Above & Beyond - Tri-State (2006)
19 Мар 2006, 20:51
Above & Beyond - Tri-State (2006)
Label:Anjunabeats
Catalog#:ANJCD-004
Country:UK
Style:Trance
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Дебютный альбом проекта Above & Beyond, вышедший в марте этого года на их собственном лейбле Anjunabeats.
Review by Andy Puleston:
Like it or not trance is still popular. Very popular. Week in week out clubs around the world are rammed to the rafters with party goers stacking boxes in time to the doof-doof-dikker-der of the genre that refuses to grow up. Even a cursory glance at the annual DJ polls reveals that the top jocks all peddle a mix of arena filling bosh voted for by clubbers in their droves.
However, trance has yet to be graced by THE artist album; the record that defines and does justice to the mass popularity of the sound. Many have tried and failed. Tiesto, Paul van Dyk, Ferry Corsten and Armin van Buuren have all made the effort but none has managed to bridge the gap in a way that say, Faithless, Orbital and Underworld have.
Now it is the turn of UK outfit Above & Beyond. Housing the club bangers "Air For Life" and "Alone Tonight" Tri State is a sterling effort yet, unfortunately, it does little to deviate or expand on the brief. Whilst it's tightly produced, the boys haven't really managed to ascend beyond homage.
Having set their own bar so high with their amazing 2004 Essential Mix, Above & Beyond have backed themselves into a corner. The referencing of bygone classics combined with the spoken word element made the Radio 1 show a finely crafted, colourful master piece which is up there with Oakenfold's 194 Goa Mix. "Hope" stands out as a future single but little else raises itself from the sweeping lazer fodder.
Brilliant DJs though they are and required listening Anjuna Beats may be, Tri State is little more than a passable debut. Still, better to be bosh than tosh.
Comments:
An excellent album form Above and Beyond. This is not some cheesy trance album but an album with depth and beauty. Ive never heard any of thier previous stuff so come to this fresh and unbiased. Definetley worth a shot. Dont be put off by the short sightedness of the reviewer.9/10.
Ives
Above and beyond. I heard track 7, liquid love as I was just browsing HMV. It struck such a chord I just bought the album based on that track. I have done this before and been diappointed so, when I heard the album I was elated. There are no bad tracks on Tri State and I need to hear from their other music. Very uplifting every time I hear it. 10/10
Robin, Northampton
From the outset this reviewer demonstrates his bias against trance music with the words "...with party goers stacking boxes in time to the doof-doof-dikker-der of the genre that refuses to grow up." . I guess his idea of grown up as that it must infuse certain specific other genre styles (of his personal preference) like Faithless. A shame, I was hoping for a balanced review :/ . This is a finely crafted artist album, not a collection of club tracks but a true flowing soundscape with geniun form. A pleasure to listen to. 8/10
Steve, Manchester
It would be nice if the reviewer could go into a little more detail. I would expect more from the BBC. The reality is that this is an extremely strong album in my opinion, and shouldn't be compared with Armin van Buuren and Tiesto. My favourite thing about this album is the quality of song-writing, and the reviewer hasn't even mentioned this for some reason. The highlights for me are 'stealing time' with its new-order esq tones and also 'hope' which is a great instrumental break on the album. Personally I'm not into trance too much, but this 9/10 from me.
Dan Stevens
As it said in DJ Mag - "A blend of sleek, electronic rhythms, lush filmic textures and old-fashioned song-writing. Tri-State is the fulfilment of any dance acts aspirations: a padding free, skilled, diverse long-player. In a word, brilliant. 5/5.
Martin, London
Tri-State is an eclectic, diverse and beautifully produced debut album from UK band Above & Beyond. Very little of the record is what I would call 138 bpm lazer kissed trance and to box it with other albums in the "Trance" genre I believe does Above & Beyond and Tri-State a diservice. From the lush, meloncholy atmospherics of opening track "TriState" & "In the Past" to the New Order tinged "Stealing Time", the touching "Home", anthemic "Alone Tonight" & "Cant Sleep", the stacato "For all I care and the emotional breakdown that is "Liquid Love". Tri-State is an album that could redefine the expectations of the trance genre, and put it credibly back on the musical map. New collaborations with Andy Moor, Richard Bedford, Hannah Thomas and Ashley Tomberlin ignite the record and take their productions to a new level. At home or on the dance floor, a resounding 10/10.
Jonathan Robot, Leeds
PS мне альбом не понравился.
::Tracklisting::
01. Tri-State
02. Stealing Time
03. World On Fire
04. Air For Love (vs Andy Moor)
05. Can't Sleep
06. Hope
07. Liquid Love
08. In The Past
09. Alone Tonight
10. Good For Me
11. For All I Care
12. Indonesia
13. Home
Total Time: 74:47
Above & Beyond - Tri-State (2006)
