| 
Review: Jack Foley
CLUBBERS will no doubt delight in the latest annual from Ministry
of Sound, featuring as it does some of the top Ibiza-style anthems
of the past 12 months, as well as some choice dancefloor cuts
that seldom fail to crank up the sweatiness.
The 2005 annual contains everything from Eric Prydz's number
one, Call On Me, to Armand van Helden's My, My, My
and Deepest Blue's Give It Away.
Needless to say, it's a particularly soul-destroying experience
for anyone who doesn't get their kicks from listening to thumping,
incessant beats; bland, mainstream-orientated pop tracks, or tacky
cover versions made contemporary by placing a rancid beat over
the top of them.
But then this is Ministry of Sound, right? The indie crowd has
no right being anywhere near it, and it's clearly marketed towards
the super-club dance crowd as a Christmas party-filler.
The double album, which comes complete with a third DVD feauring
videos of some of the tracks, does, however, provide an excellent
insight into what's so bad about this sort of music.
Take Mr Prydz, for example. His version of Call On Me
doesn't really try and do anything other than put a fairly routine
Euro beat over the top of a former classic. The selling point,
however, was the video of busty girls working out in a gym.
Hell, even some mainstream Djs lamented the poor quality of this
particular number one.
Riot Act's dancefloor version of the classic California Soul
is as wretched as the idea alone sounds - and what's worse, a
good deal of the listeners might imagine that it's a brand new
track.
California Soul is a funky classic made soulless and
pathetic by Riot Act, who have really gone to town on it.
There is some respite from the monotony, however. Depeche Mode,
who have long been masters of the remix circuit (even innovators)
supply a Timo Maas workout of their timeless Enjoy The Silence,
that provides an excellent insight into why their current remix
album is proving so popular.
And Armand van Helden's My, My, My is undeniably catchy,
because it owes more to the Fatboy Slim school of beat-busting
than the more routine approach of Stonebridge and Shakedown.
Mostly, however, this is depressing stuff, which had me pining
for the chilled out Ministry of Sound CDs that are so much better.
Hell, even Prodigy's lacklustre Girls provides a joyless
reminder of how disappointing the new material from tho former
Firestarters has become.
If you had a blast in Ibiza or Miami earlier this year, then
this is the album for you. The rest should just pack their bags
and avoid.
|
 |
Track listing:
Disc: 1
1. Eric Prydz - Call On Me
2. Danzel - Pump It Up
3. StoneBridge Feat. Therese - Put'Em High (JJ Club Mix)
4. Onyx - Every Little Time (Open Air Mix)
5. Armand van Helden - My, My, My
6. Intenso Project Feat. Lisa Scott-Lee - Get it On (Original
Club Mix)
7. Mylo - Drop The Pressure
8. Alter Ego - Rocker
9. The Prodigy - Girls
10. Depeche Mode - Enjoy The Silence (Timo Maas Extended Remix)
11. Shakedown - Love Game (Shakedown Galactic Boogie Edit)
12. Danny Howells & Dick Trevor Feat. Erire - Dusk Till Dawn
(Shapeshifters Club Mix)
13. Junior Jack - Stupidisco
14. Deepest Blue - Give It Away
15. Soul Central - Strings of Life (Danny Krivitt Re-Edit)
16. Riot Act - California Soul
17. Dave Armstrong - Out Of Touch
18. Spankox - To the Club (Highpass Club Mix)
19. Ritmo Dynamic - Calinda (Alex Gold 2004 Remix)
20. Ruff Driverz Feat. Arrola - Dreaming 2004 (Brad Carter Remix)
21. A’Studio Feat. Polina - SOS (Skylark Remix)
Disc: 2
1. Angel City Feat. Lara McAllen - Do You Know (I Go Crazy)
2. Khia - My Neck, My Back (Lick It) (FNP Remix)
3. Kristine Blond - Loveshy 2004 (Rezonance Q Remix)
4. Candee Jay - Back For Me
5. Bel-Air Feat. Lisa - Sunshine After The Rain (Quadrasonic Remix)
6. Dana Rayne - Object Of My Desire (DJ Puddy Vs Mark Simon Remix)
7. The Lazy Boyz - Sweet Child of Mine
8. Kontakt - Sweet Dreams
9. DT8 Project - Winter
10. Michael Woods & JJ Feat. Marcella Woods - So Special (Judge
Jules Remix)
11. Delerium Feat. Sarah McLachlan - Silence (Above & Beyond’s
21st Century Remix)
12. Commander Tom - Attention! (F&W Remix)
13. Flash Brothers - Amen (Dogzilla Remix)
14. Divine Inspiration - Someday (Kontakt Remix)
15. Public Domain - Operation Blade (2005 Remix)
16. City Centre - The Way You Make Me Feel
17. Insight - Only Your Love (Lee S Remix)
18. Esti - Blessed (PPS Remix)
19. Alex Gold - Stranded In Paradise (Agnelli & Nelson Remix)
20. Agnelli & Nelson - Everyday (John 00 Fleming Remix)
Disc: 3
1. Eric Prydz - Call On Me
2. Boogie Pimps - Somebody To Love
3. Danzel - Pump It Up
4. Intenso Project feat. Lisa Scott-Lee - Get it On
5. Benny Benassi Presents The Biz - Satisfaction
6. Angel City Feat. Lara McAllen - Love Me Right (Oh Sheila)
7. Stellar Project Feat. Brandi Emma - Get Up Stand Up
8. Candee Jay - If I Were You
9. Tomcraft - Loneliness
10. DJ Sammy & Yanou Feat. Do - Heaven
11. Divine Inspiration - The Way (Put Your Hand In My Hand)
12. Deepest Blue - Deepest Blue
13. Zombie Nation - Kernkraft 400
14. iio - Rapture
15. DJ Sammy - The Boys Of Summer
16. Storm - Time To Burn
17. Cosmic Gate - Fire Wire
18. Static Revenger - Happy People
19. Aloud - Sex & Sun
20. Magnolia - It’s All Vain
|
