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Markus Schulz
Amsterdam 08

3rd February, 2008

Released: 21st January, 2008
Label: Armada Music BV

Amsterdam 08 is a dedication to Markus Schulz's hometown Amsterdam. Reprising Miami 05 and Ibiza 06, this album stretches the musical jaunt further to new skylines.

Markus has done it best, for what he is a name today, compiling some of the best dark progressive trancers in this album. Markus says, "I always choose cities that are dear to me for my annual mix compilation. I just love Amsterdam, I feel a real connection there - my friends there are like my family. The people of Holland were one of the first to embrace and accept me and my sound, so it was the natural choice to do the 08 mix there."

The melodic transition from CD-1 to CD-2 contains the mix from dark to clubby tunes marked by lower BPM. "I really enjoy putting the compilation CDs together", says Markus, "they're always a total labour of love and are in my mind all the time. All year I'll hold back tracks that are just gems for the mix; I'll play them out here and there over the summer but I'll save them for the CD. Amsterdam 08 opens a little differently - CD1 starts quite slow by trance standards: 124 bpm, so it sets the mood, similar to when I'm playing extended sets. The atmosphere builds up so that when you get to CD2 it's full on, middle-of-a-set tempo trance." Markus explains.

CD-1

Under his 'Dakota' alias, Markus Schulz constructed "Amsterdam", a downtempo melody where he put in his soul to match the spirit of Amsterdam - dark melody backed by faint beats and sweet synths. It slowly builds into Leama and James Davis presents Grafiti - Ghettotech, a soft beautiful melodic score is played with noticeable vocals setting 'Amsterdam's' dark mood into a dancy one. Glenn Morrison - Blue Skies With Linda sets a perfect example of an imaginative title and the tune exactly surviving by it, thin pitched pads remind of the skies followed by sweet synth-strumming and parallel beats, this tune just sounds amazing. "I love what he's doing, he's on fire right now!" adds Markus pointing Glenn Morisson's production capabilities. Plastic Angel - Try Walking In My World is a tune brilliant tune with electro-synthed work and a subtle bassline, the melody just sounds right and highly uplifts the mood. The fifth tune of the album Lens - Beyond The Shadows [Moonbeam Remix] is a remix done sullenly by Moonbeam, probably the darkest track of this album. This remix has a trancier feel to it than the original, a continuous wheelie sound plays with ambient pads and some extraordinary synth work. The next track returns to a dark production, Glenn Morrison - Rubberband, an elongated play of gloomy pads. It's finally a change in listening after Rex Mundi - Sunrise In Ibiza, taking a leave form the dark procession this stands out as a very luminous track, probably presenting that Amsterdam is never behind the inspirations taken from Ibiza! Ruben De Ronde does his own wavy-tech remix in Marcus Schossow - Mr. White [Ruben De Ronde Remix]. The next track is sure to give your speakers a massive thrust with nicely worked on bassline in tyDi - Meet Me In Kyoto. Ketho - Silent Room sets up nothing less than a pure progressive trancer in this album for a good easy listening. Markus introduces Supüer - Azaleus, an impressive tune featured in this album, it's a complete sweet synth driven work and will always help you on the dance floor. The long titled Destination X - Dangerous [Gareth Emery Remix / Markus Schulz Big Room Reconstruction] has Gareth's style of music in it, you can't afford to miss this beauty in the album. The last track of CD-1 is more of a space tune, Sonic Division - If I Had Wings will, for a while leave you flying in the space.

CD-2

The succession of CD-2 is as same as CD-1, here Markus starts with Fulyen - Approach, a very subtle tune that slowly hops to Dakota - Progression where the style seems to be taking charge on progressive side of the album. Carl & Joni - Foresaken, here Carl B & JPL join hands to create another progressive tune, sounds a bit flat at times. Markus Schulz - Fly To Colors [Carl B Remix] doesn't differ much from the original, nevertheless, not to forget this shivering beauty! Anton Chernikov - Your Burning Eyes has a heavy bass and melody, showing the dance-rock side of this album's genre. The next tune comes from Breakfast & Mike St. Jule's studio, Breakfast & Mike St. Jules - Only Two Should Know, hints that the melody is given by Breakfast and the bass-beats have been handled by Mike St. Jules, just a guess from what is evident aurally. Markus Schulz featuring Andy Moor - Daydream [Coldharbour Remix] is a different version from the original, keeping the heavenly vocal as it was and adding more progression to it. Remember that slain bassline of the original? A gem from Irish duo Agnelli & Nelson - Sleeping In Airports fastens the listening pleasure. The aggressive thick layered bassline is a trademark Agnelli & Nelson have been showing off recently and this work totally defines it. Bebop - Breakthrough Woodpecker has all the elements of an advanced trancer enduring to latest production trends we are witnessing today. BEN & Mr. Pit - More Manners Please sounds like a successful experiment where progressive sounds end up in tech! Interesting tune! A charging bassline and leading melody is what it takes to form EnMass - Avalon, it sounds filthy and just right to move your body! Kenneth Tjonasam - Formulation, call it electro or tech; you are for sure moving to this one! Markus ends the Amsterdam affair with Vir2l Vision - Entry To Heaven [Benya Remix], completely atmospheric and a tune motivated by grinding bass with melodic reformations in the background. The Amsterdam journey ends with this beauty.

With Amsterdam 08, Markus succeeds in branding his style of music and taking it a level ahead. This album is bound to stay in your CD players for a while.

Track listing:
CD-1
101 - Dakota - Amsterdam
102 - Leama and James Davis present Grafiti - Ghettotech
103 - Glenn Morrison - Blue Skies With Linda
104 - Plastic Angel - Try Walking In My World
105 - Lens - Beyond The Shadows [Moonbeam Remix]
106 - Glenn Morrison - Rubberband
107 - Rex Mundi - Sunrise In Ibiza
108 - Marcus Schössow - Mr. White [Ruben De Ronde Remix]
109 - TyDi - Meet Me in Kyoto
110 - Ketho - Silent Room
111 - Supüer - Azaleus
112 - Destination X - Dangerous [Gareth Emery Remix / Markus Schulz Big Room Reconstruction]
113 - Sonic Division - If I Had Wings
CD-2
201 - Fulyen - Approach
202 - Dakota - Progression
203 - Carl & Joni - Foresaken
204 - Markus Schulz - Fly To Colors [Carl B Remix]
205 - Anton Chernikov - Your Burning Eyes
206 - Breakfast & Mike St. Jules - Only Two Should Know
207 - Markus Schulz featuring Andy Moor - Daydream [Coldharbour Remix]
208 - Agnelli & Nelson - Sleeping In Airports
209 - Bebop - Breakthrough Woodpecker
210 - BEN & Mr. Pit - More Manners Please
211 - EnMass - Avalon
212 - Kenneth Tjonasam - Formulation
213 - Vir2l Vision - Entry To Heaven [Benya Remix]