Majai is an electronic dance music project of Anna Sennikova and Mark Kruger. They debuted on Monster Tunes back in 2007 with track the "Lightwave" and their track "Phoria" exploded on to the scene in 2008 with a little help from Elevation and Jorn van Deynhoven who delivered the big room remixes. The people who witnessed Ferry Corsten at the Trance Energy mainstage must surely remember when he dropped the Jorn van Deynhoven Remix. Now back to present; they are here with a new track called Strange which again (as per usual with Majai releases) comes with a rather impressive remix package. Once again courtesy of Tetsuo who also released the Phoria track.
"Everything is peculiar and it's strange"
Re:Locate Remix / Dub
Paul Moelands aka Octagen aka Re:Locate - a man of many names delivers the first remix for this track. The track is well driven by the rolling bassline and some good vocal'ish stabs. The vocal itself works really well with Paul's style and one can tell that this wouldn't be his first vocal remix. The pay-off begins with a sort of stabbing synth sequence which then breaks out in a good combination between bass, drums and the main lead - quite energic and club friendly.
Cressida Remix / Dub
Cressida is (cressida is only 1 guy now) behind one of my favourite tunes this year and that being his remix of Coll & Tolland's Redemption. So obviously I have a good reason to be excited about this remix. As expected a bit of lovely progressive trance synth work to colour the track plus a funky bassline to go with that. Even though the lead satisfies me I would had hoped for something even bigger lead - it still works though.
Nitrous Oxide Remix / Dub
Nitrous Oxide has always been better at remixing (his first record aside) if you ask me. What annoys me though is the bass in this mix. The type of bass I personally have been praying for to leave trance for good. Unfortunately it keeps on turning up in various tracks and remixes. Krzysztof does a good job fitting in and arranging the vocals and giving them a good support with some added pads which indeed gives the track a good atmosphere. The lead is not too impressive and I would have expected something fresh or powerful but he plays a safe card instead. Nitrous is usually good to spark up a track if it has a good melody on beforehand but this time he had to be more creative and maybe that was what lead to remix just being "ok".
2XLC Remix
Talla pulls off a remix as well and under his 2XLC guise. He recently released a track called "Dante's Peak" on tetsuo Hybrid and it was clear that this project is reserved for the deeper, minimalistic and progressive side of Talla 2XLC. And so a bit more of a house bottom-end and a deeper bass. The vocals are slowly served in dry bits as a part of the build-up and Anna repeats the word "Stranger". This remix never really blows up at any point but it has its qualities, even though it isn't revolutionary. The different parts just works together and the synths used all gives the track a good vibe.
DJ Preach Remix / Dub
I feel DJ Preach was an odd choice for a tune like this. Even though he is quite a talent I think his style and this type of base track would work just as well together as two positively charged ions. And even though he lays out a big bassline and some neat percussion the tune still feels more like a bootleg than an actual remix. I think a dub would be the best to pick here.
Original Mix / Radio Edit
The original version is a combination of a nice padded atmosphere, clear vocals and some nice chunky edginess. The full original version is perhaps a little too much considered how interesting it actually is but the radio mix works really well.
Verdict
There is no doubt that I was biased before picking up this package for a review. The expectations were big as I felt that their two first releases were a success. This release does however feel like a sequel that simply is trying too hard. It doesn't match the quality we have heard before but there are a few mixes that are still worth checking out; both Cressida and Re:Locate are good with vocals and this shows. Two good mixes that each represents a different style and my personal favourite would be the Cressida one cause of the bassline work and the pleasent melodies - not to forget the big main lead.
ReLocate Remix is absolutely ing terrible piece of trance, the dub isn't any better even though the vocals are horrible.
Cressida Remix is slightly less worse, but still definitely ty music.
Nitrous Oxide Remix/Dub sounds like Above & Beyond and that isn't exactly a good thing, but still it's the best one so far. I can listen to this without cringing. The vocal is terrible though.
2XLC Remix sounds too deadmau5y with vocals. Terrible.
DJ Preach Remix. Seriously WTF happened to Preach. Why is he even remixing like this? Vocal mix sounds terrible cuz of the vocals. Dub mix doesn't sound half bad actually, but is nothing compared to what Preach used to make. Sad :(
Original Mix reminds me of Lasgo… Not a very positive thing. Radio Edit I won't comment on as I don't listen to radio or radio edits.
So is this worth the 27,45 € Beatport wants for this? If you think paying double the price of a CD album for a bunch of ty remixes of the same horrible track is a good investment, then maybe. If you don't, then hell no.
ing modern day trance . Makes me sick. The people making this should come up with their own genre and stop calling this trance, so it'd be easier to find actual trance.
KrisA
That's straight down honestly right there haha.
But well, you don't have to buy the complete release. :)
And as I mentioned I also felt that Preach was an odd choice for this single.
skip
quote:
Originally posted by KrisA
That's straight down honestly right there haha.
But well, you don't have to buy the complete release. :)
And as I mentioned I also felt that Preach was an odd choice for this single.
I know I don't have to buy the whole release, but I just found the release price absolutely outrageous, so I had to comment on that one. I'd think people would buy more music and would discover more new stuff if the Beatport release prices were more sensible, so that in most cases it would make sense to buy the whole release if you like more than one or few of the tunes. Now I don't think anyone buys tho whole release as there's absolutely no point in it at all.
KrisA
They should have more bargains for sure. To get more sales they should consider selling packages like this one for a cheaper price. For instance buy the whole release for 11.95 or something.
swayne21
:eyes: :eyes: :eyes: skip is a jackass! :whip: i heard the majai live before and like their slamming sets! this release sounds great! dj preach remix and relocate mixes are the winners but cressida isnt bad either! maybe you should record some music and hear how you sound! :mad: :mad: you overly exagerated criticism is the same z i used to see on groovanaut and buzzlife and the reason why i left that forum. fking elitist like you is the reason trance is sucking these days. you probably illegal download all you z anyways you cheap trick! i'm going to listen to your mix cd http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/...7&forumid=73&s=nows and see how much you really suck. as for the artwork you have a long ways to go. hopefully the judging the book by its cover is not true here or i may waste my hour lunch break
skip
quote:
Originally posted by swayne21
:eyes: :eyes: :eyes: skip is a jackass! :whip: i heard the majai live before and like their slamming sets! this release sounds great! dj preach remix and relocate mixes are the winners but cressida isnt bad either! maybe you should record some music and hear how you sound! :mad: :mad: you overly exagerated criticism is the same z i used to see on groovanaut and buzzlife and the reason why i left that forum. fking elitist like you is the reason trance is sucking these days. you probably illegal download all you z anyways you cheap trick! i'm going to listen to your mix cd http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/...7&forumid=73&s=nows and see how much you really suck. as for the artwork you have a long ways to go. hopefully the judging the book by its cover is not true here or i may waste my hour lunch break
lol.
Firstly: YOU!
I'm a jackass because I don't like the music you do and criticize it? :rolleyes:
I would personally never record myself singing as I know it'd sound like crap anyway. But that does not mean I am not allowed to review other people's singing, now does it?
And how am I the reason trance sucks these days? From my point of view it's entirely your fault as people like you think it's not allowed to criticize the music and you just like anything it seems.
And accusing me of downloading stuff illegally is the most hilarious thing ever. I own more than 1000 CDs, around 50 vinyls and about 15 gigs worth of LEGAL downloads. So once again, YOU.
Go on and listen to my mix CD. I'd love to hear criticism on it. I know I'm not the best DJ in the world, nor do I intend to be. DJing is a fun hobby for me but I do like to try to improve, so I would be actually delighted if you listened to it and commented on it, even though it's more than 2 years old by now. The artwork isn't probably the best thing ever, but I did have fun doing it at least. Next cover will probably be something entirely different, but horrible also, as I'm not graphic designer. :)
So, in conclusion:
swayne21
quote:
Originally posted by skip
lol.
Firstly: YOU!
I'm a jackass because I don't like the music you do and criticize it? :rolleyes:
I would personally never record myself singing as I know it'd sound like crap anyway. But that does not mean I am not allowed to review other people's singing, now does it?
And how am I the reason trance sucks these days? From my point of view it's entirely your fault as people like you think it's not allowed to criticize the music and you just like anything it seems.
And accusing me of downloading stuff illegally is the most hilarious thing ever. I own more than 1000 CDs, around 50 vinyls and about 15 gigs worth of LEGAL downloads. So once again, YOU.
Go on and listen to my mix CD. I'd love to hear criticism on it. I know I'm not the best DJ in the world, nor do I intend to be. DJing is a fun hobby for me but I do like to try to improve, so I would be actually delighted if you listened to it and commented on it, even though it's more than 2 years old by now. The artwork isn't probably the best thing ever, but I did have fun doing it at least. Next cover will probably be something entirely different, but horrible also, as I'm not graphic designer. :)
So, in conclusion:
This elitist sceneee suckz because people like you bash music!! Like I've seen on a recent tomm colotonio bashing thread and there are others on this dumb forum.
Why do the moderators allow it? Whats the point? It's negative! Its one thing to criticize, and its another thing to be a total hateful jackass!! I have heard terrible releases and this is not one of them so I am going to say something about your monkey posts. Why complain about the costs the total price only applies to people downloading all the tracks. Why would someone getting the nitrous oxide mix also get the 2xlc or preach mix anyways ? They are completely different. so in ending :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip: and fu2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KrisA
Chillax guys :)
The Internet - don't take it too seriously!
skip
quote:
Originally posted by swayne21
This elitist sceneee suckz because people like you bash music!! Like I've seen on a recent tomm colotonio bashing thread and there are others on this dumb forum.
Why do the moderators allow it? Whats the point? It's negative! Its one thing to criticize, and its another thing to be a total hateful jackass!! I have heard terrible releases and this is not one of them so I am going to say something about your monkey posts. Why complain about the costs the total price only applies to people downloading all the tracks. Why would someone getting the nitrous oxide mix also get the 2xlc or preach mix anyways ? They are completely different. so in ending :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip: :whip: and fu2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lol man. Only positive things can be said? That's not criticism. I criticize music because I love it so deeply and hearing bad music taking over more and more seriously annoys me. I can't understand people like you at all. You'll be happy with anything. Have some standards FFS and maybe the overall quality of stuff getting released will improve.
I agree on the Beatport release price thing though. It really didn't have much to do with the tracks at all. Just one other thing that pisses me off about the current state of music. Quality is worse than before (mp3 vs. CD) and you end up paying more for the music!!! I'd say you're getting ripped off there.
And remember, just because I disagree with you, it doesn't mean that my opinion is any more wrong than yours, nor does it mean that your opinion is any more wrong than mine. Difference of opinions is one the greatest things in life. Without that life would be utterly boring and counterproductive. Maybe you'll get that some day, maybe you won't. Some people never will…
johnjaxs
quote:
Originally posted by KrisA
Chillax guys :)
The Internet - don't take it too seriously!
Seriously +1
It's ok, if you don't like the release but why all the anger? I happen to enjoy the release. Nice follow up to the awesome Phoria ! Vocals are in the the same styling as Phoria.
Come on :stongue: All of Majai's vocals are hot!
tistrance
I cant get enough of the nitrous oxide remix at the moment ! :D
