Dave Aude and Tall Paul are two of today's best known producers and remixers. Dave is stationed here in the US, while Paul's mixes come to us from overseas in the UK. These two forces have come together on the single "Common Ground," released through Aude's own label, Audacious Records. There are a slew of mixes, so there is something here for every underground DJ's taste. Vocal duties are handled by Sisely Treasure and the end result of all these collaborators is something pretty swell.
The Original Club Vocal is the first mix on the CD promo. It is the version that has Dave's prints all over it. From the bassline to the synth structure, this will be a very recognizable mix to the listener. There isn't anything new or outstanding about this version, which means that it is simply good. The guitars that repeat throughout have a very retro feel to them. They almost sound as if they were sampled from a New Order song. They add a nice touch to the song's overall vibe. A dub of this mix is also available, along with an Electro Dub that really does nothing for me. Next up is the Tall Paul UK Vocal Mix. Once again, another mix that sounds just as one would expect from Tall Paul. This mix leaves out the guitars for the most part and instead focuses on sweeping strings and a chugging beat. This mix has a very smooth feel about it, very appropriate for after hours to get your crowd to chill a bit. In both mixes, Sisely's vocals blend in well with all of the musical elements surrounding her. Neither one of these two mixes blew me away, but they weren't bad either. They were just okay.
Next is the Cabin Crew Remix. You may recognize the name from the hit "Star To Fall" that they had a couple of years ago. This mix has a more electro influence to it. The guitars are back, though this time they are not as prominent and there seem to be more synthesizers and samples added to the mix. This mix seems to build upon what the Original Club Vocal was only hinting at. The bleeps and blips make me feel as if I'm reliving the mid-eighties all over again… which is not such a bad thing. The shortest mix of all, clocking in at just over six and-a-half minutes, it's concise and fun. Expanding even more into the electro vibe is the Riley Durrant Remix. This mix straddles a fine line between being electro and trance. It seems to blend together some of the best elements of the other three mixes to create something unique in itself. Guitars, synths, strings and Sisely all combine in this excursion for nine and a half minutes of pure pleasure.
Dave Aude and Tall Paul do a respectable job with this first outing together. Their mixes, along with the ones by Cabin Crew and Riley Durrant, seemed to be lacking a certain something though that I can't quite put my finger on. I was hoping for something more from these two talented men, but perhaps the next single will be the one that really grabs me.