Magik Vol.6 - Live In Amsterdam (Mixed by DJ Tiesto) - DJ Tiesto > Reviews > Tiesto's best ever mix?

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Not applicable
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it rate alongside the competition	Outstanding
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Live mix CD so crowd interaction adds to the album
Disadvantages:	Quite honestly .  .  none !  !

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

So then, Tiesto live in Amsterdam.. widely recognised as one of the best, if not THE best trance DJ in the world (although I'm sure Paul van Dyk, Oakenfold, Armin et al will have plenty to say about that!).. this is where it all began for me.. this CD. Four years ago, when I was just starting to get an interest in the dance music scene, I stumbled across this album. I'd heard of Tiesto, but as a relative 'newbie' to trance I was unsure of what to expect. I'd been happy listening to my Ministry Of Sound annuals, sticking to the more commercial side of dance.. but little did I know this purchase would pretty much change the way I listened to music, that there would be no going back to the cheesyness of DJ Sammy, Lasgo etc.

As the mix begins, you're greeted by cheers and whistles from the waiting crowd. Again, new to me at the time.. I'd never heard a live trance set before. I was about to be taken on a journey.. given a musical lesson of the trance variety.

Tiesto kicks off this set with a couple of more chilled tracks, easing us in to the epic he has in store for us. 'Afterburn - Fratty Boy' and 'Sunburst - Eyeball'.. a couple of spine-tinglers, a chance for the adoring fans to get their hands in the air and show some early appreciation for the man behind the decks.

'Yahel & Eyal Barkan - Voyage' continues in much the same way, but gives you a sense that something bigger is on the way.. that Tiesto has had enough of plodding along with the easier listening, albeit beautiful, tunes. I sensed it.. and I wasn't wrong. 'Free Radical - Surreal' began to mix in, you felt the crowds excitement.. I felt the excitement, and business really had just picked up.
The next two tracks, by 'Fire & Ice' and 'Swimmer' keep a similar pace, as the mix well and truly gets into a steady groove... and then, you hear it.... the anthem which immediately springs to many people's minds as soon as the word 'trance' is mentioned.. 'Delerium - Silence', and it's Tiesto's Sunrise Remix. At the time, this was THE dance song to be listening to. For many people it still is, but unfortunately nowadays, after endless listens, it has become slightly over-played for me. That doesn't take anything away from the track though, as Sarah McLachlan's vocals are possibly the most amazing vocals in the world of trance.

Track 8 was to become my favourite, and to this day is still very much loved and is one of my most precious vinyls. The Armin van Buuren remix of 'Moogwai - Viola'. It is epic, relentless, over 7 minutes of pure trance. I've lost count of the amount of plays I've given it over the years, but each and every time I hear the breakdown of Viola the hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention. A truly wonderful piece of music.

Tiesto keeps the pace similar after this, with 'Cloud 69 - Sixty Nine Ways' a favourite of mine. Huge tracks by the likes of Push and Airwave are dropped before the finale.. and what a finale it is. 'Pulser - Cloudwalking'. The most unbelievable track, with the most unbelievable breakdown. As the piano fades out, the crowd go wild... is this the end of the set? Oh no... of course not, as Tiesto shows his appreciation to his clubbers, and for one final time fires up the trance to lead in to the end of this stunning CD.

It changed the way I viewed music. I wasted no time in purchasing the other six releases of the Magik series after experiencing this, but Live in Amsterdam is still my favourite. It will always be my favourite. It opened up my eyes to a new type of music.. after this I found the likes of Paul van Dyk, Armin van Buuren, Above & Beyond, Ferry Corsten, The Thrillseekers, Nu Nrg, and more, all of whom have given me great listening pleasure.

If you haven't bought this CD, please do. I did, and it was the best purchase I ever made.