- A. Original
B. Mark Norman Mix
Say what you will about the 2-year reigning DJ champion Tijs Verwest. Love him or be absolutely sickened with his style of dream trance, this Holland native is on top of his game as a DJ and seminal as a producer. One of the living legends of Epic and Dream trance, his control on a pair of techs over his audience is second to none. As a producer, Tiesto’s melodic touch and fantasy substructure built around driving beats has gained him praise with his fellow peers. Tiesto’s new single “Love Comes Again” offers not only one trance virtuoso, but two working on one track together. I know what you must be thinking; it’s been a long time coming, but deep down we all wanted Brian back home. It was enviable that Brian Transeau would return to the world of Trance music. Unfortunately, BT leaves the production world for Tiesto and instead just lends his vocals for the first single off Tiesto’s new artist album “Just Be.”
Male vocals on a trance record? Hmm, you rarely hear that (at least I do), but with BT picking up the mic ever since “Satellite” and “Shame,” the audience shouldn’t expect anything less. The Original Mix is nothing short of that uplifting Holland-isqe sound. Early on the record you get little stabs of percussion sounds with techy filter effects hitting with a high b-line. BT’s vocals are used in a minimal effect throughout most the song, but it comes out as if it was more rushed and sped up to keep on pace with the beats. The breakdown is the only time you’ll hear a full vocal line and even then, BT’s vocals are dull. The rest of the track gives way to big sonic riffs and cyber strings that can only be appreciated during raves. Honestly, it’s nothing to get excited about. Initially, I didn’t know what to think when I heard that BT and Tiesto were working on a track together for Tiesto’s new record. Could it be good? Would I enjoy it? How would it sound like? More Tiesto or BT? Well, I have the answers and the results are monotonous. There’s moments where you’ll appreciate it, but then there’s a lot that doesn’t work; most notably the style of use for BT’s vocals. Brian’s vocals have a short range and he just can’t pull off those epic whales that Tiesto loves to use for tracks like this.
On the flip-front comes the Mark Norman Mix. His mix looks into tougher terrain while retaining the vocal and main riffs from Tiesto’s original. Harder beats pounding rapidly while a buzz from the right speaker blink longer and longer. Lots of typical lowered down horns cutup to build the track. Soon enough a bit of high hats hits sees the light of day. Sweeping the sounds off the track BT’s vocal comes in turning the track very epic. When those horns return, they rebuild the track making everything loud and a bit obnoxious. The horns got overused too quickly and the track relies on it too much.
Have male vocals ever worked with Trance music? I don’t think so and I doubt it ever will. I like what Tiesto tried to do with “Love Comes Again” but it really doesn’t sound any different than some of his past work. All it seems like is “Traffic” with the addition of BT’s vocal. Out of the two, the original is far better and less hectic. Honestly, I haven’t listened too much on nu skool trance or just Trance music in general for the past few years so my judgment is still out if the genre still has any punch left to fuel the creative minds out there. I did listen to PvD’s “Reflections” and loved it, so maybe I’ve already answered my question. But one thing I do know is that this could have turned out much better.