Album Review: Markus Schulz - Scream 2

Get ready to Scream some more!

Markus Schulz is set to released "Scream 2", his fifth-studio album and the sequel to last year’s "Scream" album. The 17 track album is sort of Markus’ going back to his roots.

"Scream 2" kicks off with "Reloaded," a track bursting with big room sounds with a melodramatic break filled with haunting chant and rolling kick drums that would surely be a hit on a dance floor. Another dance floor ready track is "Dancing In The Key Of Life" with a higher pitched melody and faster bpm. And "In The Shadows" which shows Markus prowess in producing - blending spoken words seamlessly with big room melody and bass en route to a club room vibe.

There are also tracks that are geared towards the festival vibe and one of my favorite is "Remember This," the most sought after ID last year. Pulsating bass line and melodic synths are abundant on this track as well as in "Mardi Gras" and the darker "Destino" track.

The album is also filled with vocal tracks which might not please the purist listeners of trance. But give it a listen and you will be surprise how well Markus produced each track. Liz Primo’s voice in the piano-filled melodies of "Blown Away" is just amazing while jaw-dropping vocals by Liz Horsman in "Lord Knows" will surely be a fan favorite.

Markus showed his prowess in mixing again - combining old-school dance sound with modern day progressive synths in "Make You Fall" which features the powerful voice of CeCe Peniston. He then found the balance between Lady V’s sultry vocals and big room melodic synths in "Erase You." One of my fave of the album and the new “stalker anthem” as per Markus.

"Scream 2" ends with two great calming tracks - "Reflection" and "Towards The Sun," a track he collaborated with Rex Mundi. Both tracks got that feel-good upbeat vibe that puts a smile on your face.

Markus went back to his roots with the album. It might not be a journey down the rabbit hole but with stellar production and high quality tracks, "Scream 2" will surely be a great addition to anyone’s collection - whether you are a purist or a more progressive listener. So get ready to scream some more when "Scream 2" hits the stores on February 21.

Release Date: February 21, 2014
Label : Armada Music
Catalog: ARMA375

PreOrder: https://www.armadamusicshop.com/detail/AC209305/Scream-2-Markus-Schulz-Arma375

Tracklist:
01. Markus Schulz - Reloaded
02. Markus Schulz & Venom One ft. Chris Madin - Revolution
03. Markus Schulz ft. Liz Primo - Blown Away
04. Markus Schulz - Remember This
05. Markus Schulz ft. Lady V - Erase You
06. Markus Schulz - Destino
07. Markus Schulz ft. Adina Butar - Muse
08. Markus Schulz - Dancing In The Key Of Life
09. Markus Schulz ft. Liz Horsman - Lord Knows
10. Markus Schulz & Klauss Goulart ft. Paul Aiden - Fireworks
11. Markus Schulz - In The Shadows
12. Markus Schulz ft. CeCe Peniston - Make You Fall
13. Markus Schulz - Mango
14. Markus Schulz - Mardi Gras
15. Markus Schulz ft. Amy Kirkpatrick - Gravity
16. Markus Schulz - Reflection
17. Markus Schulz & Rex Mundi - Towards The Sun

This review can also be found on:
- Think IN Electronic: http://www.thinkinelectronic.com/2014/02/get-ready-to-scream-some-more.html
- Trance Hub: http://trancehub.com/v3/reviews/markus-schulz-scream-2/

Last Post Of 2013

December 31, 2013 - Here we go, another year is coming to an end. Some of the countries like Australia, Japan, Philippines and UK - have welcome 2014 already and in about 2 hours, I will welcome 2014 as well. So it's time to reflect on the year that was ... 2013.

2013 was like a roller coaster ride. There were ups and there were downs. I feel like it was a tough year for me - mentally and physically. It felt like déjà vu when I came back to the United States and knowing that I will be alone once more. One thing was certain though - things weren't the same and the environment has truly change. But I trudge along each day doing what I know is the best. I do notice that my patience level has gone down a bit especially in certain situations and circumstances. So I will need to get that back up to the level I want it to be and just go with the flow. And that, my readers is my first resolution for 2014.

Maybe age is catching up on me but I can't seems to get myself into consistently working out like two years ago. I have set my mind in doing Insanity all over again but I still have not achieve the level of fitness that I want to be before doing the workout again. I was playing ball for awhile but after getting hammered and hurting my back, I have slowly ease myself out of playing. We that being said, I have two goals - first, start workout out consistently and second, pick up a new sport - I'm thinking golf.

If you found my social life this year, can you please tell it to come back home. Social life was pretty dull this year.  Maybe it's because I am getting older that I have cut down drastically on going out especially on work nights. The good thing is that I spend less, the drawback is that sometimes I don't even know what I want to do. I don't think I even hit any clubs this year to watch a DJ play. Not that I have been hiding in my place, I have been out but not as much as I used to be. I do need though if I want to meet new people to hang out with. So I think its time to hit the scene again but not like 2011.  If there is a good DJ, I will go even if I'm going by myself. And time to hit the museums and social scene as well. Who knows, maybe I will meet someone in 2014 as well.

Well, I have a lot more resolutions that I want to do but I will keep them to myself ^_^.  Two more hours and its 2014. Go enjoy yourselves but don't go overboard. Don't drink and drive and Stay Safe and Have a great time ushering in the New Year. Wishing you all the great health and prosperity in 2014.

Namaste...

Album Review: Ad Brown - Something For The Pain

This review can also be found at Trance Hub
http://trancehub.com/v3/reviews/ad-brown-something-for-the-pain/

It’s been a couple of years since Ad Brown burst into the EDM scene and finally he has released his debut album entitled “Something For The Pain.” The album took Brown close to 30 months dwindling 100 demos down to 14 tracks that would surely be liked by EDM lovers out there.

The album begins with some chill vocal tracks in Ready and Waiting with Hannah Ray and More with Tess. These tracks gets you into the mood with some amazing harmony before a bigger, deeper progressive sound comes into play in Thrive, a track he collaborated with Stan Kolev and another vocal track - Run To You, featuring the strong vocals of Antonia Lucas. Melodic xylophone keys are predominant in Tears while piano notes resonate throughout Sorry and that whispered lyrics is quite calming.

Brown change the tempo of the album with Pulse, a collaboration with Shawn Mitiska that started out with increasing bass line before settling down with lush melodic beats. Renee Six exudes dramatic emotions in the title track Something For The Pain which was released last year in the compilation ISOS 10. Some uplifting moments can be felt in the next two tracks - Up All Night with Steve Kaetzel & Kerry Leva and All I Need before Been A While brings contrast with some strong male vocals and that "housey" beats.

Tempo increases in Like The Sunrise, second track he collaborated with Kaetzel but this time features Arielle Maren’s voice and Lie Awake which features Ray’s voice before ending the album by bringing down the tempo with a classic track in Tonight with Mango & Leva

Ad Brown’s debut album is an interesting though not a stellar production. The album cannot be peg to one type of EDM genre since it got a mix of house and trance tracks. Some of Ad Brown’s known hits weren't include but EDM lovers will still enjoy the smoothness and chill factor of this album. And who knows, maybe one of the tracks is truly Something For the Pain.

Label: Black Hole Recordings
Release Date: December 2, 2013


Tracklist:
01. Ready And Waiting (with Hannah Ray)
02. More (with Tess)
03. Thrive (with Stan Kolev)
04. Run To You (ft. Antonia Lucas)
05. Tears
06. Sorry
07. Pulse (with Shawn Mitiska)
08. Something For The Pain (ft. Renee Six)
09. Up All Night (with Steve Kaetzel & Kerry Leva)
10. All I Need
11. Been A While
12. Like The Sunrise (with Steve Kaetzel ft. Arielle Maren)
13. Lie Awake (with Hannah Ray)
14. Tonight (with Mango & Kerry Leva)
Bonus Track:
15. When Stars Collide (with Frida Hernask)

Where to Buy:
iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/something-for-the-pain/id750907023
Fine Night - http://www.finenight.com/black-hole-recordings/something-for-the-pain.html
Beatport - http://www.beatport.com/release/something-for-the-pain-bonus-track-version/1198672

This review can also be found at Trance Hub 
http://trancehub.com/v3/reviews/ad-brown-something-for-the-pain/

Recipe: Pumpkin Cheesecake

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Thanksgiving is here once again and it means Thanksgiving dinners. Tons of food - turkey, stuffing, sides and of course desserts. And if you need to bring a dessert, why not try to make one instead of buying store brand. Here is my recipe from Pumpkin Cheesecake and one thing for certain - there is no baking. Yup.. NO BAKING!! And you can make this Thanksgiving day but I would prefer to make it the night before.

Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:
1 pkg (8 oz) Cream Cheese, softened (Store brand will suffice)
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree (I love Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tub Whipped Topping, thawed or Whipped Cream
1 Graham Pie Crust (6 oz)

Preparation:
Beat cream cheese, pumpkin, sugar and cinnamon with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.
Stir in 1 cup of the whipped topping or whipped cream.
Spoon the mixture into crust
Refrigerate for three hours or overnight.  Serve topped with the remaining whipped topping or cream.

Tips:
Make sure the cream cheese is softened or else you will have a hard time mixing even with an electric mixer.
Don't like to use Cream Cheese? not to worry, you can use Neufchatel Cheese - 1/3 less fat than a regular Cream Cheese.
Want more of the Pumpkin taste? Replace cinnamon with pumpkin pie spice.
You can also add 1/4 tsp of nutmeg and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract for added taste.

Enjoy and have a Happy Thanksgiving! 

Album Review: Christopher Lawrence - Rush Hour 2013

This review can also be found at
http://trancehub.com/v3/reviews/christopher-lawrence-rush-hour-2013/

Update (12/08/13) - My review can also be found at Pharmacy Music's website
http://www.pharmacymusic.com/trancehub-christopher-lawrence-best-of-rush-hour-2013/

Avid trance addicts know that there are other forms of trance - not the mainstream ones but more of the underground. And who better to release a compilation of underground trance than Christopher Lawrence. Pharmacy Music’s head honcho is set to unleash Rush Hour 2013, a seventeen track compilation composed of the best in underground, tech and psy trance.

You will surely be up on your feet from the get-go as Christopher Lawrence drop tracks such as Expand Your Mind by Nick Sentience, Reactivity by Polaris, I’m High by Hypnocoustics and Oberon’s Electric Chair. He also drop his own track Libra. But not to worry as he subliminally drops some breaks to give you a chance to catch your breath between pulsating beats and mind blowing melodic synths. The selection of tracks was excellent which definitely contributed to the smooth transition of these dark and twisted trance tracks.

What else can I say about this compilation? It’s fantastic! Get ready to Feel the Rush when Rush Hour 2013 hits stores next month.

Release Date:
Exclusively on Beatport – December 2nd, 2013
Available Worldwide – December 16th, 2013

Label: Pharmacy Music

Tracklist:
01. Ritmo - Follow Me (Perfect Stranger Remix)
02. Reaky - Katarza
03. Oberon - Electric Chair
04. Molok - Restless Dreams
05. Christopher Lawrence - Libra
06. Nick Sentience - Expand your Mind
07. Timelock - Push the Gain
08. Predators - What Is Out There (Alchemix Remix)
09. Polaris - Reactivity
10. Hypnoise - Reality
11. Savage Circuit - Buying Time
12. Hypnoise - Organic Machinery
13. Mirok - Lsdrome
14. Hypnocoustics - I'm High
15. Cylon - In Through The Out Door (Earthspace Remix)
16. Savage Circuit - Slight of Mind
17. Twina - Dama

This review can also be found at http://trancehub.com/v3/reviews/christopher-lawrence-rush-hour-2013/