Back To The Old Skool - Ibiza - Various Artists

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Not applicable
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
Value for Money

Advantages:	Buying the albums an advantage
Disadvantages:	Hard to fault but a few floors with the mixing

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

How many of you would consider yourselves to work jobs which bring pressure upon yourself and force you to work stressful hours?

Well today apparently over 60% of the British population admit to being overworked and stressed out through working their jobs. So it's no surprise to us that we all need those times where we can sit back with a chilled beer and sit back and listen to some calming tunes.

There are many albums out there that you may choose to stick on such as the chillout albums, the blue's and many others. But there’s one album which stands tall from the others.

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MINISTRY OF SOUND- Old Skool Ibiza
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Back on the 6th May 2002, MOS ( Ministry Of Sound ) released another ‘ Back To The: ’ album. This time they chose to produce an album which went back to the quality era of the 90’s bringing along all those classic tunes which we seem to have forgotten.

You’ll remember of the huge hysteria over Old Skool music back in the 90’s. everyone seemed to be playing at this was great for me. I was just growing out of a little kid and music was something that I had rapidly grown an interest for. Many of us will remember some of those classics such as ‘ Waterfall’ by Atlantic Ocean and ‘ Playing With Knives’. But then there are the few of us that’ll have to be reminded so let me remind you all of the 90’s and why this 2cd album gets a 5-star rating and all the praise it deserves.

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THE ALBUM
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Cover Inlay & Design
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The packaging of the album’s quite a unique one at that. A huge smiley face staring you back on the cover inlay. Although it’s a happy face on the cover you also notice the oranges and yellows, the sea meeting the horizon. Looking at the album gives you the impression of a mellow and chilled out feel. It always reminds me of being sat a beachside pub along the South Coast, sat drinking my Stella looking onto the calm water and sunset horizon. The actual album packaging is not boring, just quality!

Quality of Mixing
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Many of the tunes on the album are actual radio mixes and therefore can bring difficulty to the potential quality of the mixing from each track to track.
The mixing ‘s quite consistent. Throughout the album you have a good flow of beats, volumes and tempos. Although there are a couple of disappointing floors on the first disc, disc 2 does much better with an exceptional flow but then slightly looses grip of the quality of mixing towards the end of disc 2 during the last tracks.

The mixing isn't of an exceptional quality, it's not outstanding. The mixing does stay quite simple, only on Disc 2 does it venture for more interesting samples and sounds. But then a simple mix isn't always a bad one. It has nothing remarkable about it but still manages to give a quality flow between tracks on most of the album. Good flows, few floors and left with an album which you'll enjoy from the very start to finish.

Disc One
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Disc 1’s a more fun side to the album and you’ll just have to agree when I tell you be listening to tunes such as -
‘Needin U’, ‘Horny’, ‘Dreamer’, ‘Get Get Down’. you’ll see a full track listing towards the end of this review.

When I first brought the album I constantly listened to Disc 2 as it can be either ready fro you in chillout mood or ready for you in dance jiggy mood! But then when I started listening to the first disc I realised that the mixing was actually quite good as not only did it give a good flow but it’s managed to add in a few interesting sounds between tracks when mixing which definitely perks you up and gives you that huge smile you been wanting.

Disc One is no doubt a more exciting, more fun side to the 90’s era. I really find it so hard to believe that not everyone will enjoy listening to this because I really think that everyone will. Trust, if you had of seen me a few times while this had been playing you’d have either joined in or shown me up, you’d have tried so hard and enjoyed it so much.

Disc Two
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Disc Two’s definitely for the clubbers of the 90’s. All you girls and lads out there which filled the clubs banging away with all your energy back then will have to just so buy this album. Disc 2 features practically every club classic from that period and believe, this is for you.

Before I go on to tell you about the mood this disc sets I’ll tell you now that if you were not to buy this then you’d be missing out on Robert Miles- Children, Underworld’s- Born Slippy, Sash’s- Encore Une Fois and finally one of my all time favourites, Chicane’s- Offshore. These are those classic’s you’ve just been needing so bad on the speakers, in your car and in the clubs!
I find it so hard to fault the album in any way at all. I really doubt that you’ll ever find an album with so many old skool classics like you do with this. This is outstanding compared to other leading Old skool sellers. This is the one to buy!

As for the mood it set’s, well, its quite unique. I have listened to this album so many times, times with my mates sat round the PS2, times with my girlfriend just laying there chatting about the day and those times when yes, I’ve had enough of work and others and I just wants to lay down and chill, relax and enjoy the mellow mood.

You’ve seen me describe this as mellow many times and you must understand that it is however, when your with your mates, or high on Lucozade this music will just bring you higher. Mellows far from what you’d want to be believe. You’ll be enjoying this no matter what your mood or personality.

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TRACK LISITING
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Disc One:
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01 - Moloko ~ Sing It Back
02 - David Morales Pres. The Face ~ Needin U
03 - Livin’ Joy ~ Dreamer
04 - Mousse T vs. Hot ‘n’ Juicy ~ Horny
05 - Ultra Nate ~ Free
06 - Todd Terry ~ Something Goin’ On
07 - Paul Johnson ~ Get Get Down
08 - Jaydee ~ Plastic Dreams
09 - Bob Sinclair ~ I Feel For You
10 - Wild Child ~ Renegade Master
11 - Byron A. Stingily ~ Get Up ( Everybody)
12 - Johnny Corporate ~ Sunday Shoutin’
13 - Roger Sanchez ~ Another Chance
14 - Gusto ~ Disco’s Revenge
15 - Ce Ce Pensiton ~ Finally
16 - Gat Decor ~ Passion ( Do You Want It Right Now)
17 - Soulsearcher ~ Can’t Get Enough
18 - L. Stansfield vs. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels ~ People Hold On
19 - Sneaker Pimps ~ Spin Spin Sugar

. . .

Disc Two:
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01 - Robert Miles ~ Children
02 - Underworld ~ Born Slippy
03 - Energy 52 ~ Cafe Del Mar
04 - Faithless ~ Salva Mea
05 - Felix ~ Don’t You Want Me
06 - Josh Wink ~ Higher State Of Consciousness
07 - ATB ~ 9pm Till I Come
08 - Planet Perfecto ~ Bullet In The Gun
09 - Sash! ~ Encore Une Fois
10 - Chicane ~ Offshore
11 - Nalin & Kane ~ Beach Ball
12 - Da Hool ~ Meet Her At The Love Parade
13 - Paul Van Dyk ~ For An Angel
14 - Storm ~ Time To Burn
15 - Zombie Nation ~ KernKraft 400
16 - Darude ~ Sandstorm
17 - Golden Girls ~ Kinetic
18 - Sueno Latino ~ Sueno Latino
19 - The Future Sound Of London ~ Papua New Guinea

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

So Why buy It ?
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This albums the only one I know to fulfil any Old Skool Lovers needs. It contains every memorable classic going from late back in the early 90’s right up until 2002. You just won’t find as many hit old skool classics packed onto one album like you have here. Any woman or bloke who helped to fill the club floors back then- this is for you!

Without being offensive I have to state that many of you older adults may look to this as awful club music, or even just music which is not of your choice. However, this is one album I really think everyone should have at least a listen to if you’re not to buy it. Don’t miss out like I nearly did. You can clearly see that the album’s sure to keep you happy and energetic and even stress free!

I’ve said ‘ enjoy’ more than any other time and I have to with this review as all you’ll simply do with this album is completley fully ENJOY it!

To Buy
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The album was released back in 2002 so maybe hard to pick up today however you can still order it from HMV for a price of between £14.00-£18.00 either Online or down in the High Street.

It is available at Amazon but for a best price of - £32.00.
NOTE* The Release date on the Amazon site says 30th June. The 6th May 2002 was the confirmed release date by MOS by email.

Want To See More ?
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Visit : http://www.ministryofsound.com

Or to view the album directly visit:

http://www.ministryofsound.com/Music/Albums/MinistryofSound-BackToTheOldSkoolIbiza2002.htm

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Thanks for reading, I hope you made the clever decision to buy it!

Gavvy!

Gavin Fowkes.