Blank & Jones is one of Germany's most successful DJ and recording duos and they are back in stores with a new album called "The Singles." This greatest hits collection is a definitive must-have for all B&J fans, trance fans, and music lovers alike and features a bonus DVD containing all their video clips. Even though ATB and Paul Van Dyk have garnered more attention than their compatriots in the music scene, the duo has managed to release seven albums, three mix albums, and have obtained fifteen hit singles under their belts. On The Singles CD you will find rare tracks such as "Sunrise" and "Nightclubbing" sitting next to two new, exclusive tracks. The CD also covers the whole history of the act, from their early chart successes such as "Cream" and "A Forest" with Robert Smith from The Cure to their current new singles "Catch" and "Revealed," with each song having been digitally remastered.
Unfortunately for die-hard fans, they will only find one remix on this compilation CD of the song "The Nightfly" which was considered a huge crowd pleaser in Miami at the 2006 Winter Music Conference. The most exciting part of this CD for fans, though, is the release of the duo's reworking of Kosheen's hit song "Catch." While most will agree that the Kosheen version is an amazing song with Sian Evans giving it a very serious and seductive sound, the song itself wasn't dance-friendly with the singer's dark vocals. Blank & Jones however have vamped the sound up, giving it a euphoric sound while adding new vocals by Ells de Graaf who previously did vocals on Blank and Jones' "Mind of the Wonderful" and "Sound of Goodbye" with Armin Van Buuren (as Perpetuous Dreamer). Their version of "Catch" is definitely becoming a monster summer anthem and is definitely one of the best remakes ever done in electronic/dance. Also make sure and check out the remix by Martin Roth, who also does an amazing mix of Blank & Jones' "Perfect Silence."
The other new release on the CD is the song "Revealed" with vocals by Steve Kilbey (of 80s Australian alternative rock staples The Church). Unlike the song "Catch," this is an original song by Blank & Jones which is starving to become an anthem of its own with the perfect remix. The song has a strange U2 vibe about it that works which is rare for most male vocal tracks and is one of their most melodic and subtle songs to date. Fortunately, the mixes I have heard of this song add more powerful synths and dub up the vocals to a faster tempo, making it a great dancefloor killer. Other than the two new releases and the rare b-side tracks "Sunrise" and "Nightclubbing," the rest of the CD consists mostly of radio or video edits of their greatest hits which is aimed at appealing to casual listeners who are just getting into Blank & Jones or were drawn in by the new hits and are looking for a sampling of their past sounds.
The DVD section of the set shows all the music videos for Blank & Jones previous hits and also shows the new video to "Catch," which is definitely a great video with its haunting theme and different spin on the meaning of the lyrics.
Overall, I was really pleased with this release and the only gripe I could come up with was the fact they didn't include some of the best remixes of their hits. I think though that I can find it in me to forgive them since they offered some great new releases and enough of a retrospective to remind anyone why they are still around. This is definitely one item that you need to add to your music collection.
