Search - Various Artists :: Ultra Trance 2

Pretty good but the mixing could have been better

Erica Anderson | Minneapolis, MN | 06/08/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'm not really a fan of any of the compilations that Ultra Records put out anymore, at least the Ultra Chilled. I haven't really heard the other compilations like Ultra Dance and the first Ultra Trance but judging by the track list, they are pretty generic mixed cds. I bought Ultra Trance 2 on a whim. I was fortunate enough to find a used copy as opposed to shelling out {money} for a new copy. I can't comment on the bonus DVD since I don't own a dvd player so I will comment on the first disc. My major problem with disc 1 is the botched mixing job provided by David Waxman. The songs so not flows well together. I think the reason for that is the songs that David Waxman used. Somehow Duncan Sheik's "On a High" is the last song I would think of remixing. It wasn't bad as a trance song but it just did not fit with the songs it was stuck in between. The songs started to sound like one repetitive loop in the middle of the cd and I found myself literally bored to tears. I hated the way Sylver's Livin' My Life" ended and where Plummet's "Damaged 03" began. That just goes to show me what little skills Dave Waxman has as a dj. I may not be a dj, let alone know how to mix songs but I wouldn't do a botched job like he did between those two songs. Still I adored songs like 4 Strings' "let It Rain", Sylver's "Livin' My life", and "Never" by The Roc Project feat. Tina Arena. The female vocals and infectious melodies is what I find irresistable about trance music, especially with those songs. I would have given this cd 3 stars but I loved those songs and the last three songs so much that I decided to be generous. As far as mixed cds goes, "Ultra Trance 2" was not one of the best mixed cds I have ever heard but not one of the best. The series needs a dj who can actually make the music flow as one cohesive unit."

Standard Trance Compilation With a Half-Decent DVD.

The Groove | Boston, MA | 06/01/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The followup to 2002's "Ultra Trance" compilation has David Waxman resuming his duties as the mixer, compiling 16 tracks of trance hits on the 73-minute disc one. They make up a collection of standard fare trance, with many enjoyable moments but few surprises. I did like the opener "Never" by the Roc Project, as well as "Let it Rain" by 4 Strings. But there's something I'm also beginning to notice about David Waxman, and that he's not exactly the world's best mixer. Too often the songs crash into each other without any real flow. This is especially true of the first half of the disc, which had no clear focus or direction. The second disc is a DVD containing a picture gallery of the scantily clad cover model and a series of 8 music videos. Half of these videos can be heard on the first disc. To be certain, these clips aren't big budget, high-concept MTV videos by any stretch of the imagination, but they have a certain cheesiness that still makes them appealing. I particularly liked 4 Strings' "Diving" and Armin van Buuren's "Yet Another Day." The other videos are fine for what they are, but, again, they're not MTV material. All in all, there are worse compilations than "Ultra Trance 2," but it's a slightly disappointing followup to its predecessor. It has a few nice moments, but it overall lacks a much-needed urgency. You can live with or without this CD."

Nothing special. But the Bonus DVD disc is pretty cool.

Erica Anderson | 06/07/2003

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Ultra release yet another mediocre compilation with all the latest and greatest (supposedly) trance tracks out there playing in the clubs. Not really. Some of these songs are pretty old and don't get going for a while. They are not all fluffy cloudy trance tracks that get in your head. They are pretty dark and slow sometimes even boring. But if you don't have the tracks and your collecting them into your arsenal then by all means get this one. The extra dvd disc is a nice addition. A nice incentive for this one.
I like the Duncan Shiek remix track. This is probably the only one that stands out from this. I'll bet this is the only song you will keep repeating and listening to. The DJ Tiesto tracks is not all that great. Tina Arena? Who's that? Isn't that the girl from the 80's?? Sounds familiar. Oh and the Naline Kalin Beachball is pretty ok. Forgot about that one. Kira's I'll be your angel is hailed as the new Ian Van Dahl. Ok there is no way this track even comes close to the addictive "get in your head for 50 days" lyrics. It's pretty boring track actually. Check it out for yourself. The rest is nothing good.
I gave this comp 2 stars for the Duncan Sheik track and the extra DVD disc. That's about it. I have to warn you that these european videos are pretty cheesy. Armin Van Buuren's Yet another Day is the only video worth watching. The one with 4 Strings Diving is stupid cause all you see is a bunch of synchronized swimmers doing their routine. The rest is your usual slow motion running somewhere trance videos.
And like everyone said here, there are better comps out there. Hey why didn't they include DJ Tomcraft's Loneliness on the comp? That is a quality track there."