German producer, DJ, and remixer Paul van Dyk masterminds another hit single along with vocalist Wayne Jackson on "The Other Side." Originally released in August 2005, the song has been getting some attention recently with airplay on US dance radio, as well as success for its intriguing and very thought-provoking video.
Of the seven remixes on the retail cd5, three are produced by Paul van Dyk himself: the Original Mix, the Radio Mix (simply a shorter version of the former) and the Breaks Mix (similar to the original mix except a slightly different chord structure laid over a breakbeat rhythm).
The biggest surprise of the package is Deep Dish's remix. While uncomfortably long (almost 12 minutes) it's one of their most accessible, musical, and friendly-sounding mixes in recent memory. It's so good, one can almost forgive them for the extra long guitar breakdown and sparse vocals. Another clear winner is Martin Roth's mix, which is everything good trance music should be. A completely different set of chords accompany the haunting, reverberated vocals of Wayne Jackson, as fierce pounding beats blast the listener away to a higher realm. Simply stunning work.
Two other remixes are included in this release, both by the team of Mark Spoon vs. Mobilegazer. Their Sundown mix is far too minimal and progressive; however their Sunrise mix is much better, with great synth loops and piano. Both mixes are pretty laidback/chillout style with full vocals.
To sum it up, this release definitely deserves a listen from fans of both trance and house music in general. The lyrics are thought-provoking and inspirational, and the melody is not only well written, but also well sung by vocalist Wayne Jackson. Paul van Dyk's latest single "The Other Side" should make a great addition to anyone's collection.
