Clubland Vol.1 (The Ride Of Your Life) - Various Artists

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Average
Lyrics	Standard
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
Value for Money

Advantages:	Loads of good tunes
Disadvantages:	Two well dodgy ones

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I am not really a huge fan of dance music compilation cds. Although they offer good value for money, with at least forty different tracks on the average compilation, I often find that they try and span too many different types of music. I usually end up liking one of the cds more than the other, or even liking a certain section of a cd and just continually playing that. It therefore took me ages to choose one, when I went on a mission to get some new background music at the weekend. A cursory examination of the racks in Woolworths revealed an enormous selection of titles to choose from, and it took at least twenty minutes to make my choice.

Clubland – The Ride of Your Life is a new compilation, released on the Universal Music label. Unlike many of the chart music compilations, Clubland includes submissions from only a handful of record labels, most predominantly All Around The World (AATW). AATW has undergone something of a transformation in 2002, with an explosion in commercial single releases from Kelly Llorena, DJ Alligator, N Trance and Flip and Fill. If you’ve enjoyed these tunes then you will love this album – if you have any reservations, then this album is probably not for you.

The album is very much geared towards the commercial trance sound, which seems to be growing in popularity again at the moment. The record label bias means that this collection is very main stream – the credible DJs out there would probably sniff and turn their nose up at this – but I love it and have been constantly playing it since I bought it. Unusually for a club music collection the two cds are not mixed, although strangely enough this is one of the things I like the most. Mixed cds are good because they have a definite vibe and progress through the tunes in very much the same way that a DJ might do in a nightclub. The only drawback to this is that very often, the compilation will feature a number of well-known tunes, but not in the radio or normal club mix. You might therefore buy the compilation recognising a couple of your favourites, and then recoil at the different mix selected by the mixing DJ. With Clubland, nearly all the tracks are included in their original radio format, so you know exactly what you are getting for your cash. This is not like a NOW compilation though – the break between each track is virtually undetectable, and the tracks are arranged in such an order that the beats and pace remain in a relatively seamless order.

It would be virtually pointless reviewing all forty tracks contained on the album – even I’m prepared to admit that a lot of them are very similar – but this is a run down of my ten highlights:

 Dee Dee – Forever

Moody, euphoric vocal trance monster. This tune encapsulates virtually everything I would look for in a trance tune – smooth female vocals laid over one of those steadily building synthesised beats. The track was released as a single on the Incentive label earlier this month, but has been criminally overlooked.

 Kelly Llorena – Tell It To My Heart

Thought I would hate this, but it actually works so well. This is a pounding cover version of the old Taylor Dayne single. The vocals are well suited to Llorena’s powerful lungs. As tacky as it is catchy – a worthy top ten hit from this month.

 Soraya – When You’re Gone

A forthcoming release on the AATW label. When You’re Gone is a superb Summer song. This song reminds of all that Eurobeat stuff that was so popular years ago and is more of a pop record than a proper club song. I defy anyone not to listen to this and not finding themselves completely hooked.

 PPK – Resurrection

A huge anthem from Christmas 2001. This track became known as The Russian Song, due to its use in the soundtrack to the Russian film Siberiada and it’s use of sampled Russian astronauts. Fiendishly simple, this is one of the best tunes to come out on the Perfecto label for years.

 Mr Pink presents The Program – Love & Affection

This was a club monster in 2001 and remains one of my anthems of all time. A chugging, groovy house beat, with a simple female vocal telling us to “make love with affection” (I think it might be a Joan Armatrading sample). It’s just brilliant, and I would have bought this cd just to get this song.

 Scooter – The Logical Song

Offy liked the original. Deano76 recognised the lyrics in my profile from the Scooter version. Scooter have been around since I was at school, but this year they hit the big time with The Logical Song – a cheese-tastic techno romp around a main vocal hook. This is Ritzy material through and through, but it is brilliant – and I did say that this compilation lacked credibility. I guarantee that Deano76 will get out of his tree when this one plays in Birmingham.

 Agnelli & Nelson – Everyday 2002

Agnelli & Nelson have produced some of the best trance anthems of the last few years. Everyday was a huge hit in 1999 and has now been remixed by Alex Gold. The original vocal has been retained with a slightly more thunderous beat. Great stuff.

 Rachel MacFarlane – Lover

Another old track that has been remixed, this was originally a vocal house tune that has been tranced up a bit. This record has been sampled on more bootlegs than any other that I can think of, but has never really enjoyed the commercial success it deserves. The most popular version is by RPS and features the Lover vocals layered on top of Paul Van Dyk’s “For An Angel”. This version is not unlike that one and is due for a re-release some time this year.

 LMC feat Karen West – Everything U Need

This is a cover version, but I can’t remember who the original was by (any ideas?). The beat sounds like Safri Duo’s Bongo Song – Deano would like this one too.

 Jakatta – So Lonely

Joey Negro’s latest commercial beast, this features a sample from Ever So Lonely by Monsoon. It is a little repetitive, but I love it. Bollywood meets disco!

This is not a perfect compilation – there are some dodgy tracks such as Mad’House’s nasty cover version of Like A Prayer and Stella Soleil’s original version of the Holly Vallance hit Kiss, Kiss (bluk!). There are also some anomalies – Puretone’s Addicted To Bass really doesn’t fit here. Nonetheless, this is one of the best compilations I’ve bought for ages – I’m going to be playing this for some time.

Grammartron’s best price = £12.99 from Sainsbury’s.

Full track listing:

1. Kelly Llorena – Tell It To My Heart
2. Milk In – In My Eyes
3. M Factor- Mother
4. Ian Van Dahl – Reason
5. Trinity-X – Forever
6. Matt Darey – Beautiful
7. Flip & Fill – True Love Never Dies
8. Dee Dee – Forever
9. Barthezz – Infected
10. N Trance – Forever
11. Future Breeze – Temple of Dreams
12. Minimalistix – Close Cover
13. PPK – Resurrection
14. Interactive – Forever Young
15. DJ Alligator - Lollipop
16. Soraya – When You’re Gone
17. DJ Flavours – Your Caress
18. Mr Pink – Love and Affection
19. The Space Cowboy – I Would Die 4 U
20. X Press 2 – Lazy

CD TWO

1. Flip & fill – Shooting Star
2. Nigel & Marvin – Follow Da Leader
3. Scooter – The Logical Song
4. N Trance – Set You Free
5. Agnelli & Nelson – Everyday 2002-07-22
6. Porn Kings – Shake Ya Shimmy
7. DJ Alligator – The Whistle Song
8. Puretone – Addicted To Bass
9. Charlie Lownoise – Wonderful Days
10. Rachel MacFarlane – Lover
11. 2 Funky 2 – Brothers and Sisters
12. LMC – Everything U Need
13. Liberty X – Just A Little
14. Mad’House – Like a Prayer :O(
15. Logique – Something Magic
16. Goldtrix – It’s Love
17. Jakatta – So Lonely
18. Oakenfold _ Southern Sun
19. DB Boulevard – Point of View
20. Stella Soleil – Kiss Kiss :O(

Highly Recommended