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Airwave - Touareg -
19 May 2008, at 22:26
Bought this album yesturday off iTunes. Amazing stuff, pure Trance. I will do a full in-depth review at some point this week because it's pure bliss.
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Re: Airwave - Touareg -
20 May 2008, at 12:55
Airwave is great. Haven't heard the album yet, so I'm looking forward to that review Ben!
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Re: Airwave - Touareg -
20 May 2008, at 22:18
Review time. 
OK let's start things off.
A quick summary from me: "Airwave's new artist album really brings up again what true Trance is. Laurent has never disappointed in my eyes, you can feel his passion and work that has gone into everyone of his tracks from Cape Town to Lolo or L-Vee. Touareg just underlines his skills as a Trance producer."
Notice of Eviction - The first track is really quite an interesting starter indeed. At the start it almost sounds like the introduction to some TV programme with the interesting chime/bell sounds. Then the sinister strings come in and it sounds more like the soundtrack to a movie! Trumbone sounds I think come in along with some orchestric hits to create a fantastic atmosphere, and then the bells and strings change into another melody. At the same time there is no percussion, creating a really unique introduction. After a while some science-fiction style lead is introduced along with a beat to create a cool end to this really diverse introductory track to the album.[/b]
Punjabi Child - Punjabi Child is brilliant. Classic Airwave stuff. It opens with it's middle eastern style vocal intro before a classic Trance build-up of beats and hats. It all helps to bring a stready introduction to the main melody which emerges with some really nice synths which are quite driving. The break is nice, and the rest of the track is really the melody in different fashions with some different synths and even the oriental voice at one point. Really great track this one.
Sunshine In Your Heart (feat. Didier Likeng) - The build-up is like any other Trance song, with a driving bass. The break is amazing though. Didier Likeng is a gospel singer and his vocals are really powerful and wide, really amazing stuff. Makes the break sound atmospheric ontop of Airwave's pads. It then builds up with an almost Techy section which stays in place right up until the end of the track. Another really diverse track.
Candy of Life - This track isn't bad, but it isn't brilliant either. A pretty average track I think because it samples the shaking of Tic Tacs. Whilst a nice idea, it doesn't really keep me interested for the whole duration. The melody is alright, but it just isn't amazingly interesting. The track is quite deep and driving though, so it's still pretty good and doesn't let the album down as a whole.
Coka's Song (feat. Coka) - Now this is a really cool little track. Coka is a guy from Africa and his vocals really work well on this track. The bass is really wierd but yet at the same time really powerful and driving. Despite the profoundness of the bass it really is quite a melodic track and his vocals really make it take you to the African safari. Another brilliant track.
Mind Repair Centre - Another pretty deep track. The saws are quite cool and the melody is really nice too I think. The bass is quite powerful and it's a relatively progressive track. I still like it though cos it's got the classic Airwave feel.
Urban Touareg (Vocal Mix) - Wow would be an understatement. This track is AMAZING. I assume it's the cover track of the album. It builds up really nicely to a breakdown that is off the scale. The vocal work in this song is absolutly amazing. It's just so incredible the breakdown, it's like something you'd hear in a classial song. Angélique Arys's vocal really works well here to create a pretty emotional and powerful atmosphere. It's not heavy building back up either which is nice. It builds up into the main climax before the track ends. Probably the best new track on the album.
Mahebourg Express - Uncredited, Coka's vocals work really well in this track. I think this is better than Coka's Song but only because it's much more melodic and uplifting. It's really a nice happy track and probably one of my favourites off the album. However, the bass is still powerful but not overly powerful to ruin the atmosphere of the breaks. Absolute Trance bliss.
Batignolles Blues (featuring Ludovic Meyer) - Another personal favourite of mine off the album, Ludovic's sax playing works amazingly well in this song. Without destroying the Trance atmosphere of the song it almost creates a Jazz feel and it's really nice. It's like something you could listen to in a cafe in New York, it's really brilliant stuff this track.
That's the end of the 'new' tracks. The next section is old tracks that Airwave has rebuilt into '2K8' versions.
Save Me 2K8 - Probably my favourite track of the new '2K8' versions, the melody is really nice, I love it! The soft synths and pads remind me of Airwave's classic Trancey sound. But it has a powerful bass part in the middle with a hard kick reminding us of how Touareg shows his new skills as a producer. Really nice track.
Above the Sky 2K8 - Pretty similar to Save Me, just with a different melody. Again a very tough bass part in the middle but this is not too crap or anything to ruin the uplifting Trance mood. Top job.
The Division Bell 2K8 - Less Trancey lead sounds/plucks and more progressive sounds on this one. Still very melodic and really nice. The thing I notice about all the 2K8 tracks is the fact they are so melodic, and this one really is no exception. Beautiful melody with a nice modern touch.
Sunday Dark Firma - Apparently this is a mix of three old tracks by Airwave with a new modern feel. Boy does it work well. This is such a nice track. The melody is so nice, yet emotional and imaginative. The gated pad really helps add a Trancey feel to this track, whilst the plucks work really well too. It ends on quite a Techy/Proggy note but it's such a nice track this one.
Lightspeed 2K8 - Another nice melody here. Quite a different track though in terms of having more prominent bass but it still keeps the Trancey plucks and gated pads to ensure it remains melodic.
Sky Blues 2K8 - Probably my least favourite of all the 2K8 tracks, Sky Blues 2K8 features a really nice melody, I just find it a bit 'noisy' and proggy for my liking. It's still a really nice track, and the album is on such a high level that it really doesn't let it down at all!
Angelica - [Sagittaire Remix] (feat. Markus Schulz) - This is a nice deep track. You can really hear Markus's influence on this one because of the progressive nature of it. It's got quite a loud sidechained pad, but this doesn't ruin the track. This one does last it's whole length because of the way it evolves. Really neat track.
Haka for Peace - This has a carnival like feel to it. The dreamy plucks/leads help add a really sort of jumpy feel to the track and make you want to get up and dance. It's got a really nice melody too and is a great way to round off an absolutly fantastic album.
I've decided to give scores on each review I give from now on... and the first is an easy 10/10. Airwave really does it again with this album, pure Trance at it's best. I hope it gets support because it really deserves it.
OK let's start things off.
A quick summary from me: "Airwave's new artist album really brings up again what true Trance is. Laurent has never disappointed in my eyes, you can feel his passion and work that has gone into everyone of his tracks from Cape Town to Lolo or L-Vee. Touareg just underlines his skills as a Trance producer."
Notice of Eviction - The first track is really quite an interesting starter indeed. At the start it almost sounds like the introduction to some TV programme with the interesting chime/bell sounds. Then the sinister strings come in and it sounds more like the soundtrack to a movie! Trumbone sounds I think come in along with some orchestric hits to create a fantastic atmosphere, and then the bells and strings change into another melody. At the same time there is no percussion, creating a really unique introduction. After a while some science-fiction style lead is introduced along with a beat to create a cool end to this really diverse introductory track to the album.[/b]
Punjabi Child - Punjabi Child is brilliant. Classic Airwave stuff. It opens with it's middle eastern style vocal intro before a classic Trance build-up of beats and hats. It all helps to bring a stready introduction to the main melody which emerges with some really nice synths which are quite driving. The break is nice, and the rest of the track is really the melody in different fashions with some different synths and even the oriental voice at one point. Really great track this one.
Sunshine In Your Heart (feat. Didier Likeng) - The build-up is like any other Trance song, with a driving bass. The break is amazing though. Didier Likeng is a gospel singer and his vocals are really powerful and wide, really amazing stuff. Makes the break sound atmospheric ontop of Airwave's pads. It then builds up with an almost Techy section which stays in place right up until the end of the track. Another really diverse track.
Candy of Life - This track isn't bad, but it isn't brilliant either. A pretty average track I think because it samples the shaking of Tic Tacs. Whilst a nice idea, it doesn't really keep me interested for the whole duration. The melody is alright, but it just isn't amazingly interesting. The track is quite deep and driving though, so it's still pretty good and doesn't let the album down as a whole.
Coka's Song (feat. Coka) - Now this is a really cool little track. Coka is a guy from Africa and his vocals really work well on this track. The bass is really wierd but yet at the same time really powerful and driving. Despite the profoundness of the bass it really is quite a melodic track and his vocals really make it take you to the African safari. Another brilliant track.
Mind Repair Centre - Another pretty deep track. The saws are quite cool and the melody is really nice too I think. The bass is quite powerful and it's a relatively progressive track. I still like it though cos it's got the classic Airwave feel.
Urban Touareg (Vocal Mix) - Wow would be an understatement. This track is AMAZING. I assume it's the cover track of the album. It builds up really nicely to a breakdown that is off the scale. The vocal work in this song is absolutly amazing. It's just so incredible the breakdown, it's like something you'd hear in a classial song. Angélique Arys's vocal really works well here to create a pretty emotional and powerful atmosphere. It's not heavy building back up either which is nice. It builds up into the main climax before the track ends. Probably the best new track on the album.
Mahebourg Express - Uncredited, Coka's vocals work really well in this track. I think this is better than Coka's Song but only because it's much more melodic and uplifting. It's really a nice happy track and probably one of my favourites off the album. However, the bass is still powerful but not overly powerful to ruin the atmosphere of the breaks. Absolute Trance bliss.
Batignolles Blues (featuring Ludovic Meyer) - Another personal favourite of mine off the album, Ludovic's sax playing works amazingly well in this song. Without destroying the Trance atmosphere of the song it almost creates a Jazz feel and it's really nice. It's like something you could listen to in a cafe in New York, it's really brilliant stuff this track.
That's the end of the 'new' tracks. The next section is old tracks that Airwave has rebuilt into '2K8' versions.
Save Me 2K8 - Probably my favourite track of the new '2K8' versions, the melody is really nice, I love it! The soft synths and pads remind me of Airwave's classic Trancey sound. But it has a powerful bass part in the middle with a hard kick reminding us of how Touareg shows his new skills as a producer. Really nice track.
Above the Sky 2K8 - Pretty similar to Save Me, just with a different melody. Again a very tough bass part in the middle but this is not too crap or anything to ruin the uplifting Trance mood. Top job.
The Division Bell 2K8 - Less Trancey lead sounds/plucks and more progressive sounds on this one. Still very melodic and really nice. The thing I notice about all the 2K8 tracks is the fact they are so melodic, and this one really is no exception. Beautiful melody with a nice modern touch.
Sunday Dark Firma - Apparently this is a mix of three old tracks by Airwave with a new modern feel. Boy does it work well. This is such a nice track. The melody is so nice, yet emotional and imaginative. The gated pad really helps add a Trancey feel to this track, whilst the plucks work really well too. It ends on quite a Techy/Proggy note but it's such a nice track this one.
Lightspeed 2K8 - Another nice melody here. Quite a different track though in terms of having more prominent bass but it still keeps the Trancey plucks and gated pads to ensure it remains melodic.
Sky Blues 2K8 - Probably my least favourite of all the 2K8 tracks, Sky Blues 2K8 features a really nice melody, I just find it a bit 'noisy' and proggy for my liking. It's still a really nice track, and the album is on such a high level that it really doesn't let it down at all!
Angelica - [Sagittaire Remix] (feat. Markus Schulz) - This is a nice deep track. You can really hear Markus's influence on this one because of the progressive nature of it. It's got quite a loud sidechained pad, but this doesn't ruin the track. This one does last it's whole length because of the way it evolves. Really neat track.
Haka for Peace - This has a carnival like feel to it. The dreamy plucks/leads help add a really sort of jumpy feel to the track and make you want to get up and dance. It's got a really nice melody too and is a great way to round off an absolutly fantastic album.
I've decided to give scores on each review I give from now on... and the first is an easy 10/10. Airwave really does it again with this album, pure Trance at it's best. I hope it gets support because it really deserves it.
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Re: Airwave - Touareg -
20 May 2008, at 23:38
I really love this album. His style of breakdowns is unlike any I have ever heard. He brings in a new melody half way through for a lot of his songs that goes so well with the rest of the song. It's always really dirty electro stuff that works so well with the trance melody. Great album. I even complimented him on Facebook and he responded saying:
"thanks a lot, really happy you did enjoy the ride :-)"
"thanks a lot, really happy you did enjoy the ride :-)"
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Re: Airwave - Touareg -
21 May 2008, at 09:56
Great review Ben, thanks.
Published on the site: http://www.trancepodium.com/articles/reviews/airwave_-_touareg_123_37.html
Published on the site: http://www.trancepodium.com/articles/reviews/airwave_-_touareg_123_37.html
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Re: Airwave - Touareg -
22 May 2008, at 20:17
Actually, Airwave is the artist that I have the most Tunes from. No one even comes close. 
(well, almost Tiesto, but just almost)
(well, almost Tiesto, but just almost)
It's about music! Not one music style is better than the other, not one music style is more truly than the other. The whole thing is based on respect. It's all music, music never separates people!