Paul Oakenfold, a man who has been around since Trance began, has played a myriad of locations. His compilations thorough the ages have been notorious. He’s mixed film soundtracks into “Perfecto Fluoro” and selected his favorites from his performance of at the Great Wall of China (“Great Wall”). “The Goa Mix” is referred to one of the greatest Trance compilations of all time by many. That being said, I’ll be the first to admit Oakenfold has been lower on the radar in the last few years. Recently, though, he’s been releasing some serious singles and his last compilation ripped our faces off. “Never Mind the Bollocks” was full of heavy hitting, extreme Trance with a good balance of lighter tones. The only complaint across the board seemed to be that some of the tracks were a bit old by the time the compilation was released.

“We Are Planet Perfecto: Vol.1? is focused heavily on new material gunning Paul’s Perfecto label. What’s very special about this album is the sneaking suspicion that some of these tracks may be from Paul’s fabled album “Pop Killer,” which has been prolonged in release at least twice and into 2012. From the title of his collaboration’s title with Robert Vadney (that’s right — it finally happened) alone “Pop Star,” we’re seeing the newest sound. You’ll find it at the “pick-up” moment of Disk 1, along with his newest jam “Sleep” and a 2012 remix of Red Hot Chili Pepper’s “My Otherside.” This version is extremely different, taking an intense progressive Trance sound rather than the previous house versions everyone has heard. This disk starts off with Juventa’s new song Ocean Sparkles, in the Eric Shaw Cinematic Mix. Oakenfold is a man who knows how important a first impression is, and through the years some of my favorite mix introductions have been carefully picked tunes for his compilations. There’s an intense consistency of winning tracks from the Otherside remix right until the end, a rework of PPK’s classic “Ressurection” by the Planet Perfecto Knights, remixed by Remy Le Duc vs. EC Twins. This is one of the craziest remixes ever done for this song, and leaves you wondering what the man intends to play on his second disk.

Disk 2 opens with USTM’s #3 track of November 2011: the original mix of Syna vs. Ayleon’s “Change.” This track is calming yet intense, instant pulling you into a mix we’ve all been waiting to hear for a long time. Right off the bat Oakenfold brings in his psytrance undertones with Liquid Stranger’s remix of “Ode Ao Sol” and the legendary Man With No Name with his newer tune “Sugar Rush” (Astrix Remix). Minutes later we’re hit with Robert Vadney’s remix of Paul’s song “Firefly” and things take a turn to the high-point of the compilation. Heatbeat’s remix of “This is New York” by Lange and Gareth Emery takes us over the new remix of Grace’s “Not Over Yet” we’ve all been loving, then into two brand classic remixes in a row: of Oakenfold’s “Faster Kill Pussycat” and “Southern Sun!” That’s all before some other noteworthy classics come in remixes and the mix ends with thumping Goa and Euphoric trance selections.

What I really like about this compilation is the skill Paul demonstrates in keeping the same vibe interesting through overtime, mixing each CD almost twenty minutes over the standard hour. The theme here is to demonstrate the new sound of Perfecto Records, and he’s willing to spend extra work in the mix to make sure you get the full picture. Once you realize it’s about time to wrap it up the pace changes again and you realize there’s no stopping this comeback. The sound of Perfecto has once again been solidified.

-Written by Tom Rogers

Looking for a download? Me too. Unfortunately this track won’t be out until Feb 14, so until Valentine’s Day hopefully this cheesy video will hold you over.

ARTIST: Deadmau5

TRACK/ALBUM: For Lack of A Better Name (Mixed Album)

RATING: (3/5)

This album is a compilation of Deadmau5′s original productions spanning the past two years and serves more as a showcase for his diversity as a producer than his skills as a dj.  Short cross fades and minimal overlays that can easily be done in a number of software programs these days, is less than impressive.  Especially given the potential for layering and EQ work with the more minimal percussive tracks, like “BOT”, later in the sequence.  Based on the technical mixing skills usually highlighted in a “mixed” cd, this seems like a bit of a misnomer.

The album does includes some of his popular electro house tracks like “Ghosts N’ Stuff” (featuring the vocals of Pendulum’s Rob Swire) and “Hi Friend” to get things moving towards the beginning.  But seems to flounder in the middle with the more minimal techy tracks that fail to resolve the conflict between the rhythmic shuffle and the sudden halt created by the breakdown of sweeping synth chords and arpeggiated crescendos to nowhere.  While his new releases contain some interesting ideas, the execution is somewhat lacking in terms of integrating them into a cohesive whole.  “Soma”‘s deep bass and techy groove is hijacked by a piano interlude that feels out of place. “The 16th Hour” starts as a dark driving progressive trance track that is starkly contrasted by the uplifting melodic breakdown. Concluding the cd is “Strobe” that begins with an orchestral, cinematic introduction and builds to a more dance floor friendly, melodic track in his signature style.  Leaning more towards trance than the electro house, fans of his earlier work will still be pleased with this one!

For Lack of A Better Name (the mixed album) traverses several areas of the electronic music realm from the booty shakin’ club hits to the more introspective soundscapes, demonstrating his range as a producer.  And perhaps a glimpse into where he may be heading… film score by Deadmau5?