Search - Christopher Lawrence :: Rise

A genre defining classic that still impresses.

Jim Galligan | Denver, Co United States | 10/27/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Some night you're driving through the city just to chase the tail-lights in front of you."
I first purchsed this album in 97, just before Global Underground started releasing great mix albums in the U.S. It was a time when mix albums weren't as numerous as they are now, and even fewer came from American DJs.With out knowing anything about Christopher Lawrence, or his style, I just bought it based on the little note on the back of the CD case. The minute I first put it on it sounded breathtaking. Loud, hard, fast, nasty. Full of acid lines, dark melodies and great purcussion. It became a staple of my early raving days.Years later and hundred or so mix albums later, this one still sounds fresh. A perfect example of how good trance sounded before it went down the epic path. This mix remindes you that the orginal deep trance sound (deep is Christopher's label for his sound) was euphoric with out resorting to epic build-ups and key changes. It was based on repeated snth lines that twisted and funked around heavy prog-house beats. Always cheese free, this mix sounds dark and underground, yet uplifting and soulfull. Oh, and it really makes you want to shake it.Most of Mr Lawrence's mix are of equal quality. I guess this one is my favorite becuase it was my first. And maybe because it was ten times better than all of the epic stuff that swallowed the scene in the following years. If you like your trance hard with a lot of varity in sound and tempos, something for your mind as well as body, don't hesitate. Purchase at once."

Simply amazing

subraumstimulation | Westchester, CA USA | 10/06/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first saw Christopher Lawrence play a live set at local massive, and I became an instant convert to his style of music. Since then I've been trying to get my hands on all of his releases to hear more of his awesome skills and great music. This CD is just that: a non-stop joyride through some of the finest trance music put together in a single disc. It pulsates with high energy right from the beginning all the way to the final second. It can be a hard CD to find (I myself took two months of searching before I found it), but it's really worth the effort. You'll be blown away the moment you put it in your CD player, it's that good. For those of you who like to do light shows (like myself), this is the perfect CD to practice your moves with. The beat slows down just long enough to let you take a short breather, then comes back with the same vibe and energy.I urge you to see him live whenever the opportunity presents itself, it'll be an experience you'll never forget. The next best thing is to get this CD or his other works (i.e. Temptation, United States of Trance), it'll be money well spent."