The European Version of Symsonic is finally here after months of wait, with the highly anticipated DVD as well! Here, FCFan looks into the various factors which make this combination one of the true masterpieces of 2002!
The Symsonic DVD
Trance Energy
The trance energy video starts off with the gorgeous symsonic, An easy going tune with a lovely ambient feeling to it which really helped to set the mood of the crowd, the overall atmosphere looked absolutely electric, and with guys like Piet & Benno playing, you can see why. Next comes cosmomatic, which is a happier tune than Symsonic, a nice number from the guys, it looks like it could have a great potential for remixes and the like. After this the older 'Black Snow' followed, very basic in its complexity, with a kicking beat that really helped move the crowd. The crowd was massive and every single person is hanging on the guys and what will come next. Passage To the Unknown is what they get. a very heavy beat to it, and a lovely soft sound starts playing, a tune which is not too dis-similar to Awakening plays and maybe a heavier beat than before, almost tribal. Some Nice work from Benno with the filter and the crowd are loving every single second of the masterpiece that is unfolding before their eyes.
Up next is the tune that broke the hearts of the world, the amazing Airwave. As soon as the crowd realise what they're hearing they go even more mental than before if that was possible. The entire building reaches for the sky, each trying to touch the stars and beyond. The song that to many changed the face of uplifting trance forever, is kissing every person in the building. A slightly harder tune follows as awakening comes to the crowd, who couldn't be more awake with a years supply of caffeine. The gentle tune of awakening plays and slowly builds into the amazing display of synths that sounds better the louder it gets, blowing up eardrums as it goes. The crowd can't get enough here, and the noise from them is amazing. Fireworks begin and the crowd duck for cover, what else will Piet & Benno use to tame them now ? Lastly to the set comes Such Is Life, one of the most beautiful pieces of music I think Rank 1 Have produced. The spacesuit clad dancers on the big balls come down, and the whole place goes mental. Gold Confetti streams down, and the place goes dark, lasers coming out, Red, Yellow, Blue & Green. Rank 1 have produced a superb liveset here, and it has to been seen and heard to be believed, for some that was reality on the cold night in February 2002. For others, the price of the album is worth it alone for this set. Appreciation is shown for Piet & Benno. and the set is over.
Sometimes you wonder if a DVD of a set could capture the actual energy and passion shown live, well if you couldn't be there live, this is a must for you, it comes as close to being there as you will get, and is visually and musically delightful.
The Videos
Such Is Life @ Sensation 2001 The violins play as the arena goes dark, a soft sound can be heard and then Shanokee's lucious voice comes in. The violinists play as smoke fills around them. Next in comes the beats and an amazing green laser display, shots of the crowd are shown and all of them are dancing their hearts away. The energy felt during the peformance is immense, the lasers are amazing and Piet & Benno are really enjoying it, seeing the reaction to months worth of work in the studio is always worth it. Shanokee looks stunning in a white outfit and her voice live blesses the song so much, it has such a feeling to it. Fire is shown as the track somes to an end, and the crowd voice their appreciation for the visual display.
Awakening It starts with a newsreader in Hollywood, A car race is about to begin as well as an illegal party. clips are shown of the DJ and the racers, and then the cars begin. The tune starts as the dancers & cars are shown in clips, Smoke starts and the cars are off. The DJ who spoke before is having it large and all the people are American. The Race continues and the array of powerful cars goes on. The newsreader continues to interview people and they love it. The Tune itself is slightly different from the 12inch mixes, more of a radio edit. The cars are ready for the Big final race, and the nutters who're driving talk to the Newscaster. They're off and tyres screech as the 2 men go off & crash. The guys are both ok, but the cars don't really seem to be. It fades out as they both celebrate the crash. Weird...
Airwave Piet & Benno are shown in white space gear, and holding helmets. Two women with long hair and short revealing outfits strap the guys into two computers and they're monitored by the aforementioned women. Rank 1 shows on the monitor and they're off over a landscape of rocky snow peaks and lush mountains, green seas and sand dunes. This carries on and clips are shown of Piet & Benno and the 2 assistants, over lovely green seas and brown mountains. More such landscapes continue to show as the guys are flown over in the virtual reality suits. It just fades out at the end, simple ending to a nice video.
Such Is Life The video begins with a man lying down, looking somewhat depressed. Its a slow start and a policeman is shown, then back to the first guy, in a thinking kind of mood. It looks like he's been imprisoned and the copper walks towards him, keys swinging. the guy looks into a sink of water and washes his face. The Cop carries on walking as the man dresses, He then walks handcuffed and outside. He looks to have a tear in his eye, and then he's walked back inside and towards what looks like an electric chair, for a lethal injection, as this guy turns out to be a murderer. He is tired down and linked to a machine, and then the injections are set up and put into him, He suffers and a note saying 'some day hopefully the death penalty will be the end of a dream and not real pain' or something along those lines.
The Album
Symsonic A beautiful piece of music to start the album with, Really ambient and easy going, yet beautiful in its delicacy, Borderline on something You'd expect from William Orbit. This is one of the best tunes on the album, the tune at 1:48onwards is so powerful and emotional yet still uplifting at the same time. 10/10
Cosmomatic A nice tune, with a lot of potential here, It's uplifting and original and happier than some of the other tunes on the compilation. The tune is well constructed and makes for a good listen, nice to hear straight after symsonic. Shame its so short. 9/10
Airwave (Album Cut) There should be no need for introduction here, Airwave is one of the finest pieces of work Ever heard, Loved by fans and non-fans of trance alike, this has a sad feeling to it yet whenever it is dropped sends the crowds wild and an all time anthem. 10/10
Conspiracy A chilled kind of tune with a lovely feeling to it, shut your eyes and imagine hearing it on a beach with warm water & soft sands, time stands still for this tune and It is sure to become a big hit if ever released individually, Has an almost Thrillseekers feel to it on first listen, nicely arranged and would fit in well, Definitely not filler material.. 9/10
T.T.C. An experimental piece of music from Piet & Benno here, really really chilled and a beat that is not usually associated with trance tunes. It's not the kind of tune that would jump out at you, but in the right atmosphere must sound great, The bass later on is a strong element in this tune, and the piano helps make it an enjoyable listen 8/10
Awakening (Radio Edit) Awakening is now being played by most DJs but this is a slightly commercial feeling mix of it, Really short, the same vocalist as Airwave's Radio Edit had too I believe, very short and though it's still powerful, not enough buildup in it to make it a great tune, definitely a weaker version of this tune, I'd stick to another mix personally. 6/10
Down from the Deep A dirty piece of progressive music here, with an almost tribal feel to it, Down from the deep is a slightly weaker track in my opinion than some of the others, but maybe it's because I'm so used to uplifting music from Rank 1, not an awful piece, but doesn't jump out as killer material 6/10
Equilibrium Darker than the last tune, a squelchy bassline adds effect to the tune from the beginning. Turns into a more chilled piece of music after not too long though. Would sound nice in the beginning of a set I think, the bass is good though, it adds something you don't always hear in a Rank 1 tune. 8/10
Such Is Life (Sunday Afternoon Rework) A Slower version of the song with great bass, the way this has been arranged really compliments the vocals well, Really chilled like 'No Ordinary Morning' By Chicane in style, the slowness doesn't show though, The Main tune from the original is in here, and sounds really good, One of the better pieces on the album.9/10
Passage to the unknown A nice song here, It maybe needs a couple of listens to really appreciate it fully, but still really good, Not too dissimilar from Awakening in the makeup to the tune, it retains an originality of its own and is a good tune, Not Hands in the Air Material, but would sound good in a set still. 8/10
Still In My Mind A breakbeat in the tune and a nice bassline adds to the feeling here, Reminds me of Miro - By Your Side' The tune actually sounds like it was done by 'York' in the sound of 'The Awakening' and 'Reachers Of Civilisation' An easy going tune, that although it's not overly uplifting, catches your attention and is really nice 10/10
Airwave (Sunset Mix) As slow as a snail and as easy to listen to as waves of a warm sea, this remix of Airwave really hits the spot, It takes it's time to get going, but then it does, the tune that made Rank 1 so famous really does the trick, I absolutely love every mix I've heard of Airwave, and this comes close to being the best. 10/10
Such Is life (Album Cut) The longest tune on the album is one of the best Live, Although I prefer remixes like Marco V's than this, the tune itself can get a bit repetitive after a while, or that is my opinion, but the Violin sound and the vocals keep you listening through all of that. 7/10
Citrus Juicer To end the compilation, an old tune, which sounds it too when compared to the newer material, still good, but not as good as some of the others. A strong sound to it though and deserves it's place here, maybe I'm being unfair because of Airwave & others, but I've heard better, that doesn't make this a bad track though, 7/10
Overall it’s a very nice offering from Rank 1, but I feel that some of the tunes could’ve been longer, The movie itself shows how good a live event can be and retains a lot of the atmosphere from there, and the music videos themselves are a nice touch to add to the content, and all well produced
Ratings….
Movie 10/10 Videos 9/10 CD Album 8/10
Credits go to FCFan for this truly sensational piece of work from Piet & Benno!
Contact FCFan for personal comments here
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