Huge Club Tunes (The Ultimate Clubbing Experience) - Various Artists

Now I was quite surprised to get this in my stocking for Christmas, obviously somneone had been doing their homework. I've got pretty eclectic tastes, ranging from indie, 80's, and rock, to dance and trance, so it was quite a nice surprise as I'd had my eye on this for a while.

Released in mid-October 2005, the Ultimate Experience boasts a jam-packed tracklist of some stonking tunes, as well as some which are yet to reach the UK Charts. ...
...their are some really cool inclusions on both discs. I tend to find that on releases such as this, the 2nd CD is usually packed full of obscure trance remixes from the likes that no-one has ever heard of, but this has been tastefully presented.

Disc 1:

Shapeshifters - Back to Basics.

Possibly one of the biggest dance hits of 2005, Back to Basics became anthemic with it's catchy lyric sampling, and strong ... more

Now I was quite surprised to get this in my stocking for Christmas, obviously somneone had been doing their homework. I've got pretty eclectic tastes, ranging from indie, 80's, and rock, to dance and trance, so it was quite a nice surprise as I'd had my eye on this for a while.

Released in mid-October 2005, the Ultimate Experience boasts a jam-packed tracklist of some stonking tunes, as well as some which are yet to reach the UK Charts.
Featuring some key names in current dance music, their are some really cool inclusions on both discs. I tend to find that on releases such as this, the 2nd CD is usually packed full of obscure trance remixes from the likes that no-one has ever heard of, but this has been tastefully presented.

Disc 1:

Shapeshifters - Back to Basics.

Possibly one of the biggest dance hits of 2005, Back to Basics became anthemic with it's catchy lyric sampling, and strong female vocals, as well as it's boogie-style beats.
More of a disco style number than it's predecessor Lola's Theme, which was a more concentrated trance track.

Freeloaders: So Much Love To Give.

Yet another club hit, it's one of those cover dance versions that you can't help liking, Best in the car with the volume up and the windows down.
Classic house track with a light melody.

Uniting Nations: You & Me

Sounds very similar to their debut single, Out of Touch, with what seems like super-imposed lyrics, but has a steady dance beat and sounds good with a bit of bass emphasis. Digitally enhanced with a catchy melody and mediocre mixing is all what makes it Another Commerical club hit! Which is probably why it's so popular!

There are some other great inclusions on disc. 1 such as Martin Solvieg's 'Everybody' and some classic Armand Van Helden with the new track "When the Light's Go Down". Both popular tracks and instantly recognisable if you're out on a Friday or Saturday night because they are played endlessly in bars and clubs around the country.

Overall disc 1. is melodic, symphonic and groovy, more house than traditional trance that seems to be ever-popular right now with the likes of Clubland albums being released.

Disc 2:

As with many compilations the second disc is usually full of middle-of-the-road remixes or inclusions from artists we've never heard of. But this is a compilation with a difference. Instead of slapping on some additional album fillers, there are some great originals and remixes of pop tracks.

Inaya Day - Nasty Girl

This was based on a sample taken from Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough", quite discoey and bouncy and has proved to be a definitive floor-filler in clubs nationally. The strong female vocals and catchy melody make it a sure anthemic hit.

Charlotte Church - Call My Name

Quite a raunchy remix by Steve Mac of a hit pop song. Ideal for getting you in the mood for a night out or a girly sing along.

Eric Prydz - Call On Me

Everyone's heard this! Famed more for it's video footage as opposed to the track itself, it's become a bit of a cult classic. Catchy with a definitive rhythm and beat, this stayed in the dance chart for yonks, and was quite irritatingly likeable. It is another cover of an 80's ballad by it has been remixed well to produce a foot-movin, rear-shakin dance hit.

There's loads you will recognise on here from Faithless' Insomnia which has been artfully remixed by Armand Van Helden, to Kelly Clarkson's Since You Been Gone (Remixed by Jason Nevins).

I found this quite tastefully presented and with the bonus of some of my favourite dance tracks of 2005 being included on the tracklist. Far from being a mediocre compilation of distorted remixes, Club Tunes has definitely been pre-evaluated and represents some of the best new music that reached the airwaves last year.
I tend to find a lot of dance music tracks are carbon copies of previous releases, but Club Tunes delivers some varying sounds and varying styles, as well as incorporating some classic artists such as Armand Van Helden and Jason Nevins no less. Definitely a cut above Ministry of Sound's effort!

 

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