Paul Oakenfold - Perfecto Presents: Paul Oakenfold-Great Wall

I’m sorry Paul, but since I quit imbibing and going to raves, trance pretty much puts me to sleep, as it all sounds so soothing and so similar. The galloping synth, the four-four beats, the wispy voices echoing in and out of each other - Paul, it’s just not floating my boat anymore. But al plus to Great Wall is that Mr. Oakenfold only has one “original” track, and everything else is just a remix. Sadly, the majority of the songs sound the same… Great Wall reads a bit like a tribute to China, and maybe there’s some hidden meaning behind the idea of a wall. Or perhaps the wall divides something, and Paul’s trying to make a statement. But I have to say, I don’t know what it is. The constant throb of Great Wall is continuous and seemingly unending like China’s Great Wall, and that’s the only parallel I could conclude. There are a few tracks you should rip off the album for your mix CD or MP3 player: Oakenfold’s remix of Skip Raders’ (featuring Jada) “Another Day” is atmospheric and dreamy and would have fit well into Spirited Away. Take the mix of Madonna’s “Hollywood” to your local transvestite/gay club, and you are guaranteed an excellent dance because the song sounds a lot more bittersweet and special this way. The Unkle Remix of Ian Brown’s “Fear” is the best summation of what decent echoing vocals can do for a long car trip, and, while it is often difficult to improve on Bjork, Oakenfold’s remix of “Pagan Poetry” magnifies Bjork’s iridescent vocals in an interesting way; though this remix can get annoying after repeated listens. Great Wall is a good addition to your remix collection, though you probably won’t listen to it with great reverence because, if you remember, this is the same perpetrator who gave Shifty Shellshock (Remember that goofy Crazytown band? That “singer”) another hit. [www.pauloakenfold.com]