DJ Pi - Trance Empire Vol. 34 (Unleashed Heartbeat)

CD1
01. Epos - Adagio Espressivo (Magic Island mix)
02. Cloudwalker - Crystalizer
03. Aboutblank Feat Mque - Active Side (Paul Vinitsky Dub)
04. Digital Sense - Look At Heaven
05. Plastic Angel - Try Walking In My World
06. Acute - Citadel (Sindre Eide Remix)
07. Tragida , Azure Sunset - T Tide (Simple Tide Mix)
08. Darius - Eklipse (Sjlver DJ Feat Tragid Mix)
09. Above & Beyond Pres. Tranquility Base - Oceanic (Sean Tyas Mix)
10. 3rd Moon - Meltdown
11. Existone - Seven Nights
12. Thr3sh0ld - Timeless
13. Epic Journey - Silent Tears (D Gate Mix)

CD2
01. Tragida - Elisabeth (Natlife Mix)
02. Sequentia - Sun Worship
03. Abbott & Chambers - Never After (Preijers & Hercules Mix)
04. Mike Nichol - Durado
05. Mindsoundscapes - Evangelion (Fischer & Miethig Mix)
06. Tetrazone - Alphalux (Static Blue Mix)
07. Aeden - Distant Memories
08. Sean Tyas - Drop (Reaves & Ahorn Mix)
09. Stuart Heasty - Aventis
10. Simon Patterson - We'll See
11. Ben Gold - Roll Cage (Aly and Fila Mix)
12. Algarve - The Longest Journey (Alex Morph Mix)

Released in October 2007, I finally got a good chance to really sit down and listen to the mix completely. After listening to both CDs back-to-back I was left breathless at the beautiful blend of songs put into the mix.

CD1 started slowly with Epos - Adagio Espressivo, which was true to its literal meaning of expressively slow. The sounds of the strings were beautiful used in this song, and it gradually introduced the bass. Imagine a waiter just taking away the appertiser once you are done to bring forth the main course to you. The entire CD1 gave sound to a blend of songs filled with emotions and passion. Masterfully blended bass lines by DJ Pi gave the mix a smooth continuation and listening pleasure. Overall, the underlining theme of the first CD was more inclined on the piano and strings for the melodies of the songs. Graceful yet energetic!

CD2, the very first moment the mix starts you can already feel the energetic pump of the bass line. In this mix, the theme of 'Unleasehed Heartbeat' is really felt with the continuous energy felt in the mix. Main disctinction from CD1, is the seriousness of this mix. In CD1 there was more of a graceful and flowing melody. In CD2, you could tell the mix was exerting moving melodies and powerful bass lines. In the car, I get a pretty good high listening to this mix while driving (and yes.... I am still concentrating on the road in case you are wondering).

This time around, DJ Pi did not make any CD covers for this mix...... wierd considering he always does make covers for his mixes. As soon as the covers are out, I will make sure to load it here.

For more information and to download, visit DJ Pi's official website

DJ Pi - Concerto For Voices 03 (Special Edition 2007)

After almost 2 months after DJ Pi's announcement to do a special edition vocal mix, the mix is finally up for downloads about three weeks back! I know I should have done the review a lot earlier but I just didn't have the time to really sit back and appreciate the mix.

The tracklist:

1. Chaser - Hanging Around A1
2. Gabriel and Dresden Feat. Jan Burton - Dangerous Power (Cicada Mix)
3. Anna Nalick - Breathe (Blake Jarrell Mix)
4. Blackfeel Wite - Sea Still Love You (Gabriel Batz Mix)
5. Anr - Only One
6. Tiesto Feat. Christian Burns - In The Dark
7. Kamil Polner - Dance Forever
8. Javah - One By One (Cyrex Mix)
9. Maor Levi - Reflect
10. Bobina Feat. Elles De Graaf - Lighthouse (Sean Tyas Mix)
11. Jose Amnesia Feat. Jennifer Rene - Louder (Jon Obir Mix)
12. Jesselyn - Contact
13. Fkn Feat. Jahala - Why (Aly and Fila Mix)
14. Duderstadt And Anita Kelsey - Smile (Alex Morph Vocal Mix)
15. Andre Visor And Dark Moon - Beautiful People (Stoneface And Terminal Mix)

Those familiar with the vocal trance scene should be able to recognise that all the tracks above are pretty much the best of 2007 to date.

My take - from the first song, I could already feel the energy DJ Pi was putting in. I felt like he was saying, "here's the best of 2007 so far, my mix!". When I heard it, it was totally energising! DJ Pi's beatmatching is as good as God like. I have a pretty good set of speakers, so I could really hear the mix clearly. I have to give it to him, not many Djs can put up a tracklist filled with good songs and make a good mix. The flow to the mix was simply amazing, I could totally visualise a story being told through the mix. I was also very surprise when he included track 6 'Tiesto Feat. Christian Burns - In The Dark' because that song isn't an easy song to blend with others. One of DJ Pi's specialties, equaliser manipulation is clearly spot lighted in this mix with his wonderful blend of treble and bass between difference songs overlapping each other.

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To download the torrent for this mix - HERE -

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Here are some of the comments by others:

"Loved it, thank you DJ 3.14159 "

"dude great job on this mix! im glad that you werent afraid to throw in male vocals...thanks for this flawless mix Pi! couldnt even tell that u were transitioning..."

"Just finished to hear the new Concerto For Vocal 3! A highlight from the beginning to the end!! THATS´s Vocaltrance indeed!!"

"every mix you put out is flawless. tune selection and energy is great!"

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More information @ http://www.djpi.net/ -----become a member of the forum and get latest updates on his mixes-----

Mika Nakashima - LIFE

Always into Japanese songs, I got the latest release of Mika Nakashima's LIFE single. Her songs have always been respectable in her own sense - very deep and emotionally driven. Having quit
studies to pursue her passion for song writing and singing at a young age really isn't something easy to go through considering the music industry is an industry that is not easy to penetrate.

What can I comment? This time, the song is unlike her usual jazzy and slow paced style, this one is more upbeat but more fusion. As for her voice, those accustom to her voice will definitely recognise the unique low and captivating voice the moment she starts to sing. The flow to this song makes it easy to grasp and to feel the emotion she has for the song. For me, although the song is quite upbeat, it still gives me a feel of somber to the song. After all, her songs have always sounded matured to me. Don't be fooled by her voice because she's only 24 years old. Not many can write and sing songs like how she does it!

Since the single is really new, there still isn't any translation yet for the song.

More information here - http://www.mikanakashima.com/

Mika Nakashima - LIFE tracklist:

1. LIFE
2. LIFE (Ballad)
3. IT'S TOO LATE
4. LIFE (Instrumental)
5. IT'S TOO LATE (Instrumental)