
10 Ruff Driverz - Waiting For The Sun, the following track is even better, with a delicious intro of deep bubbly solo bass and drum [0:00-0:14], and cymbals come in right after, giving it very much a flavour of Drum & Bass music, and i love the way that the odd loud resonant drum hits really do make a difference [0:27+], and those same drum hits get much more excited, and the trumpet solo comer in [1:25+], this is now a very prominent instrument for the rest of the track, nice trumpet warblings at times, the music slows down, and there's a short trumpet melody [4:20+ & 5:02], the second time a guys voice comes in, and pronounces the title of the track, and infectious song.

Steve Lawler [Dark Drums - Volume 2] 

I played this disc almost a year ago [14th November 2011], and there i expressed my feelings about my first ever listening experience, i felt it was monotonous to a degree, but also an excitement that i was developing into something new, i was excited enough to want to listen to this again, and that time would tell if i would fall in love with the album, well this is my second listen, and i must admit that my feelings have improved for the album, i now see that each track has more variety than i at first thought, also each track is so more entertaining than on first listen, yes it's working!, i'm really delving into new areas of different genres to love, i'm more excited about this disc than i was before, plus i'm more excited about music than i was ever before.

Steve Lawler is an English DJ and Record Producer, he's now roughly 39, he made this disc in 2001, ok not exactly his own music, but using other peoples music as a base to create different mixes from, i like the front cover [photo by Carlos Amoedo], of some shutters on a window, or slats on a door or something, i like the fish eye feel of the whole thing, nice curved lines that are in fact really straight in life, plus the excellent different hues of blue, a really creative choice of a front cover.

The tracks that really affected me this time were 4, 6-8 & 11, yes there's a great sense of individuality that i didn't hear the first time around, now i see all these 'identical twins' as actually separate and different pregnancies, and i feel that the very best tracks are 4 & 11, notice also that i've rubbed some number transfers on the back, as each track is one out, and inadvertently calling the short intro as track one, when really it's tagged into the real first track [called track 2 on this album], and thus really there's only 11 tracks total, so here's a short synopsis of these two tracks.

4 Frankie Carbone - Everybody, the best track on the album as far as i'm concerned, there's a really excellent beat to the whole thing, with a wonderful wood block tapping rhythm, with a bass warble alongside, now that's a great start to the track, yes it's monotonous in certain ways, but that's the whole point, it consistently gets on your good nerves, further along after a few diversions, the main theme returns [3:03+], this time with a stronger beat / rhythm, a lovely moment, and the same happens two minutes later [5:18], wow strong moments of satisfaction, because the whole disc is a mix, means that each track merges and transforms into the next, but even the transition is great.
11 Robert Owens - I'll Be Your Friend / Foremost Poets - Moonraker, this track starts at 1:02:35 on the YouTube link, with two tracks mixed over each other, while the Robert Owens beat goes on, the Foremost Poets tracks 'announcement' introduces the piece, a mans deep bass voice as a DJ [0:00-2:36], warning people over the intercom 'please do not be alarmed, remain calm...', deep and electronic, slowed down slightly, it's like Barry White slurring away, i love it, he goes on and on, in almost a rhythmic but not rap style, '...the past, the present, the future', the musical rhythm is excellent, using two extremes, one complex deep bass drum, while a simpler treble drum beat over it, after the vocal intro, the music die down to a throbbing bass [2:35-2:58], and then opens out into more complex cymbals [2:58+], the guy naturally seems to know what will musically float your boat, the last half of the track is quite repetitive 'i'll be your friend', almost add infinitum, towards the close a nice trumpet solo comes [7:10-8:21], the ending is nice, the thing closes down into a bubbly bass rhythm solo [9:20-9:45], another disc that i'm falling in love with.

Blu Peter [Widescreen & Digital] 

Now here's something different, i don't usually listen to this stuff, but at the beginning of last year i've wanted to broaden my musical love, and delve into a wider array of musical genres, therefore Electronic / Trance music is very much on the top of the list, and i've especially searched on Ebay for possible purchases, this was one of them, i was initially attracted by the visual idea on the front and back, but of course the music has to work also, and these days there's always samples you can listen to, or whole tracks on YouTube, just to make sure before you commit your money, this was an enlightening experience today, i can feel my musical mind opening up, this is what music is about for me.

Blu Peter is the artistic name for Peter Harris, who was born in 1961, and is Welsh, he's mainly a DJ, but has also brought out mix albums, and his own stuff as here, he recorded this disc in 1992, and yes it's the visuals that are so fantastic with this album, featuring a whole load of those calculator like data banks, or whatever they were called, all lined up in neat rows and switched on, the lettering is small in a white box in the middle, it's all very symmetrical, a stunning piece of visuals which enhances the album no end.

Well this is only the first listen to this album, so my perspective could well change dramatically over the next few listens, it's nice and electronic, 10 tracks and 78 minutes of music, so the average track lasts for nearly 8 minutes, nice and long, enough time to really develop something, there's a degree of monotony, and of course some tracks are more inspired than others, on this listen i liked tracks 1-2, 5 & 8-9, with the ninth track 'substance' the creative gem of the set, it lasts nearly 9 minutes, it certainly has layers to it, a gentle vibraphone melody to begin with, with electronic deep bleats in the background, and then a gorgeous drumstick roll on the cymbal starts up, it's hypnotic [0:14+], bringing in a nice drum bass, and before the minute's up there's a digital foot stomping / hand clapping type of chug that drives things forward [0:42+], it's great that Blu Peter develops these layers to the piece, and slowly brings in each element, it gets nice and funky, the sound of a glockenspiel like instrument helps bring a sense of exuberance to the music [2:07+], and this develops into a more intense ringing, like a mobile phone [2:36+], it's great when the whole thing collapses quiet, and the opening vibraphone monotony is left to itself [3:05+], there's an extended rhythm in the middle which is dedicated to drumbeats, but elements of the opening come back, and the music shifts here and there for variety, and the close of the track is like the opening, it's good to hear those cymbal rolls again, i'm a better person for listening to this music today.

Here's 'Substance' being played on YouTube.

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!.