Ce Ce Peniston's 1991 smash hit "Finally" gets a classic, slamming reworking from the UK superstar production and remix team Love To Infinity. Available for many months only as an import, the US record label Water Music Dance has picked up this single for release in the American market. This song continues in the vein of Take My Breath Away, Heaven Is A Place On Earth, and Venus: 80's and 90's trance covers which Love To Infinity (aka Soda Club aka MASH) do so well. Charlotte Day (who sang lead vocals on five of the songs from their recent album "Anthem Alert") takes reign over the vocals on this one. While she lacks of the depth and soul of Ce Ce's voice, she makes this song her own, hitting every note spot on.
The US release of this remix package contains the Classic Radio and Club Mixes, the Low Frequency Occupation Mix, and the R&C 12" Mix. Left off the CD5, unfortunately, are the brilliant Alex K Remix, the Kuta Productions Mix, as well as the Open Air Vocal mixes. Why these remixes were omitted from the final tracklisting is anyone's guess. Another shortcoming is the lack of remixing credits on the liner notes of the disc (this seems to be a reoccurring problem with Water Music Dance releases). A manufacturer's defect in pressing up the CD also mucks things up a bit, with track 5 actually playing what's labeled as track 4, and track 4 playing the exact same mix as track 3.
Aside from these shortcomings, the Classic Club Mix is Love To Infinity at their finest. Brilliant piano, sweeping synth chords, and smooth, classic rhythm on top of driving beats combine to form the best remix of Finally you'll ever hear. Australian brothers Glen and Andy Evans contribute the more laid-back Low Frequency Occupation Mix (the dub of which is not included on the disc, despite what the liner notes claim). And the R&C 12" Mix (all 5 minutes of it) is a pretty low-key, groovy alternative to the more trancey, bouncey Classic mixes.
Better quality control for the disc and generosity with the mixes would've given this release five stars, but hard-core dance fans should still pick this one up for the brilliant Classic Club Mix. Love To Infinity are fantastic remixers of both classic piano house and more recently, trance/pop – and Finally is no exception.
