One of the world's most respected trance jocks delivers us a sparkling new compilation, filled with tracks in that distinct style which Ferry has been creating during the past few years. Read on for a comprehensive review!

Having mixed numerous compilations since ’99, including the classic Innercity mix, two Dance Valley CD’s and of course his World Tour series, Ferry has definitely proven that he is also able to enable the crowd to feel his unique style on compilations. This new concept has been called ‘Passport’ because, according to Ferry, it is “the most single document needed when travelling … it acts as my memorabilia through the various stamps that I’ve accumulated”. As Ferry’s native country is of course the Netherlands, he decided to name the first edition of this new compilation series exactly the same.

There are two versions of this compilation by the way: the US release featuring two discs, and the European release including one disc. The latter one is being reviewed here.

And there we go. Starting off with Bill Hamel’s remix of ‘Daydreamer’, we get treated with a tune that definitely fits into Ferry’s style. It’s smooth and driving with some electro-ish influences here and there, accelerated by a set of well fitting male vocals. One of the best parts is the immensely catchy bassline: it continuously plays this very funky rhythm throughout the track, enabling other elements like inventive synths to develop more and more. This induces a lot of originality to flow out of this first song on the CD, definitely a good thing! The mix to Yilmaz Altanhan’s ‘Eighties’ (Özgür Can Remix) sounds very smooth, but is just a little bit too abrupt for my liking. Anyway, most of you might know that mister Can usually makes progressive music that stands out in multiple ways. And this one is no exception! A fierce kick and a bassline that sounds like a deep rock guitar are the main ingredients here, backed by some addictive high melodies.
‘Till There Was You’ is up next, in a remix by the famous Gabriel & Dresden duo. Rachael Starr’s vocals work out in a nice way, but I can’t really get into the rest of the track. It does have a cool twinkling sound in it every now and then, plus the overall structure is rather original with the double kickdrums and the nice breaks, but at a certain moment it just gets too repetitive in my opinion. Gladly, there’s a wagonload of other tracks to come, with ‘Endless Desire’ being one of them. Mark Otten brings us his Energetic Mix, being mixed into the sound spectrum flawlessly. A shining set of basses and some very sunny elements make this a deep, yet summerish experience. A good use of both low frequencies and a Jurgen Vries-ish main synth take care of the climax, resulting in a very decent track. It’s also hearable that this is the part where trance starts to take over: the first three tracks were leaning more to the progressive side, but this suddenly becomes a lot more melodic! One of Fundamental’s main acts, Solid Globe, is up next with one of the tracks from their new EP. It’s a trancer in true Solid Globe style with that unique percussion and unmistakable bongo thingie, with one of the key ingredients being a piano backed by a rather high synth. I own this vinyl myself as well, and I like the flipside called ‘Found’ a lot better. This one’s OK too, but I somehow can’t get used to the piano and it’s accompanying melodies.
With the drive of the overall mix gaining more and more power every track, we finally get to one of mr. Corsten’s own tracks. And it’s really something! Though it’s a remake of the classic ‘Galaxia’ track by Ferry’s Moonman alias, it certainly works out in an amazing way. Ferry has transformed it in a contemporary trancer, but with just that extra bite and spice that he always has in his tracks. The main riff is being introduced by a bunch of sweeping strings during the break, enabling a superb amount of tension to be created. The melody remains at the end, and still knows how to create a mega-uplifting hands-in-the-air vibe.
The euphoria is being taken to the next level by Ferry’s mix of BT’s ‘The Force Of Gravity’. A sidenote must be made here about the mixing by the way: it’s tight as hell! Again, this one is a very driving trancer, with a magnificent high melody in the break. The vocals from the original are spot-on, resulting in a more than fine tune. ‘Lately’ is another vocal track with a deep and banging percussion and some good lyrics. Though it’s served in a remix by Riley & Durrant, I first thought this was a production by the guys from Above & Beyond. The structure is a lot alike, but it might just be me in the end ;-). ’2Day’ by German producer Ronski Speed is a full on instrumental trancer with a very uplifting melody, but overall too standard I think. It’s one of those tracks you forget easily and don’t really remember when you finish listening to the CD.
But don’t worry, because all this ‘negativism’ is being wiped away completely by Dogzilla’s storming new track! Their previous ‘Your Eyes’ was amazing, and this one definitely continues in this tradition. A filthy, greedy but amazingly cool bassline bangs on and on, but the really good thing here is the use of some very well thought out male vox. Blasting synths take care of huge climaxes, resulting in a wonderful addition to this compilation. One of the scene’s biggest talents named Sander van Doorn takes you on an everbuilding rollercoaster ride in his track ‘Adrenaline’. This one’s insane: it gears up during the first portion of the track using just one very simple melody, but it’s só energetic! Filtering, adjusting and warping around, it creates total devastation at a certain point combined with the already heavy percussion. This is a true dancefloor cracker, one of the best I’ve heard this year I guess.
Until now, I really like the way in which the CD has been put together: as said, the first few tracks were rather proggy, then going to trance, and now moving on to some darker stuff with the Dogzilla tune and Purple Haze. A little bit of a contrast is being created when Ferry’s own ‘Sublime’ is being injected into the mix. Steve Helstrip is on remix duty here, creating a somewhat emotional track. The main melody in the breakdown just works on your feelings a bit, good stuff. ’Underwater’ appeared for the first time on a System F album in Japan last year. It’s a trancy gem in true SF style, but it’s loads and loads too bland in my opinion. It relies heavily on a constantly up and down going melody which is just a bit too hard for me to understand I guess, too repetitive. Again, this mediocrity is being compensated away completely by what might be the highlight of the CD.
‘Who’s Knockin’?’ is a collaboration between Ferry and Benni Benassi (yes!), and it became a fantastic track! Big rumbling basslines are being thrown in the blender with Ferry’s trademark percussion and one of the most inventive vocal parts I’ve heard this year. The girl sings and talks throughout the whole track and has a really clear voice, adding up to the already crisp atmosphere. They even included some humor in the break: suddenly, she starts asking herself who’s there behind the door, then to start screaming ‘are you there?’ a bunch of times. This is legendary already! Screaming more and more ‘hello’s’, suddenly a repeating vocal part enters, then for the track to burst loose with all the energy that’s left in there. Fabulous track. A track by Gesture’s labelowner Misja Helsloot is the closer of this first Passport edition. Pierre Hiver (whom you might know from the Hiver & Hammer duo) has made a rather hard remix with mysterious synths playing throughout the first part. Nice strings and a relaxing melody take care of the break, then to break loose for one last time. Nothing superb
here, but certainly a nice way to end this ride!

The full tracklisting:

Tonepusher’s – Daydreamer (Bill Hamel Remix)
Yilmaz Altanhan – Eighties (Özgür Can Remix)
Rachael Starr – Till There Was You (Gabriel & Dresden Club Mix)
Varian – Endless Desire (Mark Otten Energetic Remix)
Solid Globe – Lost Cities
Ferry Corsten – Galaxia
BT – Force Of Gravity (Ferry Corsten Bootleg Remix)
Airbiscuit – Lately (Riley & Durrant Mix)
Ronski Speed – 2Day
Dogzilla – Without You
Purple Haze – Adrenaline
Ferry Corsten – Sublime (Thrillseekers Remix)
System F – Underwater
FB feat. Edun – Who’s Knockin’? (Ferry Corsten Remix)
Misja Helsloot – Blue Monkey (Pierre Hiver Remix)

Conclusion:
This first edition of Ferry’s new compilation concept works out really well with amazing tracks like Galaxia, Force Of Gravity, Without You, Adrenaline and Who’s Knockin’. Most of the other tracks are good as well, but some could have been replaced with better stuff I think. I can’t really say much about the mixing, apart from the fact that it’s just how it should be: tight, well timed and sometimes not even hearable. All in all a nice CD with some ups and downs, but the ups definitely wipe away their opposites!