Vibrasphere's 3rd album, Archipelago, could've been better. Throughout the entire album I got had a deep feeling that they lost some of their "soul", from their early days of Echo (2001). In other words, a dire need of remixing. So, Digital Structures gathered for us some of the finest names in progressive trance today, together with some new, unknown ones, to take the sounds of Archipelago in new interesting directions. The result is a decent album, packed with a few superb tracks. Vibrasphere, by the way, are Rickard Berglöf and Robert Elster from Uppsala, Sweden.
The journey begins with Tierra Azul (Omnimotion feat. Krister Linder RMX), what a song!
Listening to it on the first time it sounds like cheese, but gradually it grows on you and it's nice overall. Next is Fiord (Antix side project). The new kings of progressive don't deliver their strongest tracks here, nothing new really. After them comes Perfect Stranger (previously known as BLT) with a SWEET remix to sweet September. His tribal, epic style is easily recognizable here. This track takes the airy atmosphere and uplifting melodies of Sweet September up a few more levels. Matt Allaby from England (T4) brings landmark from outdoors straight into the club, without losing the trademark Vibrasphere sound.
Atmos contributes one of the strongest tracks here. His remix to Morning Breeze (also the best track on the original Archipelago) is simple, groovy and addictive! Same as before, this is the club version, and it is bound to rock dance floors worldwide. Decoy (T6) serve the same recipe more or less. Solar Fields remix to Baltic Resonance contains a spark of originality rarely heard in psytrance today (is it psytrance at all!?). Without sticking to any particular formula, it's telling a beautiful story in nine minutes. Well done. Seven Days to Daylight (Unai remix) is cool, hands-in-the-air kind of track with a nice flow, but doesn't really cut it for me. Tobias Lilja closes the remixes CD with a magical ambient creation, the best track here. |
