The sequal to one of the finest collections of productions from Darren Tate has surfaced with his second artist album 'Horizons 02'. Relaxed uplifting Trance music at its best and a logical evolution from the sound of the original...

The music of Darren Tate is something, if you’re really passionate about electronic dance music, that if you've not heard yet you really should. He's produced some of my favourite records with a style that touches the line between mello trance and uplifting house. The early works from Darren were something very special with gorgeous records like 'Fall From Grace' and the very powerful 'Synergy Fall'. These were from the 2002 / 2003 era and one very big record from Darren back then was a collaboration with Jono Grant called 'Let The Light Shine In' which was huge back in the day. I always thing his own Alias is overlooked when it comes to classic compilations and I've not heard those records for some time.

You may know Darren for his other works, most notable under his DT8 Project and more commercial Jurgen Vires moniker. It's his own alias for me that he has produced his finest material and although I was late to pick up on this sequel to the very first 'Horizons', released in 2006, I am very impressed with his new material. This then, is 'Horizons 02', the sequel to one of the finest artist albums you can buy and one which evolves the Tate sound but still holds onto the basics that he made his name with.

Release Date: OUT NOW! (Available from the Mondo Records Shop)

TRACKLIST

1. Chori Chori
2. Ride The Wave
3. When I Fall In Love
4. Sun Electra
5. On The 7th Day
6. I Would Die For You (Jurgen Vries Mix)
7. One True Love (Club Mix)
8. When The Morning Comes
9. Echoes
10. Reverse The Silence
11. Kireii (theme from the motion picture “Royal Kill”) (Darren Tate Mix)

:: BONUS TRACK: Dark Skies featuring the Czech National Symphony Orchestra

If you have been keeping up to date with Darren's recent releases then quite a few of the tracks in here you will already have in the CD collection, or MP3 collection depending on your media of choice. He released a sampler late last year with four of the tracks you see before you in the tracklist. The opening track Chori Chori was released as a single along with Echoes back in 2007 but I dont think really ever took off at the time. They deserve to though as Chori Chori in particular is quite a strong record that has that classic Darren Tate sound but the track itself seem very light and laid back. What I like about it its simplicity with soft kicks and padded beats. The female vocal sample reminded me of the old classic Tate tracks but I think you may well find this a little progressive with a tine of House about it.

That said its a similar feeling throughout the whole album, with not so much massive uplifting drops but subtle melodies and groves that builds progressively. Ride The Wave is a very fitting title as this track has a mellow approach but a flowing melody that washing through the track with a nice addition of vocal right in the middle. The soft sounding beat and melody that rolls throughout the track work very well and should warm the speakers up no problem. It’s a different track to the very short When I fall In Love which has a very effected vocal ripping through it with ripped up layers propping up the bassline. It's short but sweet with a distorted flavour to it but still quite mellow with orchestral strings inserted for good measure.

It's not really a surprise that Darren Tate comes up with such a superb arrangement with his tracks as he is a fully trained classical musician and that is on full show with Dark Skies. It was produced along with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra and although I'm not usually a classical music the music here is quite outstanding. It would not look out of place in one of the most recent Batman films as its got that sense of atmosphere to it. It's not just behind the production desk that Darren puts his skills to good use but you can see the classical elements within his tracks. One in here would be his remix of Kireli with the violin style chords that sweep along the underside of the track. That original track was part of the film score for 'Royal Kill' but its a film I have neither saw or had the pleasure of hearing the original. The remix though is classic Darren with floating melodies and sweeping percussion that sit above a softly edge main beat.

While I'm on about the classic stuff one of the main vocal featured tracks he's produced here is One True Love which pumps in a harmonic male vocal spread over a delightful piano melody. The main break is just that, delightful, but the track that surrounds it is deep and inviting with a free flowing driving melody pushing some uplifting elements into the sound. He still manages to slip in another alias in here with a remix by Jurgen Vires of I Would Die For You which keeps in with the Vires sound but its very mellow with a sweet vocal and pulsating deep bass.

The two highlights for me in here are Sun Electra and On The 7th Day which are both different tracks in sound but both individually brilliant. Sun Electra is bright and energetic with the energy building progressively and dropping a sparkling melody that’s pure genius. The combination of the harmonic bassline and sweet beats and kicks feed in the melody perfectly. When it arrives it’s bright and stutters away in parts, which adds to the effect. It builds up to a peak and drops back down but pops back up when you think its just trailing off. On the 7th Day is a different kettle of fish but similar in style. It’s progressive the way it builds up but slightly slower on the whole. The use of rumbling backing sounds sweeping through the track and bright sunny chords spread around the track make it a pleasure for your ears.

The whole feel of the album is very relaxed with a softer approach to Trance, especially if I were to compare it to the original Horizons. This one is an evolution and a different side of Darren Tate than your used to if you've only heard a few of his old big melody changing, impacting productions. The whole album is soft and light in parts but with an aggressive underside that you might just miss if you were to skip through the tracks. For me it gets better every time I hear it and it’s another classic Darren Tate collection of audio gems.

Conclusion:
It's a superb sequel to his original artist album and one that I'm sure those looking for softer euphoric thrills will lap up like no tomorrow. Slightly progressive in parts and house edged in others but overall very good! Get checking it out.