Post Your Favourite Essential Mixes

Paul Oakenfold Live From Home At Space In Ibiza 25th of July 1999
NSFW:
Introduction:
In 1998, BBC Radio 1’s Saturday night staple The Essential Mix opened its doors to techno legend Carl Cox and a monthly residency on the show. The main aim of the residency was an attempt to capture the ambience of Carl’s set from various locations around the world. However, for 1999, in order to reflect the bulging surge made by trance music the previous year, Radio 1 turned to trance’s favourite son, Paul Oakenfold.

Paul had made his departure from his weekly residency at Cream in Liverpool in December 1998, therefore, he was able to journey into ventures unknown to entertain the masses with his unique blend of trance music. He had already made appearances as part of his Essential Mix residency in Sydney, Havana, Miami and Buenos Aires, however it was inevitable that in the summer months he would embark on the Balearic region of Ibiza to cast his latest chapter.

Since leaving Cream, Paul had become heavily involved with ex-Cream promoter Darren Hughes in setting up the Home brand, which had resulted in a new venue in Sydney, a new festival with locations in England, Ireland and Scotland called Homelands, and the formation of a new club in Leicester Square, London. For the summer months, the Home brand secured a weekly night at the legendary Space club in Ibiza, and this is where this particular chapter of Paul Oakenfold’s Essential Mix World Tour would take place.

The Essential Mix:
Within the first 5 seconds of the mix I’m hooked right away, because Paul opens the set with one of the most beautiful trance tracks ever composed, and one that would provide a perfect setting for an Ibizan sunrise. There’s nothing dramatic or euphoric in the melody of Nalin & Kane’s Open Your Eyes, however the sound of the piano just gives me shivers anytime I hear it.

Paul continues the journey with his typical sound, with a solid track by Perfecto artist Nat Monday. Following that, we hear the amazing Danny Tenaglia remix of Blondie’s Nothing Is Real But The Girl. Back in the late nineties Tenaglia was probably better known for his house productions, with Musis Is The Answer being an example. However for the Blondie remix he produces a beautiful yet powerful trance remake. I’m not a particular fan of Debbie Harry’s vocals, but they work really well here.

As the pass through the first quarter of the set, including a progressive-laden remix of the legendary Freefall – Skydive, Paul decides to turn it up a notch, with for me one of the more underrated tracks of 1999, Nautious – Amber. A very simple melody which doesn’t reach the euphoric highs one would expect, but leaves the listener’s ears bubbling, crying out for more.

Another highlight of the set is the Rank 1 boys providing a remix of Jens – Psycho Strings. I’m a sucker for any track that uses classical strings effectively, so it’s not surprising that this track appeals so much to me. Straight afterwards, Paul gives the listener a second helping of Open Your Eyes, this time however opting for the slightly darker El Barco Para Es Vedra Mix. Obviously Oakey thought very highly of the track to play it twice in the space of 45 minutes, but I’m certainly not complaining here.

The mood of the set turns darker again, with a play of the excellent Yo-Yo by Auranaut. To mark the midpoint of the set, Paul decides to drop some breaks, but utilises a remix by one of the main trance protagonists of 1999, Lange. He produced a wonderful breakbeat interpretation of Brainchild – Symmetry C, one I feel that he never really got the credit he deserved. It has a chilled yet energetic effect that keeps the listener hooked for more.

For the second half of the set, Paul decides to raise the bar when it comes to the journey of this particular session. Following the excellent Saucemen – Aquarius (most of you will be humming the theme to this tune when you hear it), Paul plays his interpretation of Radiohead’s Street Spirit, a remarkable remake that completely outshadows Tiesto’s effort. It is unfortunate that this remix didn’t get clearance for release because it is one that I would dearly love to have in my possession.

Moving on, Paul maintains the energy with one of the best releases from the Additive label, Der Dritte Raum – Hale Bopp. It is a track that just constantly builds momentum, without quite making a full release. That release however, was quite clearly reserved for the next track, and what is my highlight of the set. This would turn out to be the first time I would ever hear Planet Perfecto – Bullet in the Gun, and it is a feeling that I still remember so well six years on. It is a track that Oakenfold can be proud of when he hangs up his headphones, one that symbolises and encapsulates the euphoric state of trance in the ’99 era. Unsurprisingly, this track is one of my all time favourites.

The mood changes again from high to low with LSG – Shecan, and then to a high again with another one of the top releases from 1999, Skip Raiders – Another Day (or as some people may call it, Barber’s Adagio for Strings part II).

The track at the time causes a lot of confusion with casual listeners because it was being played alongside Ferry Corsten’s remix of William Orbit’s interpretation of the legendary piece of music composed by Samuel Barber. However, take away the sample and it is still a spine-tingling tune, one that was almost a permanent fixture in Oakey’s box for a year.

To finish the wonderful two hour journey, Oakey plays the enchanting track Fly Away by The Source, which although not entirely sure it contains a cheeky sample from The Cardigans – My Favourite Game. Nonetheless, it is a nice ending to an enthralling two hours.

Final Thoughts:
This is one of those sets that you could give someone to listen and it would perfectly describe the story of trance in the late nineties, and why Paul Oakenfold appeals to so many clubbers worldwide. So, effectively, this set is almost like an education for those who had not discovered trance in the Oakenfold era, almost like a resume to inform the listener what they had been missing out on.

The set itself does not contain that many anthems as such, besides Bullet in the Gun, however it is a perfect example of the power and direction Paul Oakenfold was able to dictate while the was entertaining the masses.

Many of Oakenfold’s detractors would always point to his mixing skills as a point of weakness, however that claim would be completely unfounded here. The set is beautifully crafted and sequenced together, resulting in a masterpiece of trance music.

This was Oakenfold’s journey, let’s all enjoy the ride.

i loved oakenfold in the late 90s. this and tranceport are my 2 fav trance mixes.
 
if you liked mstrkrft and crookers' essential mixes check out steve aoki's as well its sickk
 
Arnold said:
James Zabiela -Moon themed essential mix
Cleverest and best mix out there this year as far as I'm concerned.

John00 Fleming one 12/02/10 maybe not the best one out there but...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwok0ogQvgY reason I like the guy.

Freddy Fresh 01-02-98

You might have to forward a little bit to get to the sexy tasty bits.
Click to expand...

First saw James Zabiela DJ at Godskitchen Kiev last year, I was really impressed by his mixing skills. This mix is also pretty dope.
 
Recently I have been enjoying the Faithless sound system EM 27/02/2011.

I think my all time favourite would be Gabriel and Dresden WMC 2005.

Others I have listened to multiple times:

Above and Beyond 06/06/2004
Stanton Warriors 07/24/2004
Chase and Status ~2008
Noisia 13/03/2010
 
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