If you like to read dj culture magazines then you've probably come across the adjective "upfront." For example, you might encounter a sentence that reads "Paul Oakenfold is an upfront dj." I'm not sure that I know exactly what this word means, or even if it really is a word at all. Although it seems clear that it's a positive adjective.
With his new mix album Tranceport, it's quite certain that Paul Oakenfold is an upfront dj., Paul Oakenfold is one of the pioneers of rave music. When you were into Duran Duran and Molly Ringwald, Paul Oakenfold was blowing kid's minds at underground warehouse parties around London. He soon graduated to more legitimate gigs, and became one of the original "stadium djs." The music on this record is all solid trance - steady four/four beats with swirling melodies and the occasional bleep. I used to be embarrassed to admit that I like trance; but screw it - this is great music. The eleven tracks on the disc are beautifully mixed; I'm pretty sure he used three turntables for this.
Some standouts are "1998" by Binary Finary and the remix of Gus Gus's "Purple" by Sasha and The Light. Trance is really versatile music. It goes well with dancing, exercising, working, sleeping and especially cleaning your room. And it works just as well in the foreground as in the background. Good trance songs have almost a narrative structure to them, and so you won't get bored if you decide to just lay on the couch and concentrate on this disc. Highly recommended.
If you like Paul Oakenfold , check out:
Superstar DJ Keoki All Mixed UP / Moonshine
Sasha and John Digweed Northern Exposure
Dave Ralph Tranceport II
Paul Van Dyk Seven Ways
X-Dream Radio
Orbital Orbital 2 (The Brown Album)
