4Play

July 20, 2008

Telepathique - Last Time on Earth - Control Group
DJ Periferico (aka Erico Theobaldo, who also serves as the duo’s producer) and singer Mylene Pires keep mixin’ things up like a blender gone crazy on their latest set, deftly combining everything from electronica and house music with punk rock and such South American sounds as bossa nova and Brazilian guitar. Given the complexities of such tracks as “Deja-Vu,” “Eu Gosto,” and the expanded “Telefunk,” you’d think this album was recorded in some top-notch studio setting somewhere, with stacks of gear and a multitude of musicians; but it was recorded only by Theobaldo and Pires using a few keyboards, mics, and a guitar on a laptop computer, proving it’s not how much money you’ve got to record, but how much skill.


DJ Tiesto - In Search of Sunrise Vol. 7 - Black Hole
From the dual kickoffs of this set, one with a Steve Forte Rio intro, it’s apparent that trance is the primary focus in the latest Search of Sunrise progressive series, although you’ll get a few dabs of prog-trance and chill music as well. Tiesto is one of today’s masters of the subtle sequence, transitioning tracks with his own unique flair, alternating between more noticeable switches and those that are so subtle they’re barely audible. A synth-flute-heavy “Feel the Sun Rise” follows the intro on the first disc, which includes tracks from Motorcitysoul, King Unique, the Kamui “hit” “Get Lifted,” and Dokmai, while the second disc includes standout numbers from Carl B. and Tiesto himself, and heads towards its finale with DJ Eremit.


U.N.K.L.E. - End Titles: Stories for Film - Surrender All
U.N.K.L.E’s fifth album is essentially a com-pilation CD, comprised of tracks either influenced or created for film by the duo themselves. Included here are plenty of impressive U.N.K.L.E. works that really do work, from their string-and-beat laden BMW ad soundtrack “Trouble in Paradise” to collaborations with the likes of Black Mountain, Clayhill’s Gavin Clark, and Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme. For the most part, what you’ll hear is primarily ambient music with a few more aggressive rock-ish tracks thrown in, but the highlights here are many, from the ‘70s-prog undertones of “Nocturnal,” to the moody “Heaven,” to the shorter (but not throwaway) tracks like “Even Balance” and “Synthetic Water.”


The Thrillseekers - Night Music - Vol. 3 - WM Records
Perhaps best known for their Top 20 track “Synaesthesia,” Thrillseekers take a step forward with their inclusion in the Night Music series, an annual release that’s becoming a must-have purchase for DJs and club fans alike. Thrillseeker Steve, known for his work with the abovementioned Tiesto, Ferry Corsten, and Armin, has an inherent feel for choosing tracks, and proves it here, blending so well that there’s nary a break in the action. Like Tiesto’s, this is also a two-disc effort, jumping right in with one of Thrillseekers’ own tracks, “The Last Time,” which spotlights Fisher’s vocals and blends well into the next number, “Metaverse.” Also included are tunes from Nic Chagall, First State, Embrace, Nitrous Oxide, and Markus Schulz.