Cloud Making Machine, The - Laurent Garnier

Advantages: Some less often heard pieces by Robert Stolz
Disadvantages: Insensitive conducting which swamps singers

...Zentralfriedhof (Central Cemetery). There are not really that many recordings of Stolz\'s work around and so I was interested to get hold of this one to add to my collection. But sadly, the music-making never properly gets off the ground, let alone "waltzing in the clouds." Sebastian Reinthaller is an excellent tenor soloist who is well known for his work in this repertoire and being Austrian has the right pedigree too, but he is hindered in his efforts by the generally insensitive conducting of Iain Sutherland which results in much too heavy and unmusical an orchestral accompaniment from the BBC Concert Orchestra. Mr Reinthaller's German is excellent but I often wished I could turn down the orchestra for better balance with his voice Ms Migenes has more difficulties in singing German well in my opinion and her top register sounds shrill... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Great, happy pop songs
Disadvantages: Not as good value as the "Pure" compilation

...that if you hear it, you can't help but think of you're loved one. But there are many more perfect pop on the album - "Sweet dreams", like many of Broudie's songs, is about ordinary people and the hopes, dreams and disappointments of their lives, making it so easy for us to relate to his songs. "The price" is another standout track. The strummed guitars give it a real sense of direction and purpose, and although the pleading of the lines "please please come back to me" makes it obvious that the song is quite a sad one, musically the track still manages to sound triumphant. Maybe it's just that he's an optimist, and really feels that yes, she will come back to him. Or maybe it's because Broudie writes such gorgeous tunes that he can't help it - they always sound essentially happy. I would definitely recommend this album to anyone who likes... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: --
Disadvantages: ---

...He isn't called "The Baron" for nothing. Over the past years Dave Clarke has established himself as one of the very best DJs in the world. His ventures into production include this album "Devil's Advocate" and many of his now legendary remixes. He has done remixes for just about everyone from Depeche Mode, Chemical Brothers, Leftfield to Laurent Garnier. Dave Clarke is the man behind "Kernkraft400", a huge dancefloor hit that got very cheesy; but he was smart to go under the name of "Zombie Nation" for that production. Dave's roots lay way back in the 1980s. He started off DJing in hiphop where he became a master of the decks and mixer; he still uses a hiphop style of mixing when DJing today. His use of the crossfader and scratching prove that. Then he moved on from that and started to DJ in Acid House and later Hardcore in the late... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful