Customer Rating: 
Summary: fantastic the best anjunabeats....EVER!!!
Comment: I've been listening to this for the past month and i can't stop...all i can say is this ROCKS!!!! CD1 is great but CD2 is the one, it's fantastic, if your a trance fan YOU MUST BUY THIS. Fantastic mixing, fantatastic tunes, above and beyond and anjuabeats i love you and this is the icing on the cake, roll on 2009, tops!!!!
Customer Rating:
Summary: The boys have played another blinder
Comment: If you're into this stuff, don't hesitate. It's as good as, if not better than, vol 5.
If you're new to Above & Beyond and Anjunabeats and are looking for non-cheesy trance at its best, dive in.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Comment: I own three previous compilation albums from the anjunabeats label, two of which are mixed entirely by Above & Beyond (volumes 4 and 5) like this one. These were both excellent albums, but this one has surpassed them both and more, in my opinion.
Above & Beyond are firmly establishing themselves as the best in picking out quality trance music, but that's not all - much of cd01 is covered with tempting and intriguing house music, with a little bit of a trancey edge if you like. But unlike others who have tried and failed to incooporate house music into an otherwise generally trance album, A&B have chosen some sublime music from some of the best upcoming (and classic) artists. The album is indeed like a journey from house to trance, gradually getting more trancey the further you go.
Ironically, I think the most disappoining part of this compilation are the first few tracks on cd01. They lack that bite or passion of the rest in my opinion, and left me fearing that much of the housier numbers would be much the same. But I was left blown away by the rest of cd01, with the likes of the brilliant Jaytech, a great song from teenager Mat Zo and a truly gorgeous track from Andy Moor. There is a lot of dominant bass in these songs, but this doesn't kill the melodies of the tracks.
Then cd02 - classic trance city. I suppose the good thing about this is the selection of songs, compared to other recent albums (especially AvB ASoT 2008). And I believe A&B's mixing and editing has just got better and better over time, making both albums flow more coherently. CD02 has both melodic, uplifting and hard club trance, so you're in luck regardless of your preference.
I've bought several compilations over the years with house, progressive house and trance being the main focus of attention - this is certainly one of the best, if not the best. It makes all the other albums I have put '5 stars' for come down to 4.
An absolute necessity for lovers of trancey and housey electronic music. Let's hope Above & Beyond continue to keep such genre's well and truly alive.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Up to the usual high standards
Comment: To those who are already familiar with the Anjunabeats volumes of the past...this latest effort proves the standards are still high. With a glance at the track listings, you will no doubt see at least a few familiar tracks. For those unfamiliar with the Anjunabeats brand, this is simply a mix of hand-picked tracks from the Anjunabeats label by the bosses of the label, Above & Beyond. Once again we have 2 CD's, one showcasing the more house-sounding progressive music as released on their sub-label Anjunadeep, and the other primarily uplifting trance music, a sub-genre which the label is now renowned for pioneering.
CD1, aka the Anjunadeep disc, it has to be said is more mellow than it's other half. There are no real dancefloor destroyers on here, it is, however, filled with beats so catchy that you find yourself nodding your head along to them as you listen. I have recognised a few tracks from live DJ sets from the likes of Tiesto and Armin van Buuren, in particular Myon & Shane 54's 'Not A Lot Left' which seems to have really taken off.
CD2 will be more familier waters for many, me included, and is no disappointment. With names like Nitrous Oxide, The Thrillseekers and Oliver Smith making appearances, the quality is already almost assured. If you're a fan of uplifting trance, this really is as good as it gets. Particular highlights include Kandi & Neumann's 'Let Go', Adam Nickey's 'Slider' and Jinx and Smith's 'Sunrise'. And of course 3 tracks that have set dancefloors alight this year: Super8 & Tab's 'Elektra', The Thrillseekers' 'The Last Time' and OceanLab's 'Miracle'.
Overall it is another solid compilation release from the Anjunabeats label. To criticise this album I'd have to look at the mixing; it's difficult to put a finger on, but there is no real solidity or, dare I say it, 'passion' to it. In comparrison, with the likes of this years compilation releases from Tiesto and Armin van Buuren, you get the impression the DJ has not only selected the finest tunes, but carefully ordered and mixed them is such a way as to seamlessly connect the album to flow smoothly and ooze with all the passion the DJ has put into the mix. However, this lack of solidity is the only reason it misses out on a perfect review. With this release, Above & Beyond have made one thing clear; Anjunabeats is still setting the standards for other trance labels to follow.
|
