ALBUM REVIEW: John 00 Fleming - One.Hundred.Ten.WKO

1.The Centre Of The Universe

The album starts with an energetic and spacey breaks track,which sets the perfect mood for what is to come. Very rich production filled with effects, some nasty acid action and short spoken vocal samples, which remind me of some Orkidea's productions like Orbithing. The biggest downside for me is the length – it's too short.

Score: 8/10

2. 5000 Light Years From Earth

As soon as the beatless intro with that beautiful, mysterious melody kicks in, I get goosebumps all over. What follows is like a neverending journey through space, where you can just get completely sucked in and it feels like it could go on forever. If there's one track from 2013, which shows what »Pure Trance« means to me, it HAS to be this one. It was very early in 2013 when I heard it for the first time and we're still only halfway through, but I think I can say I already found my TOTY (or a huge contender at least).

Score: 9.5/10

3. Star Gazing

The 3rd track is another progressive trance track. Less powerful than the first two, but it makes up with a really good atmosphere. The percussion, female vocal samples in the background and a mystic melody work together in a good harmony and they give a very mysterious feel to the track.The melody itself is fairly simple, but it works.

Score: 7.5/10

4. Tears From Heaven

Things slow down even further now with the first ambient track. The title fits perfectly with the content. It's a very melancholic track from start to finish. The intro begins with sounds of rain and thunder, followed by a beautiful guitar and later a stunning sad melody played on a piano. Beautiful, sad and goosebumps giving experience.

Score: 8.5/10

5. The Stroke Of The Midnight Hour

After a short break, we're back to full power. At this point the album turns to darker, psy-influenced sounds. It's a fairly straightforwardtrack, but what makes it special to my ears is (again!) the atmosphere. Theshort intro is dark and even a bit scary. It's followed by a pretty long, atmospheric build, which slowly brings us to a powerful breakdown. The latter includes a really unique, strong male speech. After that the track starts building again, but it's already more powerful. The climax is filled with dark effects and mysterious vocal samples.

Score: 8/10

6. WR22

The intro is more on the melancholic territory and has a slightly middle-eastern touch. What follows is a pretty monotone beat with some interesting sounds and effects. However, the track as a whole doesn't make a proper impact for me. Considering that and its length, I'd say it's more like a filler than anything else.

Score: 6/10

7. 340 Million Pixels

We continue with another ambient track, which almost sounds like it could be a movie score. Some strong drums and a slightly subtle, but powerful string melody give a really epic feeling in the first half. The second half turns a tad more aggresive, while still retaining the overall cinematic vibe.

Score: 8/10

8. Clouds Of Karma

After a string of darker tracks comes a much brighter breaks track. The atmosphere is quite comparable to that of »The Astrophysical Nebula«.Very catchy beats accompanied by a dreamy and uplifting melody. Beautiful track.

Score: 8/10

9. WKO

This has to be one of the most fresh-sounding tracks I've heard in quite some time and it's also among my faves from the album. That freakin' awesome lead, which sounds very 90's-like and the vocal samples in the background give the track a spacey and mysterious vibe. After the short break the energy is at it's peak and the climax is short, but epic. I'm only disappointed at the effective length of the track. It's about 7 minutes in total, but it's basically over at the 5 minute mark.

Score: 8.5/10

10. Pillars Of Creation

Going into more traditional Progressive PsyTrance territory.Typical driving bassline and a very long build with some acid layers and spacey effects. It basically builds from start to end and keeps getting stronger and stronger. I'm a big fan of long builds like this as long as the track keeps me interested and this one definitely succeeds at that. About halfway through a trancey melody kicks in and makes it sounds a lot fuller.

Score: 8/10

11. Colliding Galaxies (feat. Lyctum)

Another one of my faves from the album. Lyctum is among my favourite producers in the PsyTrance scene, so I was definitely looking forward to this collab. It certainly did not disappoint. Next to WKO this is probably the most energetic tune on the album. Again a very spacey journey, but this time a lot more epic and even uplifting. The first third builds the main melody to its first peak. That is followed by a short break and a very acid-oriented buildup,which rocks. After that the main melody starts building up slowly again to a powerful climax.

Score: 9/10

12. Time Lapse NGC-2284

The album ends with another beautiful melancholic and cinematic ambient track. Short, but very sweet.

Score: 7.5/10

Verdict:

One.Hundred.Ten.WKO is a masterpiece in my opinion. It provides what an album should – a meaningful journey and in addition to that it's filled with creative and standout tracks. It's a mix of styles (from cinematic ambient stuff, through breaks, to progressive trance and psy trance),but overall its main focus is definitely Trance.

Kudos to mr. Fleming for putting this together. It really is a work of art imo and it will definitely stay on my playlist for months (years?) to come.

Overall Score: 9.5/10 

ALBUM REVIEW: M.I.K.E. - World Citizen

After 2 or so years of making "Trouse" and the so called "Trance 2.0", it seems like M.I.K.E. has decided to leave that period behind him and return to what he's best at - Trance. He's been announcing his return for quite a while now and has kept his promise in some of his newest music releases like "We Are!" and "Elements Of Nature" with Rank 1.

At first I didn't have much hope for his upcoming album World Citizen. The first previews that surfaced were mainly "Trouse" oriented and definitely not something I wanted to hear. However, in the past few months he started mentioning more and more trancey tunes and some of the newer previews sounded promising aswell. That combined with the previously mentioned singles he's released certainly got my hopes up a little.

So the album has now been released. Is it a mighty comeback of a Trance legend or just another forgetable Trouse attempt? Let's find out:

***NOTE: The review will be split into two sections - new tunes and remixes***

NEW TUNES

01. World Citizen

A lot of positive energy in the first tune. The first half is more on the calm side with a very joyful and soothing melody. About half way through it turns a bit more "club friendly" for a short time and then turns back to the trancey side. Very interesting and fresh sounding production overall.

Score: 8/10

02. Melodramma (feat. Matteo Marini)

The second this tune starts you can hear it's yet another fresh sounding production. Overall it's pretty trancey, but it does have a bit of a housey groove on top. The melody is immensely catchy aswell.

However, I don't understand why they had to put that massive pitch-bend in the middle of the track. In this track it bothered me a lot. Like with similar cases it feels completely out of place and just makes the track worse than it would have been otherwise.

Score: 7/10

03. We Are!

This track has that typical old M.I.K.E vibe, but in a modern coat. The melody definitely isn't the most creative, but it works. I also think the main synth could use some work, but it doesn't really bother me. The track gets better and better as it progresses and is pretty epic in the second part.

Score: 8/10

04. Loverdose

This one sounds a lot like a Deadmau5 production. I can't say I liked it. It lacks a proper direction and it somehow feels unpolished. On top of that it also has a very annoying dubstep break, which sounds completely out of place.

Score: 5/10

05. Under The Bridge

Leaning towards "Trance 2.0" here. The production sounds kinda plain and simple, but it's a bit catchy in a way. Nothing really memorable for me, though.

Score: 6/10

06. Overseas (feat. Revero)

*Clap fart fart clap fart clap clap clap fart *

Ah well, I expected at least one terrible trouse track and here it is.

Score: 2/10

07. Any Direction 

After a promising start, this is now the 4th track in a row that doesn't do too much for me. It's pretty dark and has some trancey elements, but sounds too "2.0" for my taste. It also doesn't really go anywhere. Still not bad by any means, though.

Score: 6/10

08. Galactic Halo

Going back to trancey lands now. I really liked the progression of this tune. Starts on the slow and calm side, but it gets stronger and more euphoric as time passes by. Overall it has a very nice flow.

Score: 7.5/10

09. No Escape (vs Aerofoil)

Oh, now this is a nice collab. You can clearly hear both influences - Aerofoil provides his typical techy approach and a taste of the Coldharbour sound, while M.I.K.E. provides a trancey touch. This is a good example of track, which would certainly destroy a dancefloor, yet it still works for listening at home. The piano is a very nice addition aswell.

Score: 8/10

10. Canvas

Definitely one of my favourite tracks from the album. Same as Galactic Halo, it has a very nice progression, but it feels even more trancey and a tad uplifting in the later stages aswell. The bassline is more "chunky", but it totally fits in. Great production.

Score: 8.5/10

11. Thursdays

After a string of 3 very good tracks, we're back to some less appealing sounds. The main melody has a lot of potential, but at this point it sounds kinda similar to what we're used in those typical trouse climaxes. In addition to that there are now two dubstep breaks, which I don't like at all. I think a proper remix could do wonders for this tune.

Score: 5/10

12. Natural Source

Very nice drive and a catchy melody. Another one of those tunes where you can hear a hint of those well known old M.I.K.E. sounds.

Score: 8/10

13. Touching Your Senses

Another trancey tune with (again) hints of the old M.I.K.E, but in a modern coat. Some of the sounds used are kinda "video gamish" as I like to say, but in this case they're not annoying in any way. Great melancholic atmosphere.

Score: 8/10

14. Elements Of Nature

Ha, save the best for last, right MIKE? I already feel stupid for constantly repeating myself with what I think of this track. Yes, it's nothing new or particularly creative, but it's an awesome oldschool inspired proper trance track. Lots of energy, a very captivating melody, a great climax. The second breakdown is a great addition aswell, especially since the tune changes its vibe at that point to a more anthem-ish side.

Score: 9/10

Overall "New Tunes" Score: 7/10

REMIXES


15. Push - Universal Nation (Inpetto Remix)

No, no, no! You don't take UN and do this to it, you just don't! Terrible trouse rape of one of the biggest trance classics ever. This is a crime against trance music.

Score: -100/10

16. Push - Universal Nation (Orjan Nilsen Remix)

Hm, Orjan... I was sure he'd rape Universal Nation aswell, but he actually didn't. It's an ok update to more modern sounds. Decent attempt.

Score: 6/10

17. Push - The Legacy (Allure Remix)

Yet another horrible trouse rape of a fantastic classic. Screw this!

Score: -100/10

18. Push - Till We Meet Again (Sonny Wharton Remix)

Now this is an interesting remix! More of a housy approach with tribal influences. Me likey! It also doesn't sound anything like the original (apart from a hint of the original melody). It's almost a completely new track.

Score: 8/10

19. Plastic Boy - Twixt (Paul Thomas Remix)

Trouse rape.

Score: 0/10

20. Plastic Boy - Silver Bath (Roger Shah Remix)

Trouse rape:

Score: 0/10

21. M.I.K.E. - Mes Que Un Club (Maor Levi Remix)

Terrible trouse track.

Score: 1/10

22. M.I.K.E. - Any Direction (M.I.K.E. vs Revero Club Edit)

Bah, I'm really pissed at them for what they did with this one. Starts with a hint of trouse, but not too much to be disturbing. Then comes the middle melodic part, which is really great with an epic, trancey melody. Why o why, did they have to ruin this with all those farts, which follow in the end? I felt like they're trolling me - "Hey you're really enjoying this melody right? It would be a shame if suddenly... *fart clap fart clap fart*".

Score: 4/10 - (Would have been an 8 at least if the last part had some normal beats)

23. M.I.K.E. and Michael Myers - Come Together (Revero Remix)

No.

Score: 0/10

Overall "Remixes" Score: 0/10

Overall Verdict:

Well this is certainly a mixed package. The new tunes are definitely worth checking out for the most part. There are some really fresh productions included and overall they're enjoyable. There are clear signs of the M.I.K.E. we used to know and love with some modern influences.

However, the second part of the album is exactly what I expected it to be - a bunch of trouse rapes of great classics. YUCK.

Overall I'd say the album is worth a buy. The first part provides enough quality and you can just easily skip the remixes, which shouldn't be part of the album anyway.