Search - Scott Bond :: Ahead 1

Scott Bond's most enjoyable DJ mix yet

RaabH | USA | 08/03/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I am familiar with Scott Bond through the various Gatecrasher sets where he has been a featured DJ. While most of his Gatecrasher work is top notch, to me it tends to have a corporate edge to it, as though the track selection is dictated more by marketing than a bid for artistry. "Ahead" seems to mark a new phase for Scott's DJ-mix releases. The more I listen to it, the more impressed I am. It features many unfamiliar tracks as well as some frequently played ones that are transformed thanks to some deft remixing. Is that Armin van Buuren's "Burned With Desire" we're hearing? Well, yes, but it's the Ronski Speed remix, utterly different from the original -- more mysterious -- and it succeeds in its own way just as much. Similarly, the astonishing Jussi Polet remix of Scott and Solar Stone's own "Naked Angel" is possibly even better than the original -- a euphoric standout that is truly goosebump-inducing.



When it comes to mixing Scott does show off a bit, but it's all good. In more than one place he'll be in the middle of a certain track and strategically sample the one that's coming next, subtly foreshadowing its ultimate arrival. The actual drop of the new track doesn't come until a bit later, but when it finally does the effect is one of seamless inevitability. (As an example, listen for how a snippet of the familiar vocal from Armin's "Burned With Desire" punctuates Corderoy's less familiar "Deeper" before it finally transitions into the Ronski-Armin remix. It's the kind of effect that a less gifted DJ would have a difficult time even coming up with, let alone pulling off so artfully.)



The first CD of this set is more eclectic, excellent but not quite as successful at creating a consistent vibe, while the second (my favorite) has a driving, full-on sound that just sweeps you along, peaking ecstatically with the one-two punch of John '00' Fleming vs. Mike in "Dame Blanche" (John '00' Fleming mix) and Woody van Eyden's "SI-N+R-JE" (Funaki Mix). For me personally, CD #2 alone would be worth the price of this set.



With great sound fidelity, relatively light on the vocals and no cheese filling, this release promises great things to come in future volumes. Overriding everything is a sense of freshness that makes it a winner for repeated listening. Highly recommended."

A NEW GENERATION LIVES IN SCOTT BOND

SCOTT RULE | NYC | 10/26/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"SCOTT BOND NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION AS HE IS ONE OF THE LEADING DJ//PRODUCERS IN THE WORLD TODAY AND HIS FIRST ATTEMPT UNDER THE "AHEAD" LABEL PROVES WHY THIS IS SO. YOU MAY HAVE READ FROM TIME TO TIME REVIWES OF OTHER ALBUMS SCOTT BOND HAS CREATED AND SAW THAT THERE WAS LESS THAN PROPER "REVIWES" BY PERSONS WHO CLAIMED TO HAVE BOTH DEEP TO VERY SHALLOW BACKGROUNDS IN DANCE MUSIC. THE ISSUE THAT I HAVE WITH THE NEGATIVE REVIEWS IS THAT THOSE WHO WOULD SAY THESE NEGATIVE THINGS ABOUT A "GC" ALBUM SUCH AS "IT'S TOO PROGRESSIVE" OR "NOT REAL TRANCE AND NOT PRETTY" AND THEN JUDGE THE OVERALL WORKS OF SCOTT BOND SPANNING 10 YEARS WITH "GC" AND ALBUM PRODUCTIONS BY THAT REVIEW ARE JUST DEAD WRONG! THE IDEA AND CONCEPT OF THE "GC" ALBUMS WAS TO "CAPTURE" DIFFERENT MOMENTS WITHIN THE DANCE NIGHT AND WHAT ONE WOULD HEAR AT 11PM VERSES 2AM VERSES 4AM VERSES 6AM WOULD VARY GREATLY. WITH THAT SAID.....THIS ALBUM PUTS TO SLEEP THE IDEAS AND CRITICS THAT SCOTT BOND CAN'T OR WON'T OR ISN'T ABLE TO "SPIN" WHAT MOST PEOPLE WANNA HEAR IN TODAY'S MARKET(EPIC// POWER - BIG ROOM TRANCE). THIS ALBUM OVER BOTH CD'S WILL TAKE YOU ON A JOURNEY THROUGH NEARLY EVERY STYLE OF TRANCE, BE IT EVEN FOR A SINGLE SONG TO ALSO INCLUDE A RMX FROM TECH. HOUSE MOGULE CARL COX. WHERE "GC" WOULD MOSTLY "FOCUS" ON A NEARLY SINGLE "TIME OF NIGHT STYLE" OR "PARTY THEME STYLE" WHICH MIGHT NOT SUIT EVERY TASTE(SO STAY HOME AND LISTEN TO RADIO 1 OR SAMPLE THE CD BEFOREHAND IF YOUR NOT QUE TO THE TITLES IMPLICATION)THIS CD GIVES EVERYONE A BIT OF WHAT THEY WANT AND STILL SOMEHOW MANAGES TO KEEP IT ALL TOGETHER AND NEVER LOOSE THE "GROOVE" ONLY HOW SCOTT BOND COULD DO IT.
THIS IS A MASTERPIECE WORK AND HAS MY VOTE FOR THE NUMBER ONE DANCE ALBUM OF THE YEAR SO FAR AND WILL BE VERY HARD TO BEAT. WAY TO GO SCOTT BOND AND AHEAD AND KEEP A LOOK OUT FOR MORE BANGING MENTAL TUNES OUT ON "MADE IN ENGLAND" -SCOTT BOND'S NEW RECORD LABEL."

Outstanding.

B. Cary | Sausalito, CA, USA | 07/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"An outstanding example of "cheese free" Trance. My iPod is getting sick of playing it ;}"