Monster! Monster! The return of the Monster! Read on!!

Benno de Goeij, the melodic master behind Rank 1, Dutchforce and Jonah, among others, originally penned this beauty back in 99 on the Great ‘In Trance We Trust’ label under his Quest guise. (With the Tracks Shaken Not Stirred and Solitude, which is still my favourite piece of Vinyl Ever!!) It has since been universally known as one of the Greatest dance tracks of all time and it was safe to say that it would receive a rework sometime. Now is the Time! But the question is. Is it any good?

Original Mix. 140bpm

This is not the original Quest Track. But the original 2005 re-work and it’s clear to see Skywarp’s approach on this. As with almost all the releases of old tracks, the empersis is to give the track a more looped and harder edge. Using less melody, coupled with harder drum beats, a quicker tempo, synth basses and acid lines. In fact acid lines seem to be the newest way of updating a track.
Now whilst you may think that Acid lines would not fit with this song, they actually work very well and with the added kick to the loops, the song breaks into the sawing layers of the original. This gives the track an up date not dissimilar to the way Rank 1 remixed Airwave. (Breathing in 04)With maybe the difference being in the break down. Here Tomonari and Tommy Pi stop on a dime. (In the normal hard trance way) and with hardly anytime to spare start the familiar sequence. This is added in that no none scene way of 04/05 hard updates and does give the track a slightly rushed feel. But fear not campers! The sequence has hardly changed and after a small break beat intro, the song hit familiar ground. There is a lovely section in the middle third using the strings for the build up and the track starts off again.
An impressive update. (But only an update) ****

Mike Shiver Remix 137bpm

The young Swedish trance producer brings his own brand of trance to the table. Going for the more Armin Van Buuren sound on this effort. In fact, you could be mistaken for thinking it’s actually a Rising Star Remix from Armin, since the build up and key changes remind me clearly of Burned With Desire. With that in mind. It’s a much more mellow track. With lots of Ibiza stylings and sounds, as used by artists like Above & Beyond and AVB. Soft mellow strings and warm pads take sometime to get going, giving the build up a more ponderous but uplifting sound than the original. But as with the original there is nearly no break. A few hypnotic layers filter into the main sequence and a heavier kick. The track has the normal trance sounds, giving the track a slightly disappointing feel of ‘heard it all before’ even with that excellent Mike Shiver interpretation of the main Sequence. Which is refreshing.
A strong tune for fans of AVB and Above & Beyond, even if it’s a little flat and uneventful. ***

Tom Porcell Remix 139bpm

Plasticmen and Skywarp regular Tom Porcell gets back to the hard trance fair! A really dark kick and delay starts this track off leading into a nice bass line, similar to that of the Original mix. But this is were it gets interesting. This remixes dares to add something different! An amazingly uplifting riff fades in over a snare up and the track takes flight! A beautifully simple layer/fanfare loops over the proceedings into a much darker, brooding break. The synth builds to in the main sequence and another break beat. This time a more meatier bass line jumps over a powerful kick, giving the original power trance anthem a real nice power trance update. With catchy riffs similar to the one’s used in the awesome Seduction remix of Strange by Saltwater, the track grabs you and does not let you go until the final delayed kick snare.
Short and snappy with a real dance floor quality this is solid and impressive Remixing. Works very well indeed. *****

Alphazone Remix 142bpm

Label bosses Alphazone remixing C-Sharp?? Yep it seems weird to me too! But with that said, they do grab your attention with this.! Mainly due to the Guitar lead in the break section. But after an almost boring build up. Lovely techno style pads add real depth from behind the Guitar (which is playing the C-Sharp Sequence) and adds real atmosphere to the mix, until the main sequence fades in. This version of that Classic sequence comes in thinner , almost sounding Jean Michael Jarre like but is soon joined by a vocal layer synth. This again adds depth, but still sounds very old style electronica overall. It adds an Epic feel until a second of silence brings the song crashing into full steam! Huge string attacks are added, giving the track a ‘Main Room’ Mystery style sound more than an Alphazone sound. The guitar is added again, only adding to the Ronald Van De Beuken style and adding a slice of class to the remix.
The vocal layers are equally stirring to the guitar however. Mixing beautifully into the power trance adding another dimension to this peculiar sounding remix.
A strange remix with very good qualities, the Guitar for one and vocal layers but some ordinary, like the production and the build up. But it still has that main room feel and will make people dance for sure. ****

Markus Schulz Remix 134bpm

Another strange choice of big name remixer here. I was some what worried when I heard that Markus Schulz would be remixing this tune. He is a very talented producer for whom I have respected for many years but I didn’t think this would work for him in the slightest. Markus’ laid back style doesn’t serve this track well. But he managers to pull it off with that touch of class he processes. A real ambient feel is flushed over the main sequence, which fades in almost complete unaccompanied for at least three minutes, until a beautiful smooth and floaty break reintroduces the sequence, but this time it’s accompanied by a sawing string sequence. (I get the feeling of the lovely Sunset Mix of Airwave at this point)
The laid back feel is very hypnotic and gives a very Balearic sense of occasion, very reminiscent of Velvet Girl’s Walking On Sunshine and Velvet.
A dreamy take on the track, that is nice to hear for a change and although I don’t think it works with the true sprit of the song. I can’t fault it for what it is. A very neat and precise piece of Progressive trance. Lush in places and warm to the soul and above all, interesting. **

Conclusion:
Overall

The main question here is; is they anything here better than that original?
Well, I’ll be honest. It’s hard to judge. As with the Veracocha remixes, the unmistakable sequence makes anything it’s placed with instantly enjoyable. To answer that big question however. It would have to be, No there isn’t!
The original in 98 was melodic and classy. These remixes are in your face and proud of it, but lack that same class of production skill. Still great remixes from Tom Porcell, which surprised me and Tomonari and Tommy Pi themselves makes this well worth the purchase. Especially for lovers of the original. Plus the specialist remixes, like the Hard Trance from Alphazone, the Prog from Markus Schulz and the uplifting from Mike Shiver will keep many people with different trance back grounds very happy indeed.
These versions are brave and well worth a listen and a dance!

For a different View....Try main man Ian's perspective....Link at the bottom of the page.