"Destiny" is the latest track by German mastermind Andreas Schmidt. Read on to find out if this is as good as his earlier productions have been...
Andreas Schmidt, the man behind numerous projects like Ace’s Delight, Ace Da Brain and Sonic Inc., is back with a blast. His previous track “Ace’s Delight – Mental Theme” (on his own label Venom Recordings) has been one of the biggest stormers of 2003, because of it’s immense breaks and melodies. “Destiny” is being released on the London-based label “Above The Sky”, and seems to go on in the same tradition. Let’s see what this vinyl will bring us…
A-side: Ace's Delight Instrumental Mix
The A-side contains the “Ace’s Delight Instrumental mix”. Starting off with some fast percussion elements, we get to a harsh, but very nice sounding kick after about half a minute. This is just the introduction for what is to come: after a very chilled out mini-break at the one minute mark, the percussion re-appears, but this time accompanied by a tough bassline, a tingly synth and some nice effects and pads on the background. Some tribal sounds get thrown in, serving as the intro for a selection of dramatic strings that are being used as a prelude for what is to come in the break. And that’s really something.. An unbelievable piano sequence comes up, being backed by immense strings that get harder as the break progresses. The variation in the piano part is wonderful, and can be compared to the emotional madness that “Mental Theme” created. After the piano’s fade away, we get treated by a superb part of strings that go on with the melody we’ve just heard. Meanwhile, the main melody gets its intro on the background, being built up to an insanely uplifting and powerful weapon. Accompanied by the percussion and bassline, this sounds like pure quality in the climax. The melody doesn’t seem to go on for too long at first sight, but is being replaced by the piano’s for a short while. Fortunately, the melody returns in its full shape again, treating us with a last feeling of goosebumps. After this, the build-up starts. This is just as it should be: elements fade away slowly, allowing the DJ to mix in the next track in a proper way.
B-side: Informers remix
The flipside is the domain of the Informers remix. You can hear this remix is slightly harder than the mix on side A because of the tough kick at the beginning of the track. This one builds up rather slowly, compared with Ace’s Delight’s mix. Percussion elements get added every once in a while, leading us to a first stop in the track. This is the place where we get to hear a very simple, but reasonably effective sample that guides us to the main break. The strings from the other mix are back here, but are being misled a bit by the sound of the piano that has been used. It all just sounds a tad too hard and non-powerful, in comparison with the other mix. Luckily enough, the melody has been kept fully intact, and is being built up in a very nice way during the last parts of the break. Subtile tones get replaced by a powerful synth that would surely blow a club into another dimension. After the beats and bassline kick in again it all sounds very clean and nice, but I’m missing some background effects for the variation. The melody just gets a bit boring after 3 or 4 full sequences of it, a few variations might have done the trick here.
Conclusion:
All in all, I can state that Andreas Schmidt has delivered us trancefans one hell of an uplifting trancer again. It didn’t have the impact that “Mental Theme” first had on me, but it comes very, very close. My personal pick is the Ace’s Delight Instrumental Mix. The break is sublime again, and the melody is very powerful. This is what I would call Bliss with a capital B. The Informers remix is nice too, but can’t be compared with the power and beauty of the other one.
Above The Sky shows that they can bring us quality all the time. You think there’s just two mixes of this track? No way… A second vinyl will be released a few weeks after the release of the first one, with remixes by Skydiver (DuMonde’s young German apprentice) and B.Beach (an alias of Tony Burt). I’ve had the privilege to hear a sample of the B.Beach Breaks mix, and I can tell you this one is crazy as well… Be on the lookout!
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