Perfect Day - Cascada

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it rate alongside the competition	Outstanding
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	great songs, this album is alot better than the original
Disadvantages:	some weaker links

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Perfect Day was the second debut album to be released by German Dance Group Cascada in 2007 approximately a year after the release of their first debut album Every Time We Touch. The album perfect day consists of 13 full length music tracks which gives this album a total run time of approximately 44 minutes. The Dance Group Cascada consists of three members whom are Natalie Horler, and her producers Yanou and DJ Manian, however most people will associate the band Cascada with only female vocalist Natalie. This album in my opinion is slightly the same as other full length Dance/Electronic albums which are on the market at the moment. The similarities are of course in the use of strong bass lines in the tracks as well as a fast tempo and very minimal melody at the beginning of the songs. In Dance/Electronic genre bands/tracks we have limited melody at the beginning of the songs, but as the songs progress more melody and bass are introduced just before the choruses. However I think that Perfect Day is a much better album than Cascada's first album as the songs aren't as similar to one another. Perfect Day did quite well un the UK album charts however it didn't manage to get into position 2 like their first debut album Every Time We Touch, however Perfect Day managed to go straight into number 12 in the first week of being released and peaked at a top position of 9 before gradually starting to decline down the charts again.

When you think of Dance/Electronic styles of music you are most probably reminded of songs which have no lyrics and only beat head banging bass lines and singers whim cant sing and only shout lyrics. However this isn't to be expected with Cascada as band member Natalie Horler has a lovely voice which can span a wide range of notes. All of the tracks on this particular album are very consistent as they all follow the same sort of style which is quite fast tempos and strong baselines throughout the songs; however some of the tracks on this album start off quite slowly with very little or no melody and baseline and then they gradually pick up tempo which produces a very strong tempo and baseline in the middle of the song. With a two or three of the tracks on this album I noticed a slight similarity pattern which was the fact that the last word of each sentence was quite long and emphasised; however I also noticed this pattern more frequently with Cascada's earlier album as nearly all of the songs contained this same pattern and sometimes you didn't know where one song ended and another begun. However using the same formula I.e. tempo and beats, strong baseline etc doesn't ruin or make this album unmemorable to listen to in anyway at all, the similarity of the songs gives the album an even flow throughout so as you aren't listening to a fast tempo song and then all of a sudden listening to a ballad.

The tracks on the album aren't however very original as some of the songs on this album have been previously recorded and released by other artists in the past, however listening to the Cascada remixes; I think that some of the remixes are a lot better than the originals as they are more unto date sounding. Some artists have totally ruined remixes in the past as the remix doesn't live up to the original track but in this instance I think that Natalie and her producers have done a great job by creating an up to date dance song which fits in well with the dance craze of which most people are listening to at the moment; with particular reference to the younger teenage people. However the dance genre seems to be catching on with almost everyone at the moment as quite a lot of classics have been remixed and I'm sure this is one of the main reasons why lots of people from all ages are taking a particular liking to dance music.

The first track on the Perfect Day Album is a really good song and you really get to grips with the strength and power of Natalie Horler's voice, as it isn't overpowered by a strong baseline which dulls out the sound of her voice. The first track isn't an original Cascada track but a cover version of a previously released track called What Hurt's The Most which was originally written and composed by Jeffrey Steele and Steve Robson. What Hurt's The Most was originally a country and western track which released in 2003 and sung by Mark Willis; the song was featured on his 2003 album And The Crowd Goes Wild. Cascada released What Hurt's The Most in December 2007 as the first single of their new album Perfect Day. The Single managed to go straight into the UK Singles chart's peaking and sitting comfortably at number 10 for a short while before it gradually started to decline further down the singles charts. Considering this track was originally a country and western song which had quite a slowish tempo, I think that Cascada's cover of the track is excellent as it is really upbeat and the tempo is slightly faster. Natalie Horler's voice is at its best in this song as you can really appreciate how powerful and clear her voice actually is without it getting overpowered by a strong baseline and loud melody.

There are quite a few cover versions of songs on this CD however I think that the cover songs are the best tracks to listen to on the CD, even although they aren't totally original. I think that Cascada's combining slowish tempo songs into Euro Dance tracks is great and they haven't at all ruined any of the original tracks. I would say that they have enhanced them in to classic dance tracks which in sure just about everyone will love to listen to as there is every chance you will have heard the song before when it was sung by the original artist. Another really good cover track which highlights Natalie's voice is the powerful rendition of Because The Night; which was previously sung by Patti Smith Group, the song was composed by and written by Smith and Bruce Springsteen, and was released as a single in 1978. As this song was originally released well over 30 years ago I think that Cascada's version has again enhanced the original turning it into a fantastic Dance Hit. This track isn't like the typical Cascada tracks as it doesn't have the same old strong baseline and really fast tempo, this song is particularly subdued in my opinion although it still retains the Dance style which is typical of Cascada.

As with some albums you may expect to find a few weak tracks which you will loathe and most probably skip past; however I personally love every single track on this CD and there isn't one which I would purposely skip past, or even say I didn't like. There are of course some tracks which stand out more than others because they have either faster tempos or a better melody with particular reference to tracks 1 What Hurts Most, 7 What Do You Want From Me?, and 12 Endless Summer I think that these songs are the best ones on the album because they are slightly different and feature slightly more upbeat tempos and stronger baselines than the other tracks. The choruses of these particular songs are quite catchy as well and will no doubt stick in your head and you will find yourself singing along unawares.

The weaker tracks on the album in my opinion would have to be 2 Runaway, and 11 Just Like A Pill as I just don't think that Natalie's voice is at its best singing these songs and the melodies are slightly boring in comparison to the previous tracks. Another criticism would be the fact that these particular tracks are sort of cheesy and they lack in consistency and originality. The worst song of the two would have to be the remix of Just Like A Pill, which was originally a number one hit for Pink back in 2002. I just think that the original version of the song was a lot better and Cascada's style has somewhat ruined the song completely ad the upbeat/fast tempo version just doesn't do the song any justice and it sounds lots better when sung by Pink mainly because Cascada's voice is too high for this track. However even although this is one of the weaker songs I don't dislike the track and purposely skip past it, I just think that this song isn't really in keeping with the usual up to date Cascada style.

Even although this album boasts a few weaker tracks as well as some cover versions of older songs which are Avril Lavigne's "Sk8er Boi", Pink's "Just like a Pill", Patti Smith's "Because the Night" and Mark Wills' song "What Hurts the Most I still think that this is a fantastic dance album which is in keeping with up to date dance styles. Even although most of the songs on the album follow the same pattern (slow melody at the beginning of the song which speeds up into a fast chorus with strong base line) the songs on the album are all quite good and I'm sure that a lot of people will like Cascada's style. This is still a good album to listen to because some of the songs are quite original. Like with some albums there are a few songs which you will absolutely loathe and skip past and never listen to again; yet the will be that coupe of songs which really stick in your head and give you the feel good factor. I wouldn't say that this album is completely flawless and I wouldn't go as far as saying it is dire. However compared to Cascada's first ever debut album Every Time We Touch, Perfect day is a lot better and features better songs which aren't as samey and give you the impression that every track is the same with exception to the lyrics. Cascada have done a wonderful job and created a great Euro dance album with a wide range of different songs.

If you like up to date dance tracks which have the feel good factor as well as strong base lines then I'm sure that this is an album which you would really like. At 13 tracks long with an average running time of approximately 44 minutes this is quite a longish album with a good mix of tracks to listen to. This album can be bought from a number of retail outlets as well as some online retailers as well although the price you pay may well vary depending on where you decide to purchase from. I would recommend trying Amazon or EBay and trying to get a cheap second hand copy of Cascada Perfect Day in case its not your cup of tea. Woolworths are selling this album for the price of £7.99 however I'm sure you can purchase it way cheaper from other retail outlets. Especially of you opt for a used second hand copy.

TRACK LISTING

1 What Hurts Most
2 Runaway
3 Who Do You Think You Are?
4 Because The Night
5 I Will Believe It
6 Perfect Day
7 What Do You Want From Me?
8 Sk8er Boi
9 Could It Be You?
10 He's All That
11 Just Like A Pill
12Endless Summer
13 What Hurts The Most (Yanou's Candlelight Mix)

Thanks for reading
:O) Lisa xx

© just.bcoz
2008