This superior beatmixed compilation of 18 vocal tracks (plus a megamix) offers a tasty smorgasbord of the musical styles currently ruling commercial clubland. The CD opens with pounding Hi-NRG-slanted Trance hits like Lasgo's "Alone" and DJ Sammy's lovely "Sunlight" before moving towards dreamier Trance fare like Motorcycle's massive "As The Rush Comes" and "Burned With Desire" by Armin Van Buuren feat. Justine Suissa.
Major circuit House monsters like The Roc Project's collaboration with Aussie popstar Tina Arena, "Never," and Deborah Cox's vastly superior cover of the minor Phil Collins hit "Something Happened On The Way To Heaven" are next, leading into giddy NRG-House hybrids like the glorious "Getaway" by Becky Baeling and Angel City's inspired re-invention of partial lyrics from the Ready For The World mid-80s pop hit "Oh Sheila" into their own fabulously frothy "Love Me Right." Amuka's "Appreciate Me" is a thundering Tribal anthem taken from the Star 69 stable and continuing in that vein producer Mac Quayle teams up with sometimes Madonna backup vocalist Donna Delory for a tribalized romp through the moody Tears For Fears nugget "The Hurting." Lumidee's top 10 pop hit "Never Leave You - Uh Ooh, Uh Oooh" is successfully bumped up on the bpm scale while still retaining the unique vocal patterns of the original song and the CD ends on a high note with a pair of crossover NRG-pop hits, Dannii Minogue's "I Begin To Wonder" and "Just The Way You Are" by Milky before closing with the "Dance Divas II Mega Mix."
Of course these are all the big name artists but what makes "Dance Divas II" especially interesting are the inclusion of some lesser known cuts like "Don't Leave Me Now" by Stylus with it's gently nagging synth lines, Tina Ann's soaring "Too Late," or MMD feat. Brittany's "I Want You" and Jillian's "I Wanna Let Go" with their Freestyle-influenced vocals. All in all, an excellent party CD that showcases the best in pop-dance today.
