For eighteen hours in the middle of the summer, Long Marsfield Airfield in Warwickshire is transformed from vacant airfield to super party. In nine tents throughout the party the world's leading DJs and live acts converge for a night of summer clubbing. Every genre and style is represented here within the airfield. It is one of the few times you can walk from seeing the Plump DJs to Sasha & Digweed to Carl Cox to Tiesto, all in forty-five minutes. This party is thrown as a true gathering of different people and cultures throughout the world. I certainly did my best to represent America and absorb the real definition of Global Gathering. However for those that did not have that opportunity, Virgin has released the Godskitchen Global Gathering 2004 - The Sound of Summer Clubbing triple CD.

The first disc is a representation of the Godskitchen arena. It is a fully-mixed compilation of eighteen trance tracks that were the sound of the arena. The Filterheadz start it out with the Orginal mix of the song "Yimanya." Next up is everyone's favorite Dutchman, Ferry Corsten. He is represented by his Flashover mix of "It's Time."

The trance beat opens up to a breakbeat near the end of the song with some crunchy bass and some synth loops that made Ferry famous. The ever popular Three Drives showcase there song "Air Traffic" remixed by Bobina. The flowing sounds ring true to an air raid siren while the beat dances around throughout the track. Further into the disc is Above & Beyond featuring Zoe Johnston with the song "No One On Earth." The hot remix production duo from the west coast, Gabriel & Dresden, take the helm on the remixing duties. The sexy vocals are married to an exhilarating breakdown and the synths smooth out the whole song. Judge Jules pops his head in on the re-edit of the Marco V vs. Jens song "Loops & Tings." The BBC and club DJ/producer treats the track to a trance-styled transformation with a pounding bassline and a killer piano loop. Up next are the group 4 Strings that tell us to "Turn it Around." The Sandler vocal remix is uplifting and enchanting. The vocals, soft and subtle, are combined with some sweeping loops and driving bass. Another Dutch trance master, Armin Van Buuren, shows up with the classic remake of his hit track "Blue Fear." "Blue Fear 2004" keeps the original breakdown but adds some more strings and a deep,

darker bass line. It is truly the definition of a trance song. Germany checks in next with Paul Van Dyk and the smash hit "Time of our Lives." Unless you live under a rock you know this song has been hammered by every major DJ on earth and there is no wonder why it made its way onto this compilation. Wrapping up the first disc is the #1 DJ in the world, Tiesto, with his remix of the classic Samuel Barber composition "Adagio for Strings." A lot of remixes of this song have been done, but this one is true Tiesto. The hard and pounding bass gives way to the mesmerizing sounds of the strings as the gently permeate the air. The track builds into an awesome presence of squelching strings and crunchy bass. What a stunning way to end out a disc, which brings me to disc two of this compilation.

Disc 2 is modeled after the Babooshka arena at Global Gathering. Italian Junior Jack begins this disc with his Pointer Sisters-derived hit "Stupidisco." It has all the elements you would expect from some Italian house music right down to the filtered vocal breakdown.

Hot new artist the Shapeshifters give up their disco hit "Lola's Theme." This track has some sexy horns and some funky vocals to give it a real summertime feel. The infamous Armand Van Helden chimes in with his major league track "My My My." The vocals build until absolutely everyone on the floor is dancing. Further into the disc Lee Cabrera presents Phase 2 and a little bit of "Voodoo Love." Steve Angello takes care of remixing duties and turns the chanting vocals into a funky house groove. Next up is Gipsy with the track of the same name "Gipsy." The house man himself, Robbie Rivera, gives it his Juicy remix. The chunky bassline is infused with a sample of the original vocals and is built into a massive break down. Coming up right near the end of the Babooshka disc is Deep Dish with "Flashdance." The guitar solo and hand claps are tied up with a driving bassline. The guitars begin to echo and then before you know it the track explodes.

If you are in Birmingham UK during the summer you must stop in and see the Global Gathering crew. If you can't make it this CD is the closest thing to actually being there. Cheers.